1998 Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
151,120 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 35 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 9
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 6; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10092979 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
DURING MY DRIVE TO WORK AT ESM MARKETING, I WAS DRIVING ON I95 IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA, AND GOT OFF ON CYPRESS CREEK ROAD AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEELS DID NOT MOVE. THE FRONT END OF THE STEERING LEFT ME UNBLE TO CONTROL OR MANIPULATE MY VEHICLE. I LANDED ON A MEDIAN STRIP, MAGICALLY BACK OUT OF THE MEDIAN AND MADE MY WAY TO A SHELL GAS STATION. I HAD THE GENTLEMEN LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE STATED TO ME THAT "YOU MUST HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SUVIVED THE S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187030 · 2007-04-04 (April 4, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 MONTERO SPORT AND LOST POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY. MY BELTS BROKE WHICH I HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO TOW MY VEHICLE GET IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE CALLS BACK WITH YOU HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE REASON THE BELTS JUMPED OFF WAS THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE AND SCREWED THE HARMONIC BALANCE AND OTHER THINGS UP. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED AND I KNOW THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE 1998'S BUT I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED SO I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE RECALL AND NOW MY MECHANIC SAYS SOMETIMES REP…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213681 · 2008-01-04 (January 4, 2008)
WE EXPERIENCED A SMALL SLEET/FREEZING RAIN EVENT. I TURNED ON THE FRONT WIPERS FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BECAUSE I REALIZED THE BLADES WERE FROZEN. I PROCEEDED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD AND WARM UP THE VEHICLE. AFTER WARMING UP THE VEHICLE THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK; THE 15 AMP FUSE HAD NOT BLOWN; AND I COULD NOT FIND A WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER (I PURCHASED THE SERVICE MANUALS WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE). TO MY AMAZEMENT THIS IS WHAT IS STATED IN THE VEHICHLE OWNER'S MANUAL "BEFORE OPERATIONG THE WIPERS IN COLD WEATHER, CHECK TO BE SURE THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213681 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260427 · 2009-03-02 (March 2, 2009)
I BOUGHT A 1998 MITSUBITSHI MONTERO SPORT LS APPROX. 9 MONTHS AGO AND WHILE IT RAN GREAT ABOUT A MONTH AGO I STARTED NOTICING WHEN I WOULD GO TO START IT UP IT WOULD ACT LIKE THE BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD. SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THEN ABOUT 4 DAYS AFTER THAT OUT OF NO WHERE THE ENGINE WOULD START SQUEALING. BUT THAT WOULD ONLY LAST FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. AND STOP UNTIL THE TURN WOULD BE OFF LONG ENOUGH FOR THE ENGINE TO GET COLD. WELL I WAS ON MY WAY OUT OF TOWN TO SEE A MEDICAL SPECIALIST FOR MY DAUGHTER'S CONTINUING…
Owner-reported narrative. 183,114 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260427 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134728 · 2005-08-30 (August 30, 2005)
MANUFACTURER DEFECT...EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WORE A HOLE IN VEHICLE'S GAS TANK. BOTH BRAKE CABLE AND GAS TANK WERE IN THE POSITION AS MANUFACTURED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222734 · 2008-03-30 (March 30, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST BEGIN TO ACCELERATE THE MORE I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE FASTER THE CAR RAN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10222734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409788 · 2011-06-28 (June 28, 2011)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, I-78, AND OTHER HIGHWAYS, THE MITSUBISHI ALTERNATOR INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER ELECTRICALLY CONTROL FUNCTIONS. WHAT MAKES THIS NOTABLY IS THAT IT WAS THE 5TH ALTERNATOR THAT FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1-1/2 YEARS. EACH TIME WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CONTROL AND OPERATION, OCCURRED WITH NARROW ESCAPES FROM SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WHILE NAVIGATING TO SAFETY.
Owner-reported narrative. 307,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 874798 · 2000-11-13 (November 13, 2000)
WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063154 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
ON JULY 2002, AT 65,378 MILES DEALER REPLACED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 2 YEAR LATER, DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,378 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063154 at NHTSA ↗