1998 Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
151,120 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 35 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.9% |
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 | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 9
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 19 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 6; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10016351 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
MAKE: MITSUBISHI MODEL: MONTERO SPORT XLS YEAR: 1998 SUV WAS TOTAL LOSS DUE TO OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. *N LM
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017542 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE DOOR MADE A LOUD ROARING NOISE AS IF THE DOOR WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044310 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH LEFT FRONT WHEEL WOULD LOCK. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ROTORS/PADS P AND CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACING. HAD PADS/CALIPERS AND ROTOR REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048770 · 2003-11-28 (November 28, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH HARMONIC BALANCE ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 188,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048770 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 10081554 · 2004-07-08 (July 8, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH CRANK SHAFT BOLT SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092979 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
DURING MY DRIVE TO WORK AT ESM MARKETING, I WAS DRIVING ON I95 IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA, AND GOT OFF ON CYPRESS CREEK ROAD AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEELS DID NOT MOVE. THE FRONT END OF THE STEERING LEFT ME UNBLE TO CONTROL OR MANIPULATE MY VEHICLE. I LANDED ON A MEDIAN STRIP, MAGICALLY BACK OUT OF THE MEDIAN AND MADE MY WAY TO A SHELL GAS STATION. I HAD THE GENTLEMEN LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE STATED TO ME THAT "YOU MUST HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SUVIVED THE S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108664 · 2005-01-21 (January 21, 2005)
WHEN CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, CONSUMER REAR ENDED A CAR. WHEN IMPACTING, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN PRIOR ACCIDENT AND HAD NO AIR BAGS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108664 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 ↗