The controversial “Sudden Unintended Acceleration” of Mitsubishi’s popular car model “Montero Sports” is now under investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) who formed a team to investigate the incident. DTI formed the team in accordance with Republic Act No. 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines.
The DTI Panel composed of three trade officials are to initiate an investigation on the reported incidents involving the Mitsubishi Montero covering the period 2010 to 2015. The team is expected to issue notices within 48 hours from its issuance to seek inputs and comments of all stakeholders, DTI Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba stated.
According to the mandate given to the team who will investigate the SUA incident of Montero Sports, the team is expected to submit a report and recommendation in two weeks, including the issuance of the appropriate order for mandatory product recall, prohibition, or seizure from public sale or distribution of the car model.
Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp., first vice president for marketing Froilan Dytianquin said that the company has already conducted a number of extensive testings and investigations of the reported incidents and the results have shown that the Montero Sport remains to be safe for use.
“We welcome the move by the DTI. We were supposed to have a press conference this Friday to show the results of our investigation in the latest case involving the sudden and unintended accelerations. We were able to get in touch with the complainant who allowed us to check his unit. We will come out with the findings by next week,” Dytianquin said in a phone interview.
Mitsubishi management added that they started selling the Montero in the Philippines since the year 2008 and the model which was produced in Thailand, is being sold in more than 90 countries. They also noted that except for five isolated cases in Australia and New Zealand, there where no incidents of unintended acceleration elsewhere, except in the Philippines.
Watch the Video Report of TV Patrol Regarding the Montero Sport SUA:
