1995 Mitsubishi MONTERO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
147,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 71 complaints (28.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 14 | 19.7% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.8% |
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 | 20 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 20; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 50 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 | 6 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 6; 1996: 4; 2000: 10; 2001: 13; 2002: 10; 2003: 7; 2004: 7; 2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10001165 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICE A OIL LEAK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE POROUS HEAD CAUSED THE ENGINE LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001165 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008331 · 2003-03-02 (March 2, 2003)
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGES HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL 00V311001.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014741 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 311 001, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021278 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
I OWN A 1995 MITSIBUSHI MONTERO SR. ABOUT A WEEK AGO I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND HE CHECK IT OUT AND TOLD ME THAT THE REAR TRANSAXLE WAS CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE (DRIVER SIDE) WHERE IT WAS WELDED TOGETHER FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DIFFERENTIAL OIL WAS LEAKING THROUGH THERE. I DROVE THE CAR BACK HOME ABOUT A MILE TO FIND OUT THAT IT COMPLETELY BROKE LOOSE AROUND THE WELD AND THE WHEEL WAS SLANTED ON A SIDE ALMOST TO COME OUT. IT'S HOLDING ON NOW BY ONLY THE OTHER PARTS OF THE REAR SUSPENSION.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027254 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.THE PULLEY CAME OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN AND LOSE ALL POWER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040987 · 2003-09-30 (September 30, 2003)
THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES IN 2003 WHILE DRIVING. POWERSTEERING IS LOST AND THE LAST TIME CAR DIED WHILE DRIVING.THE PREVIOS OWNER FIXED IT ON FEB.7, 2003. IT BROKE WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS ON THE FREEWAY MAY 15TH, 2003 AND THEN IT BROKE AGAIN SEPT.4,2003. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS BOLT FOR THE MONTERO 3.0 L ENGINE AND THE GALANT SAME YEAR. WHY NO RECALL ON THE MONTERO 3.5 L? NO FATALITIES THIS TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041934 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BELT FALLING OFF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048305 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. PULLEY CAME OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN, AND LOSE POWER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048305 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 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 ↗98V205000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 1998-09-02 (September 2, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗