Another Montero alleged SUA incident reported in Iloilo

Another incident of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport's alleged sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) was reported by a family driver, this time in Iloilo City, a report from GMA's “24 Oras” by Sherrie Ann Torres said Wednesday.

 

In the report, driver Gregorio Deloeste claimed that he was about to park the 2012 automatic transmission Montero Sport in the family home's garage when he experienced the SUA.

 

“Bigla na lang nag-rebolusyon nang malakas, 'di na siya makontrol. Inapakan ko ang preno,” he said.

 

Deloeste said he immediately stepped on the brakes, shifted to neutral gear and even pulled the hand brake but to no avail.

 

The vehicle plowed through the house's living room, destroying some furnitures and appliances. No one was hurt in the incident.

 

Deloeste said this happened after they had a computer test on the vehicle last week showing it was in good condition.

 

The car dealer of Mitsubishi immediately went to the family to check the incident, the report said. It added that Mitsubishi officials will go there on Thursday to conduct an investigation.

 

“We really cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle. Kung tama ang pagmamaneho ninyo hindi kayo ma aaksidente,” Mitsubushi Motors Corporate Communications Senior Manager Arlan Antonio Reyes said in the report.

 

A number of individuals who allegedly experienced the Montero Sport's SUA have already surfaced prompting the Department of Trade and Industry to inspect Mitsubishi's Laguna manufacturing plant.

 

One incident was even caught on CCTV where a white Montero Sport was seen suddenly plowing through motorcycles in a parking lot and fuming black smoke shortly after switching drivers.

 

In another incident, retired Engr. Bernardino Bernardo claimed that he and his wife's lives were placed in danger last November 10 due to the SUA.

 

“Pag kambyo ko sa drive aba hindi ko pa tinatapakan ang accelerator, nasa breakpad pa ako. Hindi ko pa pinapatakbo tumakbo na ng sobrang bilis,” he said.

 

Mitsubishi has repeatedly said that it was technically impossible for their Montero Sport vehicle to have SUA. To prove this, they conducted a stress test in front of the DTI officials.

 

The DTI led a hearing on the SUA issue last December 2. They are expected to release the investigation panel's report on December 17.  — Andrei Medina/ELR, GMA News