1999 Mitsubishi MONTERO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
84,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 27 complaints (18.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 14.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Air Bags: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Suspension:Front: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Steering: 2; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Arm: 2; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 2; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2018: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10000624 · 2002-12-28 (December 28, 2002)
BRAKE ROTORS WARP UNDER NORMAL USE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012128 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
THE ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026454 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED 5 TO 15MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064587 · 2004-04-05 (April 5, 2004)
1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO BLEW UP ON ME FOR NO REASON MITSH REFUSES TO RELEASE ANY RECALL/SPEC/SAFETY RECORDS TO ME THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL RIGHT OFF DID CAUSE SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO MYSELF..FIRE DEPT SAID MAGNESIUM SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH RATE OF LOST AND BURN FACTOR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075401 · 2004-06-15 (June 15, 2004)
1999 MONTERO BLEW UP AND CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING 2ND DEGREE BURNS MITSH REFUSES TO RELAEASE RECALL OR SPECIFICATINS TO ME WONT CALL ME BACK OR RESPOND TO LETTERS IT HAS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE 1ST CONTACT THEY DID OPEN A CASE FILE BUT THEN REFUSES TO CONTACT ME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109610 · 2005-02-02 (February 2, 2005)
NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL#D17 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. MASSEY YARDLEY, [phone removed]. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109610 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250702 · 2008-12-04 (December 4, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AND UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE AUTHORIZED DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122350 · 2018-08-25 (August 25, 2018)
ALTO RIESGO EN EL TORNILLO DE DAMPER Y CUA , MITSUBISHI MONTERO 199 3,0 LITROS YA A VOTADO YA 4 VECES EL TORNILLO DEL DAMPER Y HA HECHO AVERIAS AL MOTOR Y ME SIENTO INISEGURO EN EL VEHICULO , LA MITSUBISHIEN PR TENEN CONOCIMIENTO DEL RECALL Y LAS VECES QUE HA ROTO LA MONTERO Y NO QUIERE HACERSE RESPONSABLES NECESITO AYUDA , POR FAVOR YA HA SIDO MUCHAS VECES Y ESTO ES UN ALTO RIESGO , SEGUN SUS NORMAS
Owner-reported narrative. 174,598 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122350 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.
04V428000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V035000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-23 (January 23, 2020)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-001.
NHTSA campaign record ↗