100-kph speed during SUA unlikely -Mitsubishi exec

STA. ROSA, LAGUNA - For more than 10 times, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Senior Manager Arlan Antonio Reyes, Jr., took television crew and reporters to a short “fast-pace” ride inside the company compound in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The objective: to prove to everyone that there is nothing wrong in the whole system of the company's Montero Sport vehicles.

The demonstration was made during the visit here of the DTI investigating panel formed after the 97 reported incidents of Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) by Montero Sport.

Arlan Antonio Reyes, Jr., Mitsubishi senior manager, said during the demonstration that Montero Sport units cannot actually start with a 100 kph speed contrary to what some of the complainants have allegedly experienced.

“One hundred siguro lagpas pa tayo dun sa mga puno na yun (pointing at the end of the compound) para marating yung 100 from stop. Hindi naman kasi ganun as treated to as a sports car na in 3 seconds it will reach 100. Eto Ma’am nasa 14 seconds para ma-reach yung 100,” Reyes said.

Aside from witnessing the test driving of a Montero unit, members of the DTI investigation panel were briefed on how the vehicle’s engine system works as well as its built-in safety features.

Reyes said the message “check engine” or any other light warning will steadily appear in the Monetro unit’s console once a problem occurs.

The vehicle will still run “and bring you home,” but it will not perform in its full speed, Reyes assured.

Because of the complaints that they’ve received, what used to be a 50-item “Engine Warning Lamp Inspection Items” for Montero Sport has now become 64 items,” MMPC Assistant Vice President David Doctor reported.

Asked by a member of the probe panel -- Director Ann Claire Cabochan of the DTI-Bureau of Product Standards -- if detecting the SUA is one of the items, Doctor said: “SUA is a phenomena because of something happened. So the SUA has no tool to detect or any diagnostic.”

Doctor, meanwhile, confirmed that they have also received five SUA-related complaints for their Estrada units.

He told Director Walfredo Bayhon of the DTI-Legal Service that these complaints have been settled.

“All of which are closed already. If I remember it correctly, two of those complaints were handled by insurance repair and the three, the customers accepted our evaluation and it was also repaired under the insurance coverage,” Doctor said.

Montero recall?

DTI Director for Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau Danilo Enriquez, meantime, raised the idea of a possible Montero product recall given the volume of complaints against the vehicle.

Enriquez also insisted that the company should provide a more thorough check-up of its Montero units, instead of the usual “free check-up.”

“Baka yung remaining na other na aside from the 97 baka yun ang in the waiting na parang ticking bomb na anytime, mag-SUA,” Enriquez said.

Only Rafael Nieto, one of the 97 SUA complainants, attended the hearing.

Nieto, however, decided not to pursue a case against the MMPC after entering a buy-back agreement with the company.

“This had happened with a lot of other people and I would like to see what I can do in contributing or trying to find out. Because we want to avoid this from happening again,” Nieto told reporters.

Director Anselmo Adriano of the DTI-Consumer Protection & Advocacy Bureau said: “During the last hearing, it was announced and the invitation was made. Nobody said that they won’t be coming until last night I think.” —ALG, GMA News