2003 Mitsubishi MONTERO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
81,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 39 complaints (12.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 30.8% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 10.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 2 |
Service Brakes: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 8; 2005: 3; 2006: 5; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10154690 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH A DEER WAS STRUCK WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GAIN SPEED, SPUN AROUND, VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES IN A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE ALL OF WHICH WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT WAS SIX MONTHS PREGNANT AND RECEIVED INJURIES DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS F…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164849 · 2006-08-07 (August 7, 2006)
MITSUBISHI MONTERO 2003 - BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES (1ST AT 19K AND 2ND AT 30K) ON THE ODOMETER. SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER DESCENDING DOWN HILL. IF YOU RIDE THE BRAKES (KEEPING SLIGHT PRESSURE APPLIED WHILE PERIODICALLY APPLYING MORE BRAKE) WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THIS CAUSES THE ROTORS TO HEAT UP AND THEN WARP. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE ROTORS GET TOO HOT BRAKING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE LONG BEACH MITSUBISHI SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS THAT THE 2003 MONTERO USES A SMALLER BRAKE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044205 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE VEHICLE ALWAYS SWAYED TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED MANY PARTS BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND WHILE MAKING TURNS. WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT PASSENGER AXLE AND WHEEL HUB BROKE. THE 4X4 HI LIGHT WAS FLASHING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFTER SWITCH. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044205 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174759 · 2006-11-30 (November 30, 2006)
I WAS OPERATING A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO WHEN I REAR ENDED A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND PROJECTED IT INTO 2 OTHER VEHICLES...... HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY MONTERO, HOWEVER, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS PROJECTED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN MY HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095315 · 2004-10-05 (October 5, 2004)
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATION: SR-04-008 *BF THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON THE RECALL ISSUE AND WAS TOLD IT COULD NOT BE SERVICED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP LOCATION BUT HAD TO BE TAKEN TWO HOURS AWAY TO AN UNRELATED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AND TIME. RECALL ISSUE DEALS WITH THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE NOT MAINTAINING PROPER SEALING. FUEL MAY LEAK TO THE GROUND WHEN TANK IS ON FULL. THE RECALL STATED THAT GASOLINE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE. *TC *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130868 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
PREVIOUSLY REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEM IN NOV. 2004 (REFERENCE NO. 10101312) FUEL LEAKAGE, ACCELERATION/POWER LOSS AT CRITICAL TIMES OF HIGHWAY TRAVEL. SUV IS NOW PARKED DUE FUELING SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND UNRELIABILITY. SUV WAS REPAIRED AT FAZELI MISUBISHI 11/2004. EVEN AFTER KNOW RECALL (PURPORTED) CORRECTLY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. SUV FAILED AGAIN WHILE ON FAMILY VACATION, LOSS OF ACCELERATION AND POWER BEGAN TO OCCUR, ENGINE BEGAN TO COUGH AND SPUTTER (EVEN WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS), GAS GAUGE AND DIGITAL FUEL MILEAGE INDICATOR MALFUN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057948 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AND COMING TO COMPLETE STOP AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND GEAR. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585588 · 2014-04-29 (April 29, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND A BUZZER. I THEN WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT BUDGE. IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS A BRICK UNDER IT. THERE WAS NO WAY OF STOPPING SAFELY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO YOU THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT DOWN. PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON BRAKES AND FINALLY STOPPED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DISCOVERED IT IS QUITE COMMON. HOW IS IT SAFE FOR A VEHICLE WITH A ANTILOCK BRAKE MALFUNCTION TO TAKE OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY…
Owner-reported narrative. 187,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075816 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE IT SOMETIMES ROLLS BACKWARDS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 37,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080910 · 2004-07-12 (July 12, 2004)
HESITATION AND STALLING BETWEEN 0-45 MPH AT SLIGHTLY ABOVE 3/4 FULL TANK OF GAS. VEHICLE LEAKS SUBSTANTIAL QUANTITY OF FUEL WHEN PARKED ON INCLINE AT SLIGHTLY ABOVE 3/4 TANK OF GAS. IN ADDITION, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT FILLING PROPERLY AT THE GAS PUMP (PUMP CONTINUALLY SHUT OFF AS IF TANK WERE FULL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT). THESE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH OUR 2002 MONTERO WHICH WAS RETURNED TO MITSUBISHI THROUGH THE LEMON LAW. THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN AT 26,000 MILES, PROBLEMS OCCURRED WITH OTHER VEHICLE STARTING AT 9,000 MILES. IN THE 2003, THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037616 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WAS CAUSING ALL ELECTRICAL OPERATED COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION OR INOPERATIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS/INTERIOR LIGHTS/RADIO AND ETC. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED ALTHOUGH VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433766 · 2011-11-01 (November 1, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE PARKED, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN. THE FAILURE RECURRED DIFFERENT TWICE, BOTH TIMES DURING COLDER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433766 at NHTSA ↗