HVAC temperature control knob is hard to turn, it broke off.

- Stockton , CA, USA

Since the second year since I've owned this car the temperature control knob has been frozen. The only way you can turn the knob is to have a mechanic manually turn the knob underneath the vehicle. Mitsubishi motors admitted this was a design flaw in 2002 to 2007 Mitsubishi lancers and Outlanders. I have called Mitsubishi many times and sent letters of complaints but they will not do anything about it but leave the vehicles owner in what can be a dangerous situations. I've had to drive in emergency situations before and the knob was stuck on air conditioning it was freezing temperatures where I was driving in and you could not use the defroster be cause it was on cold air! you had to pull over and scrape the window and continually wipe the clouded over window. I paid $23,000 for this vehicle and not to have control of the heat and air is rediculus! you cannot always get your vehicle into a mechanic and have them manually turn the heat and air knob. And that's all you have a choice of is either heat or cold air. The HVAC system was inappropriately designed by Mitsubishi and the cable from the knob bunches up and does not work anymore. I thought not being able to use the defroster is a safety hazard. Mitsubishi needs to own up to this and recall what has affected 1000S of vehicles. You can be in an area of the country where you need the air conditioning and then drive into a snow storm and you can't use the defroster unless you find a mechanic in the middle of the night to change it over to heat. This is definitely a safety issue not being able to turn the knob to the setting you need at will for the defroster. Vehicle owners have complained to Mitsubishi but will not fixit. This has been an ongoing issue with my car since 2004. The photo shows the heat and air conditioning knob that can only be manually turned by a mechanic.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

The issue began in 2004 when my vehicle was 1 year old. The temperature control knob became frozen and you could not turn it from heat to air conditioning or the other way. I spent $23,000 on this car and you could not turn from air conditioning to heat at will only a mechanic can manually turn it underneath the vehicle and then only put it on hot or cold. One time I was driving 600 miles for an emergency with the knob stuck on air conditioning and I was not able to turn it to heat. It was below freezing temperatures and the window fogged up because I was not able to put the defroster on. I had to continually pull over to wipe off the window and the frost. There could have been an accident if I had not continually pulled over. 2002 to 2007 lancers and Outlanders have this problem. It was a design flaw by the manufacturer but they will not own up to this dangerous problem. I have had it to a mechanic many times but they cannot fix it. I do not understand why Mitsubishi is not forced to fix this for consumers when this is clearly a dangerous problem if you cannot use the defroster. I should not be made to pay for something when it is a manufacturing flaw. There are 1000S of vehicles on the road with this problem and Mitsubishi will not own up that this is a clearly safety issue. The consumer has no power in this situation I have called customer service and am told they will do nothing about it unless it's recalled. Thank you for your help in this matter I have no place else to get help with this and I can't afford another vehicle. This is wrong Mitsubishi allows cars on the road with this problem and turns a blind eye to potentially dangerous situations. Thank you for your assistance.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

Have had a constant squeal and pulling and drifting in Outlander for the last 4 months. Have had it checked out 3 times before. Today it was louder and car did not feel right. Got off the highway and car power was lost. Manuervered car to right hand side. Turned everything off. Turned car back on and it was "fine". called roadside assistance and was disconnected three times. Called 411 went straight to closest dealer who went for ride a long and said it was fine. Drove towards home and car was not driving right still drifting more, squeal was back, strange acceleration noises, speedometer seemed off, taching was high. Went to dealer closest to home. They are looking at it now.

- Ansoonia, CT, USA

Car was parked with key out of the ignition. Car rolled backwards and struck tree.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA