Pajero Owners Club of South Africa

Guys, this is just a friendly heads up....the new pajero sport, with its fancy new 2.5hp diesel power plant and other upgrades, still suffers from the same (ish) steering maladies . The triton, and the 3.2 pajsport had a steering problem in that it developed play and a knocking noise which was audible when maneuvering. There was actually a repair which was authorized by mitsubishi, and consequently a service bulletin was issued on this repair to be done under warranty. I know this because I owned both these vehicles over 4 years.

The new 2.5 high power pajsport has another steering problem that involves the complete replacement of the steering clock spring mechanism. It can and usually does manifest itself in an airbag warning light, but in my case a very slight steering creek occurred, which I thought at first to be something only in need of a bit of silicone lube . The steering was completely unaffected with no play or knocking, and no srs warning lights either. It's only because I am anal that the agents reluctantly took the steering apart and ananounced that the clock spring needed to be replaced. The srs light came on only after they tinkered with it . After putting the pajsport safely away in the garage for the holidays and being relegated to driving my wife's honda Jazz, the clock spring part arrived and was replaced. All is well....for now....but please, owners of new pajsports, be extra vigilant with potential steering woes. They might follow you around like a bad habit

Hi, I have a 2010 Pajero Sport that I purchased a while ago and it also have the knocking sound in the steering. Do you perhaps know if the service bulletin was only for vehicles still under warranty?

Hi Hennie. The knocking noise from the steering is a known problem and affected the tritons as well. On the 4x4 community, this has been discussed to death, and there is even a fix which is detailed by one of the more technically gifted members . My local agents also showed me a copy of the service bulletin and a breakdown of the fix which mitsubishi Japan recommended when my 3.2 Pajsport was in for the steering a few years back. Based on the fact that this is a known problem with a bulletin issued, your local agents should approach Imperial (which is apparently less painful than having teeth pulled..but only just ) and get a repair authorized on their penny. Please let us know what they say. Good luck.

Thanks so much for the feedback. I have visited our dealer in Pmb who also gave me the info on the repair they have been doing on the steering columns, but said it would be for my own account as it is out of warranty. I will try to get feedback from Mitsubishi SA just to be sure, otherwise will have to get it fixed and hope it works.

My 2011 model was recalled by Mitsubishi Boksburg during 2012 and the necessary modifications done, no questions asked.

Hennie, if you are the second owner you may have to argue your way through this. Fact is they must prove that they attempted to get hold of the owner at the time, and furthermore, seeing that this may have been unsuccessful, you have now come to the fore. Thus they are obliged to do the mod, as it is a recall, nothing to do warranty non negotiable? God forbid you have an accident due to this and a legal claim is made against them, they will be in serious trouble!

Hi,
Just to post some feedback regarding my PS steering knock issue, the local dealer sent all info to Mitsubishi HO for a claim. Unfortunately they could not trace the info for the 100 000km service as it was not on system or book and i purchased the vehicle after that. because of that technicality, they declined the repair under warranty. As if that specific service could have changed cause of the damage or even confirm that is had the steering issue at the time. i cannot even trace the previous owner, so seems I have to take this on the chin

Please do not accept this. If you have not already fixed the steering from your pocket, chase after Mitsubishi Imperial. As already mentioned, it can be interpreted as a recall, and their published "fix" is proof that they acknowledge a manufacturing fault. Take it up with Mitsubishi SA directly - leave your local dealer out of it. Dont threaen them with legal action should anything go wrong, just tell them a "goodwill gesture"to fix a known malady would not go amiss. If that fails, then threaten thm with leagl action . Just don't let it go!