Mitsubishi Australia is recalling all ML Triton models manufactured between October 2006 and January 2009 to correct a potentially serious problem with the front suspension.
The problem in the Thailand-built Triton is capable, in a worst-case scenario, of rendering the vehicle inoperable.
In an advice notice issued on May 31, Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd advised that the bolts attaching the ball joints to the upper arms of the front suspension may not have been tightened sufficiently during manufacture, which could result in "excessive suspension noise (knocking) and in the worst case the ball joint may become detached from the suspension arm resulting in the vehicle being unable to be driven."
The latter scenario is a potential safety issue and Mitsubishi says it will be contacting "All owners via mail on 11 June 2010 at their last known address. Owners will be requested to contact their authorised Mitsubishi dealer for inspection and re-tensioning of the ball joint retaining bolts."
Owners wishing to confirm the manufacturing date of earlier Triton models will find it on the data plate in the engine bay on the driver's side of the firewall. On later models it can be found on an adhesive label on the passenger's side B pillar.
The national recall applies to 42,525 Triton vehicles sold during the identified period.
Mitsubishi Australia's head of corporate communications Lenore Fletcher said no incidences of failure had occurred in Australia and that just two vehicles had presented with "possible" problems, which were rectified.
She said Mitsubishi is not expecting to find more than a small number of Tritons affected by the manufacturing fault.
"We believe incidences will be extremely rare," she said. "Any problem would become obvious long before failure was likely to occur."
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