1997 Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 29 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 24.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.4% |
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 | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 12 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 | 2 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024406 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
THE REAR CALIPERS BECAME VERY HOT, LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083048 · 2004-07-31 (July 31, 2004)
1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL SERVICE. 18 MONTHS LATER, THE BOLT BACKED OUT, CAUSING APPROX. $1000 IN DAMAGES, REPAIRED AT PRIVATE MECHANIC'S GARAGE. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; SAME GARAGE REPAIRED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; PRIVATE GARAGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AGAIN. TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP; PAID ANOTHER APPROX. $1100 FOR REPAIRS. HAPPENED AGAIN 2 MONTHS LATER; DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO WARRANTY REPAIR; ESTIMATES ANOTHER $2800 TO REPLACE ENTIRE CRANKS…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098438 · 2004-11-08 (November 8, 2004)
SHOULDER BELT GUIDE ALLOWS FOR BELT TO BE TRAPPED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN A CRASH.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098438 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 10112899 · 2005-02-22 (February 22, 2005)
RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V311001 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD. THEN, TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138715 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. IN 6-03 HE BROUGHT THE CAR I TO DEALER BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF. THE REPAIR WORK COST $463.06. ON 7-26-03 THE CONTACT BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE FOUND THERE WAS RECALL 00V311001 AND THE DEALER FIXED IT AT NO COST LAST WEEK ON 9-29--0) THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED, AND THE MECHANIC COULD SEE THE BOLT STICKING OUT. TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT HAD A LIFETIME WARRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,812 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140768 · 2005-10-25 (October 25, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE ON 10-24-05. SHE HAD RECALL 00V311000 REPAIR WORK DONE IN OCTOBER -2002. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT. SHE FELT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. SHE SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND TO MITSUBISHI. MITSUBISHI TOLD HER TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE COVERED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HE TOLD HER THAT AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLT, AS STATED IN THE RECALL. SHE THOUG…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140768 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V311001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2000-10-02 (October 2, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗