Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
347 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 194 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 347 complaints (6.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 73 | 21.0% |
| Steering behavior | 47 | 13.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 32 | 9.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 4.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 2.0% |
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 | 24 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 23 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 23 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 19 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 14 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 24; Air Bags:Frontal: 23; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 23; Engine And Engine Cooling: 19; Air Bags: 18; Electrical System: 18; Steering: 18; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 59 |
| 150,000 and above | 40 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 59; 150,000 and above: 40
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (59). 153 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 | 11 |
| 2001 | 48 |
| 2002 | 35 |
| 2003 | 42 |
| 2004 | 39 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 48; 2002: 35; 2003: 42; 2004: 39; 2005: 26; 2006: 15; 2007: 12; 2008: 17; 2009: 10; 2010: 18; 2011: 13; 2012: 8; 2013: 9; 2014: 10; 2015: 11; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2021: 3; 2022: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 73 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 47 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 32 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 10191637 · 2007-05-24 (May 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT IN THE VEHICLE'S CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BACKED OUT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE PULLEY TO BECOME LOOSE AND SHEER THE PIN ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215166 · 2008-01-16 (January 16, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. HER VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL #00V311001 AFFECTING THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE THE MECHANIC TIGHTENED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. AFTER SIX MONTHS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE ENGINE, OIL, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO BEGAN TO TIGHTEN UP. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SINCE HER VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER THE R…
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106874 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SHEARING OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 98,648 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10865807 · 2016-05-19 (May 19, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, WHEEL BEARINGS, TRANSMISSION MOUNT, UNIVERSAL BOLT, AND TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMA…
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865807 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 ↗
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 10705834 · 2015-04-15 (April 15, 2015)
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND STALLED. CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT FELL OUT AND HARMONIC BALANCER FELL OFF.CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 250,639 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705834 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 755453 · 2001-12-09 (December 9, 2001)
FUEL FITTING AND PUMP ASSY. RUBBED AGAINST BODY TO CAUSE A RUPTURE RESULTING IN A SERIOUS FUEL LEAK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 755453 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 ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 3; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 1; 2009: 0