Mitsubishi Montero Sudden Acceleration Accidents [MERGED]

**johnachua** · April 18th, 2012 03:45 PM

wala pang findings e. actually we sent a formal demand letter to Citimotors regarding this already. tapos yun nga like what i mentioned in the blog, medyo nakakainis lalo yung reply. they had a subtle way of telling us that it was my dad's fault even though they have not yet conducted a formal investigation. up to now, they have not tried to contact us yet. there was this one call, but it was from their in-house insurance.

**Retz** · April 18th, 2012 03:59 PM

Originally Posted by johnachua

wala pang findings e. actually we sent a formal demand letter to Citimotors regarding this already. tapos yun nga like what i mentioned in the blog, medyo nakakainis lalo yung reply. they had a subtle way of telling us that it was my dad's fault even though they have not yet conducted a formal investigation. up to now, they have not tried to contact us yet. there was this one call, but it was from their in-house insurance.

Ang findings ng Citimotors ay susi sa pag resolba sa SUA issue hounding Monty. But I doubt if they will released a finding that is not in their favor. Edi atakehin ang mga Monty owners if indeed may nakitang flawed sa system. Nonetheless, It is a good start. Kung meron lang sanang independent body that is capable of doing post car investigation accidents lalo na at ito ay isang hindi pangkaraniwan na accident.

**niky** · April 18th, 2012 04:32 PM

Not here.

The participation of the manufacturer is vital because equipment to download electronic logs are not widespread. While OBDII makes it easier to download diagnostic data, some of the functions are still not accessible unless you have the right software.

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Electronic problems are difficult to pinpoint and even more difficult to prove. In the software industry, you have testers whose only job is to replicate the exact keystrokes and processor state needed to cause a crash or a glitch.

One reason automotive ECUs cost so much is because they have to be more robust than personal computers, and they have to run without fault for thousands of hours. The programming has to be simple and robust. It's very unlikely that there will be an ECU fault... and if there is one, given the very limited sets of inputs available to the ECU, it will be easy to replicate under controlled conditions.

It's more likely that any fault will lie in the physical controls or electronic sensors and controls that interface with the engine speed governor. That leaves you with the throttle pedal. While it's possible for this to malfunction, it's as unlikely as having your volume knob twist to "10" by itself... something which I also have yet to see in a motor vehicle... or in any radio or MP3 player, for that matter. Which leaves the most likely culprit, driver error, or, if the driver is not pressing on the pedals at all, mat entanglement.

If the dealer installed aftermarket floor mats on your 4x4, then that is the most likely culprit. The government investigations in the US came to the conclusion that mat entanglement was a real danger, and that electronic gremlins were unlikely.

Given that it's a 2010 vehicle, there may be wear and tear usage that affects engine running, such as a blocked or dirty EGR, but I have yet to see blocked EGR cause a runaway engine... maybe soot build-up on the speed governor, which can be checked. Nevertheless... if you want a totally unbiased investigation, better that it not be done at the dealership that sold you the car, but by a third party.

**spotdog11** · April 18th, 2012 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by johnachua

In the context of the statement made by Dr. Anderson, driver malfunction pertains to the error on the part of the driver (i.e. pedal misapplication) while the electronic malfunction refers to a defect in the vehicle which manifests "If the cruise control servo or the electronic throttle servo, in the case of an electronic throttle system, moves the throttle to the open position uncommanded".

Now about the two possibilities being mutually exclusive, i don't think his statement is wrong. If for example the vehicle indeed has faulty electronic system such that even though the driver does not depress the accelerator pad, the throttle still moves to the open position, then regardless which pedal the driver depresses or whether or not the driver stepped on the brake the fact that the vehicle malfunctioned means that the accident was caused by a problem in the vehicle. Yes, the driver can worsen the situation by not having the presence of mind but it will be never be the fault of the driver if in the first place the vehicle malfunctioned. You cannot tell the driver that "Yes the vehicle malfunctioned but you should have done this or that so it's your fault." On the other hand, if it was a case of an error on the part of the driver then regardless whether the vehicle malfunctioned or not, if the driver inadvertently stepped on the accelerator pad, then accident is clearly inevitable.

I did not say that there was a problem in the braking system of our Montero. What I said in my blog was that when our Montero surged forward from standstill, i took only 2 seconds before it rammed into a parked RAV4 (distance was approx 12meters only). My dad remembered hitting the brakes but it was already too late.

There is one fact that I just have to repeat. The brakes are stronger than the engine, no amount of engine power from a montero can overpower the brakes. I tested this myself and Im convinced. I have to disagree with your post that it does not matter what pedal the driver is stepping and what matters is that the car had a SUA. Please also have an open mind sir, it would be impossible for a driver not to do anything if indeed the car has SUA. He would surely step as hard as possible on the brakes to avoid impact. If he is not stepping on the brake, then he must be stepping on the accelerator and if he is stepping on the accelerator then there is no SUA in the first place. This is probably the reason why all reported montero SUA ended up in an accident. I have yet to hear of a claim that a montero driver experienced SUA but the driver was able to avoid accident because he was able to step on the brake and stop the car. They simply could not since they were stepping on the accelerator, thinking it was the brake.

IMHO, it would be more believable if the claim did not end up in an impact because the driver was able to apply the brake and stop the car. This case would indicate that the driver was indeed stepping on the right pedal.

**Ry_Tower** · April 18th, 2012 06:11 PM

Basta kaya i-preno yang engine ng MS ng brakes niya. So I will still contend na ang driver na nataranta, talagang aabot sa bangga. Pero kapag may presence of mind, makaka-preno.

Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan 'wag magagalit.

**Retz** · April 18th, 2012 06:15 PM

^

probably stepping on the accelerator pedal instead of brake pedal when changing from 'P' to 'D'. kaya bumulusok agad.

**skybison** · April 18th, 2012 06:15 PM

Hay pag ang puno mabunga, binabato lagi. Hihihihi

Lovin' my '11 gls-v. 25k odo in 1yr. Nyahaha

**ghosthunter** · April 18th, 2012 06:35 PM

**johnachua** · April 18th, 2012 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by spotdog11

There is one fact that I just have to repeat. The brakes are stronger than the engine, no amount of engine power from a montero can overpower the brakes. I tested this myself and Im convinced. I have to disagree with your post that it does not matter what pedal the driver is stepping and what matters is that the car had a SUA. Please also have an open mind sir, it would be impossible for a driver not to do anything if indeed the car has SUA. He would surely step as hard as possible on the brakes to avoid impact. If he is not stepping on the brake, then he must be stepping on the accelerator and if he is stepping on the accelerator then there is no SUA in the first place. This is probably the reason why all reported montero SUA ended up in an accident. I have yet to hear of a claim that a montero driver experienced SUA but the driver was able to avoid accident because he was able to step on the brake and stop the car. They simply could not since they were stepping on the accelerator, thinking it was the brake.

IMHO, it would be more believable if the claim did not end up in an impact because the driver was able to apply the brake and stop the car. This case would indicate that the driver was indeed stepping on the right pedal.

Hi sir! I'm afraid you have misunderstood my statement. I was merely trying to explain to Niky why driver malfunction and electronic malfunction are mutually exclusive in the context of what Dr. Anderson said. I did not say that a driver will not do anything if his car suddenly accelerates on its own. So yes I am keeping an open mind.