Philippine regulators will investigate accidents involving Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s Montero Sport vehicles after complaints that they can speed out of control.
The Trade Department formed a panel that will conduct the probe and recommend actions including a possible product recall or sales ban, if warranted, according to a copy of an order issued by Undersecretary Victorio Mario Dimagiba on Wednesday. The investigation will cover sudden and unintended acceleration incidents from 2010 to 2015.
"We've done a series of tests in 2011 including by our principals in Japan and found nothing wrong with the Montero Sport," Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. Vice President Froilan Dytianquin said by telephone. Other countries have not reported similar accidents, he said.
The Philippine unit also issued a statement on its website, saying, "The performance and behavior of the Montero Sport is completely dependent on driver action and reaction, and that the vehicle will only move upon driver intervention."
Congressman Neri Colmenares also filed a resolution on Wednesday seeking to probe the accidents after being approached by two complainants who had accidents in the past two months, he said by telephone.
"These accidents have been reported as early as 2011 so we want to know why our regulators haven't acted on some complaints," Colmenares said. "The House investigation will also try to find out whether there's a need to amend the Lemon Law or Consumer Act."