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Mitsubishi Motors Recalls Several Models In Japan

NEW YORK July 1, 2003; Dow Jones reports that Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Tuesday it will recall 6,054 Delica minivans for free repairs after two Delicas went out of control and caused traffic accidents, Kyodo News Service reported.

MMC said it has found a similar injection pump defect in its Challenger sport- utility vehicle. The Challengers subject to the recall were made between October 1996 and March 1997 with MMC recalling 1,835 Challengers.

In a report filed with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, MMC said the minivans' fuel injection pump has a defect which caused them to accelerate on their own, Kyodo said.

The ministry said a driver lost control of his Delica in Hokkaido in April 2000 and ran into an automobile, even though he decreased pressure on the accelerator and tried to reduce speed by shifting into a lower gear.

MMC received nine other claims from Delica owners, with one of them involving another traffic accident, Kyodo reported.

The ministry said it ordered MMC to identify the cause of the malfunctions. The Delicas subject to the recall were manufactured between May 1994 and March 1997.

In addition, MMC said, it will recall 1,225 Proudia sedans and 59 Dignity luxury sedans for free repairs.

The Proudias in question were made between January 2000 and June 2001. The Dignity sedans subject to the recall were made between December 1999 and May 2001, Kyodo reported.

Some of these sedans prevent their drivers from shifting into park, thereby making it impossible for the drivers to remove keys from the ignition.

Also, coil springs for front wheels in some of these sedans may fracture, making it impossible for the sedans to move, MMC said.