2002 Mitsubishi Lancer

I HAVE A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER AND THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN SINCE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND HAS SINCE DETERIORATED. THE KNOB BROKE OFF TWO WEEKS AGO. I CONTACTED MY DEALER WHO STATED THAT I CAN NOT JUST CHANGE THE KNOB I HAVE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE UNIT WHICH WILL COST ME AROUND $ 400.00 PLUS SERVICES FEES TO INSTALL IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE HEATING (AND COOLING) A VEHICLE ALLOWS IT TO BE OPERABLE DURING HOT AND COLD TEMPERATURES. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO GET COLD. I HAVE SEARCHON THE INTERNET FOR A CHEAPER TEMPERATURE CONTROL UNIT BUT HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER (OZ RALLY) THAT WAS PURCHASED IN 2002. DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF 2009, I NOTICED MY TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB WAS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO TURN. ON MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2010 IT BROKE COMPLETELY OFF, LEAVING A PARTIAL STUB OF PLASTIC IN THE CONSOLE AND THE REMAINING PLASTIC INSIDE THE KNOB. I FIRST WENT TO TWO AUTO PARTS STORES TO SEE IF THEY CARRIED THIS REPLACEMENT PIECE, AND THEIR PERSONNEL INFORMED ME I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. I THEN WENT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THE PART COULD NOT BE REPLACED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT IT WOULD COST $311 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CONSOLE IN ADDITION TO THE $150 OR MORE IN LABOR COSTS. I REFUSED TO PAY SUCH AN OUTLANDISH PRICE, CONSIDERING THAT MY CONSOLE WAS IN PERFECTLY WORKING ORDER. I ONLY NEED THE BROKEN PLASTIC MECHANISM REPLACED, NOTHING MORE. AND PAYING APPROXIMATELY $500 TO REPLACE A PLASTIC PIECE IS RIDICULOUS. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, I REALIZED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER LANCER OWNERS AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE INFORMED OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, MY WIFE'S CAR HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE HEAT CONTROL. AS I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH DUE TO IT COMPLETELY BREAKING, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH MANY CARS LIKE THIS ONE. I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AN NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED MY MITSUBISHI. IN THE BEGGINGING IT WAS AN ISSUE DUE TO PAYING ATTENTION TO THE KNOB THAT WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING TRYING TO GET HEAT OR DEFROST. THEN WHEN THE KNOB BROKE IT WAS TRYING TO TURN THE PIECE OF KNOB WITH PLIERS WHILE DRIVING AND NOW IT WILL BE TRYING TO DRIVE WITH A FROZEN WINDOW IF WE DO NOT GET IT FIXED. I DON'T THINK THAT IT SHOULD COME OUT OF THE CONSUMERS POCKET IF IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MANY OF THESE CARS. IT IS ALSO A SAFTEY ISSUE FOR THE PERSON IN THE CAR AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER BEING DISTRACTED. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB IN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO TURN SINCE PURCHASE AND HAS SINCE DETERIORATED. THE KNOB BROKE OFF YESTERDAY RESULTING IN THE TEMPERATURE SETTINGS TO NO LONGER BE OPERABLE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE HEATING (AND COOLING) A VEHICLE ALLOWS IT TO BE OPERABLE DURING STORMS AND DEEP FREEZE TEMPERATURES. *TR

THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL KNOB HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND IT FINALLY BROKE OFF RESULTING IN A VERY EXPENSIVE $1000 REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCERS AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE FOG AND ICE ON THE WINDOW CANNOT BE CLEARED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS STUCK IN THE COLD POSITION. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH UNCORRECTED WILL HAVE PEOPLE DRIVING CARS WITH FOGGED UP WINDOWS WITH NO WAY TO CLEAR IT. *TR

AC HEATER KNOB BROKE OFF CAUSING A 1,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE ON A 2002 MITSUBISHI LANCER. OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MITSUBISHI WILL NOT BACK THERE PROBLEM. I THINK THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS PART AND FIX THE PROBLEM. MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WILL NOT RECALL BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. I THINK IT IS BECAUSE MOST OF THE CONTROLS BREAK OFF ON A/C AND THAT WOULD NOT BE FUN DRIVING IN A BLIZZARD WITH YOUR A/C ON IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON FIGHTING FOR A RECALL OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE TO. *TR