You are right, it's not a manufacturing defect. It is an outright scam considering they used the same pump since '05. They had a whole generation of redesign to work it out and they didn't.

The ACD pump is not a luxury item like the Sirius radio. If Mitsubishi sold and advertise the car as a 4x4 car that worked as an AWD car for the first 40k miles sure. However, they sold the car as an AWD. Leather seats would be a luxury item. When leather seats start to crack it doesn't trigger ominous messages like, "4WD System Service Required" in your car computer telling you to check in with your dealership or you might just die on the road. Unless you haunt car enthusiast boards like these you might just take the dealership's word for the gospel truth.

Combined with what you've told me regarding the actual price for these pumps and what the OP described happened in the dealership the whole thing now reeked of a conspiracy. I sincerely doubt the OP is the first guy in that dealership with this problem. Practically all AWD mitsubishis made since '05 will experience ACD pump failure especially in places where they salt their roads in the winter like Chicago. Yet look at the dog and pony show the dealership put on for the OP to extract $3k from him as it's the first time they've dealt with such a scenario. I like the part where they tried to make it as if the OP is responsible for its defect. Intake/exhaust is responsible for the corrosion on the pump?! Really?! Even $700 is a ripoff. The OP did the right thing and told us of what happened. However the average Mitsubishi owner won't know about this ever. they'll get suckered into the $3k payment or a trade in at an insanely low price because their "4WD" is now bonkers and requires an expensive fix.

OP, you should really tell us the name of the dealership so Mitsubishi owners in Chicago won't have to deal with their crap.

 

Just for reference everyone, I had a similar experience with the ACD pump failure on my X.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...wc-system.html

Also, please check out the thread below and submit a complaint if you have been denied ACD pump replacement between 36,000-60,000 miles (powertrain warranty)

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-failures.html

 

I'm out in the southwest suburbs of Chicago..I took it first to Continental Mitsubishi of Countryside. They scanned the car and basically gave me a invoice for 3 grand telling me the pump was dead and that's the cost. They did nothing else to help out or make any other calls or get any else higher up.

So then I took it to South Suburban Mitsubishi in Monee...I'm actually get the new pump installed there tomorrow for the 700.00 cost. The service manager got a hold of someone higher up who's the decision maker and that's when they reduced the cost. I was still steamed even after their discount just because of the whole thing. He basically told me I am soooo lucky they're doing this for me because they could do nothing if they choose since I'm not under warranty and that it was almost impossible to get a hold of the district guy who calls the shots. Basically trying to make themselves look super good like they went above and beyond.

So anyways, I took it to the Mitsubishi Facebook page for the heck of it, and started writing on their page on their great " powertrain " warranty when they posted pics of their 4WD system which they pride themselves in and told people my story and basically said" Thanks Mitsubishi for your flawed 4WD system and wanting 3 grand from me, your warranty sure is great." Mitsubishi wrote back and said to call their corporate offices. So I did, I spoke to a woman and told her everything and I opened up a case, saying I should be taken care of on the labor also. So she said a case manager would call by the name of Marius.

So latest update while I was out of town on the weekend...The service manager who thinks he's Jesus and saving me calls me up, and ask me why I called corporate and questioning me since corporate called their dealership. I told him I just thought it couldn't hurt to try to talk to someone higher above and get the labor taken care of also. He basically was all hurt and pissed about me calling in and he told me " We are already doing more than enough for you, you go and call corporate and my district manager who is only charging you 700 takes this as a slap in the face.. He said we are trying to help this guy out and he's just slapping us around. We don't have to do anything for him" I just basically said I feel how I shouldn't have to pay anything at all and that I thought it couldn't hurt trying and that was the end of that.

So one hour later, Case Manager named Marius calls me from California...Basically it's the same thing every single one of these other pawns keeps telling me. They side step all the certain questions and just follow their same routine to tell me to screw off and you have to pay for it and they been more than generous. He then said the word modifications about 76 times saying they can't do more because of them and if I didnt have them it might be different. I said " A GOD DAMN AIR FILTER AND CAT BACK EXHAUST HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DIFFERENTIALS AND DRIVE CHAIN." He then claims that any single aftermarket part can have an effect on the computer and can affect any part and all this other BS. So he tells me everything that Ive heard from everyone else which is "Were not covering it, it's not under the power train, plus you have mods, your paying for it,and weve been more than nice and generous paying for most of it and helping you out."

So that's it,sorry for the long message, but that's the latest update. All I know is that I'm selling the vehicle before the 60K warranty fully goes out. It makes me wonder at only 43K a 3000.00 service is needed on a $30K car, then what's next? I guarantee that transmission goes out right at 63K once that warranty is up so you have to pay 12 grand for a new trans, there's no way in hell I'm going to deal with that after this and all these insane cost.

 

It's unfortunate that you went forward and agreed to that $700 so quickly. I can guarantee that is a HUGE step above standard rate for the labor involved to replace and bleed an AWC pump, but unfortunately you are pretty much stuck at this point with the rep already involved and working with that particular dealership on your case, and the part already in their posession.

While this is a relatively common issue with these cars, you are outside of your warranty period, however, and should be glad to be getting such a break. And while I agree that $700 is unfair, your (what seems like) feelings of entitlement regarding full coverage of a part on which they are already offering a large amount of good-will assistance are a bit uncalled for.

Dealership personnel are simply hit-or-miss when it comes to people skills, and more often than not, they seem to be severely lacking in that department; something that regularly boggles my mind in a field where customer service and satisfaction should be a priority. I cannot speak for your personal experience, but I very much believe that they were not the easiest people to deal with in your situation.

Perhaps they (Mitsu Corporate) were being unnecessarily direct and critical of your behavior and intentions, but you also need to realize how many people actually do mod the hell out of there cars then return them to stock when they break and hope for warranty coverage. Just think of how many people come on here asking questions and the first question from them, or suggestion from responses is to put it back to stock and bring it to the dealer. This may not specifically describe your situation, but it is more common than not, and Mitsu does not know you any better than anyone else and therefore are understandably hesitant to extend ANY coverage to a RalliArt or Evo owner with any indication of previous modifications.

No, your mods don't have anything to do with the failure, that is agreed.

We all ***** and complain about how Mitsu does so many stupid things when it comes to their cars and warranty. In the end, though, with the amount of information out there, as educated consumers, we should be aware of the shortcomings of our vehicles and the services that stand behind them (which is why, now, you feel the need to get rid of your vehicle before the 60k mile mark).

 

In your opinion, what would be the best way to let Mitsubishi know that it's about time they update their ACD pump design?

 

I'm at the dealer now getting the new pump on. They're saying it's about a 3 hour job to do it and still telling me how they went above and beyond and how I should be soooooo grateful and kiss the ground they walk on since they're covering the part and I'm paying the 700+ dollar labor

 

Mitsubish is aware that they have problems. This is part of the reason why it is now placed in the rear, hoping to avoid failure issues from its previous location in the front lower corner. The reason that they are doing nothing to remedy this problem is that the cases requiring repair are statistically less than they deem financially necessary for a redesign. The unit/system is very effective when operational and the number of failures only appears great to us because of the highly concentrated level of users on here doing what we do.

If they do end up completely revamping the Evo platform, that is likely where we will see changes, if any. Though, to date, I have yet to replace (or see the replacement of) a pump on a S-AWC-equipped Outlander Sport. Clearly having to lock-up and reign in the heightened power/torque output of the Evo and modified RalliArts takes some toll on these pumps.

That's such a crock, I'm very sorry that they are taking advantage of you in such a way. MITSU CORPORATE and the DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE are the ones who agreed to help you and cover the cost of your pump, and the dealership personnel are just gouging you for as much as they can get away with stuffing into their pockets and asking you to thank them for it? Needless to say, I wouldn't go back there ever again, if I were you. Warranty labor time is 2.6 hours for that pump. Even by standardized labor times, you should be no more than 3.5 hours; no more than $500, even at the highest hourly labor rate.

 

That's a real shame. Though, I still think the OP is one bada$$ ****. Kicking a$$ and taking names. I wish I would be as tough once my ACD pump fails. I am still glad he rocked the boat though. Taking it all the way to NA headquarters. Get the PR people complaining to the engineers and get them to complain to the bean counters. Might just be the catalyst we need to get a redesign or even a recall kicked off.

As for me, I guess I'll have to start to hunt for a back up ACD pump. Though I will do my best to spread the word. Thank you OP for championing the cause of the people. Mad respect!

 

If you ever met me, I'm actually a real calm, chill and friendly person who avoids any type of violence, confrontation and all that stuff unless it's someone messing with your family,g/f/wife, or something on a personal level and a legitimate reason..

It's just this whole thing from the start has really left me sour and with a real bad taste in a mouth and I felt it was worth to take a stand and do something about it..I don't think I am done either..I will be going on https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/ and filing a complaint and do whatever else I can to help us out. It's complete BS that us Ralli/Evo owners get a $30K+ vehicle and we get this malfunction right after their stupid little 36K mile warranty expires and it's not covered under the 60K powertrain warranty which it should clearly be covered!

So the rest of the differentials are covered under the 60K , but the one part which is technically part of the differential and powertrain, the ACD Pump, is only covered up to 36K, and the pump, 95% from the looks of it goes out after 36k miles...Well they obviously know something about the longevity and durability of the pump that's why it's the one part that's not covered under 60k on the differential..It honestly feels like some type of scam. So this faulty thing automatically goes out after 36K, they don't cover it and can suck 3 grand out of your bank account..Imagine how many people don't read these boards and other sources and handing them over the 3K..

Yes, I only paid 700.00,instead of 3K which is a big difference...But to me it's still not enough...You may say I'm being too greedy or think I'm the type who's self entitled to certain things... To me, it feels like a scam, of a faulty, poorly designed part that they know malfunctions after a certain time so they cover it only up to a certain point knowing it will go out so they can suck 3 grand out of you..This part is a differential pump, which is part of the power train,which should be covered under 60K power train warranty..one of the reasons I bought this car was for the AWD and you won't cover it Mitsubishi? How is the AWD system not the powertrain?

Sorry about my long rant and multiple ranting post...It just pisses me off and with so many people with this same problem and Mitsu trying to bend us over and rob us for a complete poorly designed manufacturer defect which they will not pony up to or admit is complete BS and a scam and I think it's time to stand up and rise and see what we can do to change anything.

 

Ironically, this light just came on in my 2010 RA Sportback.

Took it to the dealership, the Mechanic told me that he had to reflash the ECU to clear the code and that the code was thrown by a 'faulty sensor.'

The fact my car was out of Warranty (3 year / 30k - Im at 3.1 years and only 26k miles) I had to pay for the reflash (like 27 bucks).

The mechanic also told me that if it happened again, the part wold need to be replaced. But that all I had to do was come back in, they would take pictures of the Code/Part and would email them to Mitsubishi who would agree to have the work to be covered under the extended warranty or some such thing...

So this may be a dealership thing. As the guy told me he was able to get these parts covered even with cars that were heavily modified.