Suzuki & Mitsubishi recall: 74,000 dangerous cars on Japan's roads

In a move that has raised concerns about vehicle safety, both Suzuki and Mitsubishi Motors have recently issued recalls for a significant number of their vehicles.

These recalls, filed with Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, affect tens of thousands of units and span multiple models, highlighting potential manufacturing flaws that could compromise driver safety.

Suzuki’s recall, which took effect on 6th February, involves a staggering 43,821 vehicles produced between June 2022 and January 2023 and affects their popular Swift, Xbee, Solio and Ignis models.

The recall was prompted by reports of abnormal noises emanating from the steering wheel during operation, with some drivers even experiencing a complete loss of steering control.

This alarming issue has been attributed to insufficient tightening of connection points within the steering system, a critical oversight that could have dire consequences on the road.

According to the ministry, a total of 37 defects have been reported in connection with this issue, underscoring the severity of the problem and the potential risks faced by drivers.

This recall also affects the Mitsubishi Delica D:2 which is a rebadged version of the Suzuki Solio.

Mitsubishi Motors have also announced a separate recall affecting 30,769 units of its Outlander PHEV model, manufactured between December 2021 and October 2023.

This recall stems from a potential malfunction in the vehicle’s driver monitoring system, which is designed to detect whether the driver is actively holding the steering wheel.

This is due to possible damage to parts of the touch sensor during the manufacturing process, which could lead to the system failing to accurately assess driver engagement.

This malfunction could have serious implications for the vehicle’s safety features, such as lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control, which rely on accurate driver input to function effectively.

Mitsubishi Motors has received 290 reports of defects related to this issue, further emphasizing the urgency of the recall and the need for immediate action to rectify the problem.

These recalls highlight the critical importance of rigorous quality control measures in the automotive industry.

While recalls are sometimes necessary to address unforeseen issues, the sheer number of vehicles affected in these cases raises questions about the robustness of manufacturing processes and the thoroughness of pre-delivery inspections.

In such cases, it is imperative for manufacturers to take swift action to rectify any defects found, to ensure the safety of their customers.

In the meantime, owners of the affected vehicles are strongly advised to contact their respective dealerships to schedule repairs and mitigate any potential risks associated with these safety concerns.

Source: Suzuki, Mitsubishi