Mitsubishi faces lawsuits due to SUA

Complaints filed with the Department of Trade and Industry against Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) are being withdrawn by consumers who want compensation due to alleged sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) incidents involving the Montero model.

“The complainants decided to file their cases before the appropriate court, which has the power to award the relief that they seek,” Trade Undersecretary Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said.

“It is their right to do so, especially since their desire is to be awarded compensation for moral, exemplary and other forms of damages which claim should rightfully be addressed by Mitsubishi Motors,” Dimagiba explained in a statement.

According to the DTI, 26 of the 31 complainants have already filed a Motion to Withdraw Complaint with the DTI because “they wish to seek compensation for moral, exemplary and other forms of damages from the MMPC that is beyond the power of DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) to grant. Under the law, DTI does not award damages.”

The DTI-FTEB received the motions to withdraw last March, and these were granted immediately.

A total of 56 complaints were filed before the DTI regarding the Mitsubishi Montero model manufactured between 2011 and 2015, of which 54 were acted on. Two remain pending. As of April 5 this year, the DTI-FTEB’s Mediation Division resolved 11, dismissed six, and archived another six complaints.

The 31 complaints that could not be mediated were elevated to DTI-FTEB’s Adjudication Division and docketed as administrative cases against the MMPC.

The 26 complaints that were withdrawn last month were among these 31 complaints.

“Even with this development, which happened before the failed public bidding on the Montero test, the DTI commits to continue its mediation and adjudication processes in response to SUA-related complaints,” Dimagiba emphasized.

The DTI is reviewing the terms of reference for the procurement of services from a third party laboratory, which was supposed to conduct full vehicle tests on the Montero model. This was due to “a failure of bidding” for the procurement of third-party laboratory services as the lone bidder was reported to be ineligible.

Eight foreign laboratories initially expressed interest to conduct full vehicle tests on the Montero Sport.

The tests are meant to determine the cause of the alleged SUA incidents involving the Montero model.