The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Lockup of the transfer case can occur due to insufficient lubrication.
The risk
This condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the vehicles for adequacy of the transfer case oil volume, transfer case oil leakage, and operational degradation of the transfer case mechanism. If oil volume is insufficient, the appropriate amount of oil will be added. If there is transfer case oil leakage, affected components will be replaced. If the transfer case shows operational degradation, the transfer case will be replaced.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 98V069001 (98V069001) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. |
| Component | Power train › Automatic transmission |
| Report date | March 26, 1998 |
| Owners notified | April 20, 1998 |
| Vehicles affected | 24,275 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the transmission & drivetrain
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 98V069001 repair free?
Yes. Mitsubishi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect the vehicles for adequacy of the transfer case oil volume, transfer case oil leakage, and operational degradation of the transfer case mechanism. If oil volume is insufficient, the appropriate amount of oil will be added.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 24,275 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.