The contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer for routine maintenance. Months later, he took the vehicle to a different repair shop for an oil change and was advised that the former dealer did not reinstall the heat cover. Without the heat cover, there is no safeguard to the various hoses and components in the engine, which has several potential safety implications. He called the dealer again and was advised by the manager, tom wanster, that his heat cover was not left there; however, they did locate other heat covers for similar models. The manager would not provide him with any assistance. The contact filed a complaint with the federal trade commission. The failure mileage was 95,000 and current mileage was 102,268.

- Coatesville, PA, USA

Montero under 50,000 miles. Have to replace compressor, alignment bars for sun roof, and brakes. Cost $2700 with labor. Have owned the vehicle for 4 months. No warranty left. Montero has to be jumped to turn on, bucks with defrost on, no air, no radio, and brakes are bad. Dealer will not help with cost.

- Michigan City, IN, USA

2001 Mitsubishi Montero; engine shot on the highway (NJ turnpike). There was no oil warning. This is a life threatening issue-if I had been on the inner lane, I would have been dead. Vehicles on NJ turnpike are traveling 60-80mph. Vehicle has been serviced on timely oil changes at jiffy lube. This should not have happened. It has 90K mlies on it, bought used, I owe $15K on it, it will cost $8K to fix. 2 yrs og payments to go.

- Princeton, NJ, USA

Engine replacement at 79K miles. February 04 I noticed a knocking sound coming from under the hood of the car. The Mitsubishi mechanic said it was coming from the engine but that he would just change the oil to see if that helped. The sales ticket said, no problem found. August 04 the knocking came back. On a trip the oil light came on but there was oil in the vehicle. We had the vehicle towed to Mitsubishi. The mechanic then confirmed that it was the engine. The pickup tube was clocked but the engine walls were clean. The result was to replace the engine. Mitsubishi would not cover the charges because it was pass the warranty mileage. No one can determine how the pickup tube was clogged with so much crud. However, Mitsubishi says that it does not matter if it was a defect in the pickup tube it was past the warranty.

- Clinton, MD, USA

Engine noise.

- Ocala, FL, USA

The oil light indicator failed to warn that the oil in the engine was depleted until approx 30 seconds prior to the engine seizing. The rods cracked the engine and broke the head gasket mixing oil and water together. Everything shut down in seconds. No warning whatsoever. Dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis-------770762.

- Marietta, GA, USA