Mitsubishi MONTERO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
648 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
103,217 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1984 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 300 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 648 complaints (10.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 208 | 32.1% |
| Steering behavior | 76 | 11.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 35 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 30 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 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 | 70 |
| Service Brakes | 47 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 47 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 39 |
| Electrical System | 31 |
| Air Bags | 28 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 26 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 70; Service Brakes: 47; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 47; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 39; Electrical System: 31; Air Bags: 28; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling: 26
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 46 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 47 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 88 |
| 150,000 and above | 72 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 46; 75,000 to 99,999: 47; 100,000 to 149,999: 88; 150,000 and above: 72
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (88). 348 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 25 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 75 |
| 2001 | 80 |
| 2002 | 55 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2004 | 61 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 32 |
| 2007 | 31 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 16 |
| 2011 | 25 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
1995: 25; 1996: 13; 2000: 75; 2001: 80; 2002: 55; 2003: 50; 2004: 61; 2005: 28; 2006: 32; 2007: 31; 2008: 30; 2009: 13; 2010: 16; 2011: 25; 2012: 8; 2013: 23; 2014: 22; 2015: 13; 2016: 15; 2017: 5; 2018: 7; 2019: 3; 2020: 8; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 208 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 76 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 35 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 882127 · 2001-03-05 (March 5, 2001)
CONSUMER HAD FOUND A DESIGN FRAUD ON VEHICLE. HAD TAKEN IT TO A TECHNICIAN FOR CHECK UP. FOUND REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL PULL WHEN VEHICLE IS LIFTED. THEN WHEN IS PUT BACK ON GROUND COULD HAVE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO EXTENSION ON BRAKE HOSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 980825 · 1996-03-18 (March 18, 1996)
THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE BROKE DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010945 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND ALL OTHER BELT-DRIVEN COMPONENTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 194,718 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103306 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 966239 · 1995-06-02 (June 2, 1995)
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED OUT AND MELTED PART OF THE FUEL PUMP. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112323 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND MY A/T LIGHTS CAME ON ASWELL AS MY BATTERY LIGHT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND OPENED MY HOOD AND SAW MY HARMONIC BALANCER/PULLEY LAYING ON MY SKID PLATE AS WELL AS A BROKEN BOLT. I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND OUT IT HAPPENS ALOT ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT ITS VERY COMMON. I USE THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE TO SCHOOL AND TO WORK NEVER ABUSE IT AND NOW I AM STUCK PAYING MORE THEN I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR. ALL THAT IS ABLE TO HAPPEN IS ME PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND SUFFER MISSING SCHOOL. THE VEHICLE IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 133,345 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 9005704 · 2002-02-15 (February 15, 2002)
THE BOLT ON THE FRONT OF THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE PULLEY AND BELT TO FLY OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9005704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006574 · 2003-01-01 (January 1, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN HARD TO SHIFT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH, AND THIS MAY BE A RECALL NUMBER THAT MAY HELP (M9122008000). *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS******770805. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 859007 · 2000-03-22 (March 22, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. DEALER STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSED BY CELL PHONE USE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 859007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971565 · 1995-09-05 (September 5, 1995)
WIRES SHORTED OUT MELTING POST DOWN IN GAS TANK. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971565 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 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 3 |
| 1993 | 3 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 3; 1993: 3; 1994: 5; 1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1997: 2; 1998: 4; 1999: 2; 2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 0; 2006: 0