2002 Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
54 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
89,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 54 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 22.2% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 14.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Electrical System: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Air Bags: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2002: 10; 2003: 6; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2010: 6; 2011: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10000284 · 2002-12-19 (December 19, 2002)
A MONTH AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WE HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS CRACKED, LEAKING WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID AND NOW THE STEERING ISN'T WORKING IN THE MANNER IT SHOULD. THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND WHILE STOPPING YESTERDAY THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY ROLLED TO THE LEFT. THEN WHILE ON A GRAVEL ROAD THE WHEEL COMPLETELY SPUN AROUND. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING, BUT THE MITSUBISHI HEADQUARTERS SAID THERE AREN'T ANY RECALLS.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000656 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO, IT HAS BEEN IN 2 SEVERE HEAD ON IMPACTS, ONE AT OVER 35MPH.....NEITHER TIME HAS THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED MITSUBISHI, THEY MAINTAIN THE AIRBAGS HAVE WORKED PROPERLY, HOW THEY DETERMINE THIS, I DO NOT KNOW. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006637 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
AT 25 MPH SOMETHING BROKE AND THE VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN LEFT TURN. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****770767
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010383 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FAILED UPON FRONTAL IMPACT. I AM A POLICE OFFICER/ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR AND I INVESTIGATED AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE DRIVER OF THE MONTERO IMPACTED THE REAR OF A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HER. THE IMPACT DAMAGED THE LEFT FRONT OF THE MONTERO ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE WHEEL FROM ROLLING. THE IMPACT ALSO CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE TO BREAK. THE LINE BROKE AT THE POINT WHERE THE FLEXIBLE RUBBER PART OF THE LINE CONNECTS TO THE METAL FITTING THAT IS ATTACHED TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020126 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT THE ENGINE STARTED RACING AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036722 · 2003-08-27 (August 27, 2003)
AT ONLY 15 MILES PER HOUR, OUR MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT ROLLED OVER AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036722 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040988 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
Owner-reported narrative. 28,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046283 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE LOSING POWER AND CUTTING OFF.*MR VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN DRIVING UPHILL. VEHICLE STALLED. *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046283 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.