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Mitsubishi recalls 130k Lancers, Outlanders over auxiliary glitches

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has has announced two separate recall campaigns for Mitsubishi vehicles, both of them related to problems with their auxiliary systems and covering a total of some 130,000 units. The recalls relate to Lancers (including Sportback and Evolution versions) as well as the Outlander and Outlander Sport, all of them from the 2009 through 2011 model years. The larger of the two recalls relates to the blower motor that may not to an adequate job of defrosting the windshield and therefor impede the driver's visibility. The recall covers 76,958 units, specifically the 2009-2011 Lancer (manufactured between March 16, 2009, and March 30, 2011), 2010-2011 Lancer Sportback (June 17, 2009, to December 1, 2010), 2010-2011 Lancer Evolution (July 14, 2009, to January 7, 2011), 2009-2011 Outlander (February 10, 2009, to June 22, 2011), and 2011 Outlander Sport (August 26, 2010, to November 19, 2010). The smaller recall still covers another 53,395 units due to a problem with the electronic control unit tasked with operating the headlights, taillights and windshield wipers. "Unstable voltage" in that dedicated ECU could cause those systems to function improperly – which, again, could impede the visibility and increase the risk of a crash. This recall covers the 2009-2010 Lancer (January 12, 2009, to July 6, 2010), 2010 Lancer Sportback (June 17, 2009, to June 8, 2010), 2010 Lancer Evolution (July 14, 2009, to August 4, 2010) and 2009-2010 Outlander (January 12, 2009, to August 27, 2010). In both cases the manufacturer is not aware of any accidents or injuries resulting from the problems. But all the same, in both cases, owners will be notified to bring their Mitsus into their local dealer to have the relevant component (blower motor or ECU) replaced. Since the affected models and model years overlap, we suspect some owners may have both components replaced on their vehicles at the same time, but we're reaching out to Mitsubishi Motors North America for clarification. If this array of recalled vehicles sounds familiar, you might be thinking of a similar campaign issued last October that covered some 166,000 Lancers and Outlanders from largely the same model years. That unrelated recall, however, related to the drive belt detaching from the engine.

Ukraine orders 651 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs for national police

While Mitsubishi has seen happier times – with lagging North American sales and a recent fuel economy scandal – there's still at least one ray of hope for the Japanese automaker. Its plug-in hybrid version of the Outlander is quite popular in many markets, and it's about to get a whole lot more popular in another one. The Ukraine has placed an order for 651 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs for use by its national police force. Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov, first announced the news on Twitter, and linked to a statement going into more detail. As part of a plan emerging from the Kyoto Protocol, the Natspolitsiya (as the police force is called) are ditching their aging, Russian-made UAZ and AvtoVAZ vehicles for the greener option from the less-at-war-with-them Japan. The Outlander PHEV, which was refreshed for the 2017 model year, is powered by a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine as well as two electric motors. Its 12-kWh battery provides about 22 miles of real-world, all-electric driving range. It's quite popular in Europe, so we might want to pay attention, as it will arrive in the US later this year. "So, gentlemen, Ukrainian policemen! You will receive 651 new and unique modern powerful eco-friendly hybrid crossover Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV," says Avakov in his statement. "The people of Ukraine hopes that you will be worthy of this innovation! Serve with honor!" No pressure. Furthermore, Avakov quipped in a Facebook post – with a smile and a wink – that his "advertising" for Mitsubishi ought to net the Natspolitsiya a 652nd vehicle. Related Video:

2014 Mitsubishi Outlander

A Good Start On Halting The Slide
We'd like to say that Mitsubishi has had a tough time of it lately, but "lately" isn't exactly the proper descriptor since the brand's troubles have slowly built over the past decade or so. It cut back on its marketing and it cut model lines while leaving what remained in the equivalent of a product cryo-freeze. Then there was the financial crash and replacement models that didn't possess the same edge we expected from the house of the triple diamond. There was the lack of a North American chairman to fight for market-specific initiatives, and hence, models that lacked some of the details that US customers desired and that could sway buying choices in close races. True, that's a battle with an overseas headquarters that you'll hear from the US reps for almost every foreign automaker, but as you pile on the obstacles they multiply exponentially, not additionally. Or there's this: For more than a year, while its competition has been trumpeting new product, Mitsubishi hasn't had any new models. Like, at all.
That changes with the arrival of the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander, an SUV that we're told will begin a new-product offensive over the next 18 months that - along with a much larger marketing budget - should begin to turn things around. This is the third generation of Mitsubishi's volume model, one that hasn't really been changed since it arrived in 2006 and wasn't just showing its age, but practically crowing about it.