Mitsubishi Montero Sport crash incidents explained

In late 2015, incidents of sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) involving the Mitsubishi Montero Sport have been reported in the Philippines. Concerns regarding the safety of the car model were raised and several class action lawsuits against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines were filed.

As of, over 100 complaints against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines were filed by Montero Sport owners. The incident has since been the subject of an investigation by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). There are also several sudden unintended acceleration incidents involving 2009 to 2011 Montero that date way back in the year 2010 to 2012. However, no such incidences have surfaced in other countries.

At least 23 SUA incidents involving Montero Sports were recorded by the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, from motorists in Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, Iloilo City, Laguna and Tacloban.^[1]

Mitsubishi has asserted that the vehicles are safe to use and any sudden acceleration claims were of no basis;^[2] The company however offered a free inspection for Montero owners affected by the incident.^[3]

Notable incidents

• On September 13, 2014, during the funeral procession of the remains of former Ilocos Norte vice governor Mariano Nalupta, Jr., a Montero Sport (owned by the bereaved family of Nalupta), suddenly accelerated and struck 13 people who were part of the procession. The incident resulted in two casualties and injured 11, including board member Ria Christina Fariñas, daughter of Congressman Rodolfo Fariñas.^[4]
• On July 15, Bishop Noel Alba Pantoja's wife was nearly killed when the vehicle fell into a 57adj=midNaNadj=mid ravine upon accelerating on a dangerous curved road.^[5]
• In December 2015, a Montero Sport slammed into several concrete barriers on the Skyway Stage 3 construction on Araneta Avenue in Tatalon, Quezon City.^[6]
• On December 7, in Iloilo City, an owner of a Montero Sport reported his vehicle suddenly accelerated and rammed into his house's dining room.^[7]
• On December 21, 2017, ABS-CBN News reporter Doris Bigornia and her cameraman were involved in an accident involving a Montero Sport.^[8]
• On March 17, 2021, the Land Bank EDSA Congressional Branch in Muñoz, Quezon City was unintentionally rammed by a white Mitsubishi Montero Sport GLS-V driven by Esther Peralta,^[9] injuring a bank employee.
• On September 18, 2021, a Mister Donut branch in Greenhills, San Juan was rammed by a white Mitsubishi Montero Sport, causing damage to the donut shop and a parked taxi. No injuries were reported.^[10]
• On January 6, 2022, a silver Mitsubishi Montero Sport crashed into two sedans in the parking lot of Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City.^[11]
• On August 9, 2023, two people were killed after being hit by a driver of a Mitsubishi Montero Sport along Madison Street in Mandaluyong.^[12]

Investigation

Initially, the DTI has not ordered any recall of Montero Sport models following its two-week investigation on the alleged SUA incidents.^[13] In 2017 the agency has ordered a recall on all automatic transmission variants of the vehicle manufactured between 2010 and 2015, but has since clarified that the recall order was not yet final and executory.^[14]

Other reactions

Bayan Muna representatives Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate blamed the incidents on the Department of Trade and Industry's failure to conduct safety inspections on the vehicles in question.^[2]

In light of the incidents, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines has asserted that the Montero Sport is safe to use, and any claims of sudden acceleration are devoid of any basis.^[2]

Quezon City Rep. Winnie Castelo, the current chairman of Metro Manila development committee urged Mitsubishi Motors to recall all its defective Montero models until the investigation of the DTI have been concluded.^[15]

The incident inspired numerous parodies and satirical reactions, among them a mobile app entitled "SUA Your Face", in reference to Montero owners adopting the hashtag #SUAyourface as a response to the incidents' notoriety in Philippine media.^[16]

See also

• 2009–11 Toyota vehicle recalls

Notes and References

1. News: Montero driver in QC mishap blames 'sudden acceleration'. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 12 Dec 2015. 6 Dec 2015.
2. News: DTI creates panel to probe accidents involving Mitsubishi Montero Sport. BusinessMirror. 12 Dec 2015. 25 Nov 2015.
3. News: Have Montero Sport checked for free: DTI. Perez. Ace June Rell. 4 January 2016. SunStar. 31 August 2017.
4. Web site: 'Fariñas daughter nearly killed in Montero crash'. The Daily Tribune. 3 December 2015. 13 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20170421233912/http://www.tribune.net.ph:80/commentary/farinas-daughter-nearly-killed-in-montero-crash. 21 April 2017. dead.
5. News: Montero Sport 'victims' share their stories; UK expert weighs in. CNN Philippines. 12 Dec 2015. 5 Dec 2015. 5 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171105001337/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/12/04/Montero-Sport-sudden-acceleration-victims-stories.html. dead.
6. Web site: Montero driver in QC mishap blames 'sudden acceleration'. inquirer. 6 December 2015 . 2023-07-27.
7. News: Montero driver in Iloilo reports sudden unintended acceleration case. CNN Philippines. 12 Dec 2015. 9 Dec 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114020/http://cnnphilippines.com/regional/2015/12/09/montero-sudden-unintended-acceleration-mitsubishi-iloilo.html. dead.
8. Web site: 6 injured in Edsa-Shaw accident, including ABS-CBN's Doris Bigornia. inquirer. 21 December 2017 . 2023-07-27.
9. Web site: One hurt after SUV crashes into bank in Quezon City. Wheels. 17 March 2021 . 2023-07-27.
10. https://bilyonaryo.com/2021/09/18/montero-strikes-again-mitsubishi-suv-smashes-through-mister-donut-shop-in-greenhills/property/
11. https://visor.ph/traffic/driver-narrates-that-this-is-another-sua-incident/
12. https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/9/2-dead-in-mandaluyong-freak-accident
13. News: No recall of Montero Sport – DTI. CNN Philippines. Garcia. Paul. 17 December 2015. 17 December 2015. 22 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100644/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/12/17/Montero-Sport-sudden-unintended-acceleration-recall.html. dead.
14. News: Recall of Montero Sport units not yet final, executory —DTI. 8 June 2017. GMA News. GMA Network. 31 August 2017.
15. Web site: Despite Top Gear defense, House leader asks Mitsubishi to recall 'defective' Montero. 3 December 2015. Politiko. 13 December 2015.
16. Web site: SUA Your Face. Google Play. Mesocyclone Studios. 18 December 2015.