2003 Mitsubishi MONTERO SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 31 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 16.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.2% |
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 | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
Engine: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 6 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 | 6 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2003: 6; 2004: 8; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10014081 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
VEHICLE WON'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE (ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL). ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD (UNDER 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE). SOMETIMES WILL SLAM INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS IN OUR OPINION. VEHICLE HAS 146 MILES. DEALER HAD VEHICLE TWICE FOR 2 DAYS EACH AND SAY THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022566 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
WHEN IT IS COLD VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. IT TAKES ABOUT 30 TO 40 SECONDS, AND THEN VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031534 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A RESTAURANT DRIVE THRU LANE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT.
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038594 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040866 · 2003-09-28 (September 28, 2003)
2ND TIMEINTO DAELER FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WILL HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. FIRST TIME DEALER UNSURE OF THE CAUSE OR HOW TO FIX HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP ALMOST 2 WEEKS. 2ND TIME, DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE OVER 2 WEEKS AND STILL NOT FIXED ,SAID COULD BE 1 OF 3 THINGS. THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 OF THE 3 SO STILL HAVE 1 TO GO AND I GUESS I WILL BE OUT OF THE VEHICLE ANOTHER WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF 3 WEEKS IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM.FIRST INCIDENT WAS AROUND 3000 MILES SECOND INCIDENT AT 16000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,559 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051992 · 2003-12-23 (December 23, 2003)
THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS WENT OUT. THE BULBS WERE GOOD THEREFORE IT'S PROBABLE THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A RELAY DEFECT. THE HORN WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE. THE HORN WOULD BLOW BUT WOULDN'T STOP. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO GET THE HORN TO STOP BLOWING. PROVIDE FURTHER ANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052247 · 2004-01-02 (January 2, 2004)
BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED EVERY 3,000-4,000 MILES. DEALER CLAIMED IT WAS DRIVER'S ABUSE THAT CAUSED PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS/PADS. CONSUMER WAS FURIOUS. CURRENTLY, AFTER 4,000 MILES. BRAKES WERE SHOT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054733 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
VEHICLE SWAYS, WONDERS ON THE ROAD AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE. ALSO, IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS LOOSE UNDER THE FRONT END. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE FEELS EXACTLY THAT WHICH I AM DESCRIBING BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE DRIVEN AND THAT THEY TOO DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS OBSTACLE TO HAVE CONTROL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054733 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.