1999 Mitsubishi Fuso FE649: complaints, problems and recalls

REAR SEAL IN A/T BLEW OUT CAUSED BY REAR BEARING FAILURE. A/T FLUID THEN CORRODED PARKING BRAKE LINE CAUSING PARKING BRAKE TO NOT GRAB. MECHANIC TOLD ME REAR BEARING FAILED DUE TO OPPOSITE MOVEMENT IN A/T WHEN IN GEAR OR PARK. THERE WAS A RECALL ON PARKING BRAKE SEVERAL YEARS AGO. ALSO TWO RECALLS NOW 05V-303 AND 05V-304. COULD EITHER OF THESE CAUSE THIS ISSUE? I BELIEVE THIS IS DANGEROUS DUE TO PARKING BRAKE NOT GRABBING AND VEHICLE COULD ROLL DOWN HILL. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 64,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162100 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE TIE ROD END BALL JOINT DUST BOOT WAS DESIGNED WITH INSUFFICIENT SEALING ABILITY. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW CONTAMINATION TO ENTER INTO THE TIE ROD END BALL JOINT, ABNORMALLY WEARING THE RESIN BEARING LOCATED INSIDE THE JOINT.

Consequence: THE TIE ROD END BALL JOINT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE TIE ROD END, DISABLING THE STEERING SYSTEM, AND CAUSING A CRASH .

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL MODIFIED TIE ROD END ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 856-467-3917.

Reported: 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE CABLE END OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE, WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER, IS DESIGNED IMPROPERLY. REPEATED NORMAL PARKING BRAKE OPERATION MAY CAUSE THE CABLE END TO BECOME IMPROPERLY SEATED IN THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER GROOVE.

Consequence: IN THIS CONDITION, THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE MAY BEND AND BREAK DUE TO FATIGUE. THE PARKING BRAKE MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE TRUCK MAY ROLL AND CAUSE A CRASH, PROPERTY AND PERSONAL INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE FOR BENDING OR DAMAGE AT THE CABLE END AND INSTALL A MODIFIED PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY IF THE CABLE IS BENT OR DAMAGED AT THE CABLE END. IF NO BENDING OR DAMAGE EXISTS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A CABLE RETAINER ON THE CABLE END OF THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 13, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-877-711-0707.

Reported: 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS, THE REAR ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET IS COMPOSED OF MATERIALS OF INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH. NORMAL VEHICLE VIBRATIONS MAY CAUSE THE BRACKET TO CRACK.

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BRACKET MAY BREAK APART, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DROP OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED REAR ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS, RUST BUILD-UP ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (A/T) SHIFT LINKAGE MAY CAUSE THE LINKAGE TO BIND. RUST BUILD-UP IS ACCELERATED IN GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS THAT ARE SITUATED NEAR LARGE BODIES OF SALT WATER, OR IN REGIONS WITH HEAVY SNOW/ICE MELTING COMPOUND USAGE IN WINTER MONTHS.

Consequence: THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE A/T SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY INCREASE IF THE LINKAGE BINDS DUE TO RUST BUILD-UP. THE SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR THE PHYSICAL SHIFT LEVER POSITION ON THE SHIFT LEVER HOUSING GEAR INDICATOR MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL GEAR SELECTION AT THE TRANSMISSION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED A/T SHIFT CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.

Reported: 2008-05-15 (May 15, 2008)

MITSUBISHI FUSO IS RECALLING 10,325 MY 1999-2004 FE639 AND FE649 TRUCKS. THE REAR ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET IS COMPOSED OF MATERIALS OF INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH. NORMAL VEHICLE VIBRATIONS MAY CAUSE THE BRACKET TO CRACK.

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS CONTINUALLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BRACKET MAY BREAK APART. THE TRANSMISSION COULD DROP OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED REAR ENGINE SUPPORT BRACKET COMPONENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 856-467-3917.

Reported: 2008-05-16 (May 16, 2008)

MITSUBISHI FUSO IS RECALLING 15,549 MY 1999-2004 FE639, FE649, AND FG639 TRUCKS; MY 2001-2004 FE640, AND MY 2003-2004 FH210 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. NORMAL HEAT EMANATING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE MAY CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE TO DEFORM. THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY INCREASE IF THE LINKAGE BINDS DUE TO THE DEFORMATION.

Consequence: THE SHIFT CONTROL LEVER MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR THE PHYSICAL SHIFT LEVER POSITION ON THE SHIFT LEVER HOUSING GEAR INDICATOR MAY NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL GEAR SELECTION AT THE TRANSMISSION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LEVER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 6, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI FUSO AT 1-856-467-4500.