1996 Mitsubishi MONTERO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
135,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 15 complaints (26.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 13.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 13.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.7% |
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 | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Water Heater | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 2; Structure:Body:Door:Hinge And Attachments: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Water Heater: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 13 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 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering 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 10011341 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER REAR DOOR HINGES HAD TO BE REPLACED , THE TIE ROD BROKE ON THE TRUCK, AND THE WATER PUMP FROZE SEIZING POWER TO THE TIMING BELT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022587 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
NHTSA RECALL 00-V-311-001 CONCERNING 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. RECALL REPAIRS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034275 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
NHTSA RECALL 00-V-311-001:MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WON'T HONOR THIS RECALL IN PUERTO RICO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052958 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
THE BUTTERFLY VALVE IN THE INTAKE PLENUM IN THE 3.5L DOHC COMES LOOSE AND DROPS INTO THE MOTOR WHICH CAN CAUSE IT TO STOP SUDDENLY, THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS APPARENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE A REPLACEMENT PART TO FIX IT; HOWEVER, IT IS EXPENSIVE AND THEY DO NOT HELP WITH THE COST. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057864 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH METAL THAT KEPT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK UP RIGHT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK DECLINED BACKWARDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. DRIVER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057864 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094576 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT HELD IT DISENGAGED. RECALL 00V311001 WAS ISSUED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10200601 · 2007-08-23 (August 23, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS OF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAVE FALLEN. SHE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO CALL AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS FOR THESE FAILURES WERE AVAILABLE FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL THAT RELATES TO THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718251 · 2000-02-15 (February 15, 2000)
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. AUTO HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/SRS LIGHT REPEATEDLY. THE COMPUTER READING STATES TO REPLACE VARIOUS SENSORS. SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. PROBLEM IS PERPLEXING SERVICE MECHANICS -VEHICLE OWNER FEARFUL SRS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. VEHICLE IN SERVICE OVER 7 WEEKS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718251 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 ↗