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Feds Investigate Fire Hazard in Mitsubishi Galant

Automatic locks can trap passengers in burning vehicle

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

March 14, 2008

One consumer reported receiving second degree burns while trapped inside a burning Mitsubishi Galant. The Galant owner also sprained an ankle while trying to break out a window to escape from the fire in the car.

There are 190,363 of the Japanese-manufactured vehicles in the U.S.

Consumers have told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that fire “melted the door panel, the power door lock and the power window controls.”

Adding to the danger, the complaints report, “the windows and doors automatically locked during the fire.”

NHTSA has opened a preliminary evaluation of the fire hazard in the Galant “to further assess the potential safety consequences” involved with the burning cars.

The initial investigation is the first step at the federal agency that could eventually lead to a safety-related recall of the Mitsubishi Galant.

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