2001 Mitsubishi Fuso FE640: complaints, problems and recalls

THE LINKAGE THAT CONNECT THE RANGE SELECTOR LEVER TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PROPERLY SET BY THE MANUFACTURER, AS A RESULT WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK THE PARKING PAWL WILL NOT FULLY MESH WITH THE PARKING PAWL GEAR WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ROLL WHEN IN PARK, THE CONSUMER HUSBAND PLACED HIS VEHICLE IN PARK, REMOVED THE KEY ND EXITED THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE FAILURE THE THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD PINNING HIM AND ULTIMATELY KILLING HIM (MITSUBISHI FUSO FE640T). *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 568252 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-01-29 (January 29, 2002)

ON SOME HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, THE VACUUM PUMP SHAFT BREAKS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAT TREATMENT.

Consequence: IF THE SHAFT BREAKS, BRAKING DISTANCE WOULD BE EXTENDED DUE TO THE LACK OF BRAKE BOOSTER FUNCTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP SHAFT ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE RUBBER PORTION OF THE FUEL INJECTION PIPE CLAMPS COULD DETERIORATE. NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION COULD CAUSE THE DETERIORATED CLAMP TO LOOSEN AND DRIP.

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP, THE ENGINE STARTER COULD SHORT CIRCUIT IF THE CLAMP DROPS ONTO THE STARTER TERMINAL. THIS COULD PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM STARTING. EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE EACH CLAMP AND INSPECT FOR RUBBER DETERIORATION AND WILL REPLACE THE CLAMP IF THE RUBBER DETERIORATION IS EVIDENT. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ATTACHING HARDWARE AND APPLY ADHESIVE TO PREVENT THE BOLTS/NUTS FROM LOOSENING AND INSPECT FOR A RUBBER CAP ON THE STARTER MOTOR'S TERMINAL AND INSTALL A CAP IF ONE IS NOT PRESENT TO PREVENT A SHORT CIRCUIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-877-711-0707.

Reported: 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CABLE END OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER, IS DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. REPEATED NORMAL PARKING BRAKE OPERATION MAY CAUSE THE CABLE END TO BECOME IMPROPERLY SEATED IN THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER GROOVE.

Consequence: IN THIS CONDITION, THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY BEND AND BREAK DUE TO FATIGUE. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE TRUCK MAY ROLL AND CAUSE A CRASH, PROPERTY AND PERSONAL INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE FOR BENDING OR DAMAGE AT THE CABLE END AND INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY IF THE CABLE IS BENT OR DAMAGED AT THE CABLE END. IF NO BENDING OR DAMAGE EXISTS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CABLE RETAINER ON THE CABLE END OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-877-711-0707.

Reported: 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS, THE REAR ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET IS COMPOSED OF MATERIALS OF INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH. NORMAL VEHICLE VIBRATIONS MAY CAUSE THE BRACKET TO CRACK.

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BRACKET MAY BREAK APART, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DROP OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED REAR ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS, RUST BUILD-UP ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T) SHIFT LINKAGE MAY CAUSE THE LINKAGE TO BIND. RUST BUILD-UP IS ACCELERATED IN GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS THAT ARE SITUATED NEAR LARGE BODIES OF SALT WATER, OR IN REGIONS WITH HEAVY SNOW/ICE MELTING COMPOUND USAGE IN WINTER MONTHS.

Consequence: THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE A/T SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY INCREASE IF THE LINKAGE BINDS DUE TO RUST BUILD-UP. THE SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR THE PHYSICAL SHIFT LEVER POSITION ON THE SHIFT LEVER HOUSING GEAR INDICATOR MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL GEAR SELECTION AT THE TRANSMISSION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED A/T SHIFT CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2005-10-04 (October 4, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS, THE CYLINDER HEAD IDLER GEAR SHAFT BOLT MAY HAVE BEEN INSUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED DURING INITIAL ASSEMBLY. CONTINUED OPERATION IN THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO LOOSEN, RESULTING IN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM IMPROPER GEAR ALIGNMENT.

Consequence: THE BOLT COULD BREAK, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AND NOT RESTART, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE IDLER SHAFT BOLT. IF THE BOLT CANNOT BE REMOVED BY HAND, A MODIFIED IDLER SHAFT BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED. IF THE BOLT IS LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE REMOVED BY HAND, A NEW IDLER GEAR, IDLER SHAFT, AND A MODIFIED IDLER SHAFT BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CYLINDER HEAD IDLER GEAR BUSHING MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MACHINED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE STRESS ON THE CYLINDER HEAD IDLER GEAR SHAFT. CONTINUED OPERATING IN THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE IDLER GEAR SHAFT FLANGE TO BREAK AND GENERATE ABNORMAL ENGINE NOISE OR ENGINE OIL LEAKS.

Consequence: THE ENGINE COULD STALL AND WOULD NOT RESTART INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: ON VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES, IF THE IDLER GEAR AND BUSHING ASSEMBLY, IDLER GEAR SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE MILEAGE IS MORE THAN 15,000 MILES, THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE IDLER GEAR BUSHING WILL BE MEASURED AND IF THE BUSHING MEASURES MORE THAN 32.043MM (1.262"), THE IDLER GEAR AND BUSHING ASSEMBLY, IDLER GEAR SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2008-05-16 (May 16, 2008)

MITSUBISHI FUSO IS RECALLING 15,549 MY 1999-2004 FE639, FE649, AND FG639 TRUCKS; MY 2001-2004 FE640, AND MY 2003-2004 FH210 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. NORMAL HEAT EMANATING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE MAY CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE TO DEFORM. THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY INCREASE IF THE LINKAGE BINDS DUE TO THE DEFORMATION.

Consequence: THE SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR THE PHYSICAL SHIFT LEVER POSITION ON THE SHIFT LEVER HOUSING GEAR INDICATOR MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL GEAR SELECTION AT THE TRANSMISSION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.