1998 Mitsubishi MONTERO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
89,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 33 complaints (12.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 24.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | 1 |
Suspension: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 25 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 | 13 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 13; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10039728 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)
WHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDS SPEEDS OF 60 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. CAUSE OF VIBRATION IS UNDETERMINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165676 · 2006-08-16 (August 16, 2006)
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE OFF. LOST BELTS, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR POWER . REPAIR SHOP SAYS ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10165676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037879 · 2003-08-28 (August 28, 2003)
WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 60 MPH GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO ABOVE 80 MPH. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS OF NO USE, BUT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720957 · 2000-04-03 (April 3, 2000)
THERE IS A CONTINUOUS AND EXTREME PULSATION,VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 40 M.P.H. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN BRAKING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AS WELL. FROM READING YOUR WEB SITE THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 734108 · 2000-10-12 (October 12, 2000)
ENGINE STALLS REPEATED TIMES AT LOW RPM'S
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 892154 · 2001-07-06 (July 6, 2001)
EVERYTIME VEHICLE REACHES HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ABOUT 55MPH AND UP, VEHICLE WILL END UP STALLING. HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 892154 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319367 · 2020-03-26 (March 26, 2020)
I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR, STRONGER WHEN I OPEN THE BACK REAR LUGGAGE AREA AND REAR OF MONTERO (CLOSEST TO THE GAS FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH). I DO NOT SEE ANY ACTIVE LEAK ON THE FLOOR. MY CAR HAS NO DAMAGE, SUCH AS BEING REAR ENDED OR BUMPER DAMAGE AT ALL. THE TANK MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR VAPORIZING INTO INTERIOR OF CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11319367 at NHTSA ↗