1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Owner Complaints

MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 3 TIMES THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, THEN FOUND OUT IT HAD AN OPEN RECALL FROM 2000. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY, FELT THEY DISMISSED MY SITUATION AS I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIBED AND I WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL ABOUT THE 1ST TWO REPAIRS. MY CAR BROKE DOWN YESTERDAY, AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, AND WAS ONCE AGAIN UNDRIVEABLE. IT IS RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. I SENT THE DEALER A VERY DETAILED EMAIL ABOUT THIS FINAL SITUATION AND TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS FILING A COMPLAINT. NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE RECALL IS REGARDING A BOLT THAT SECURES A PULLEY. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME, THE CAR STARTS MAKING RATTLING NOISES THEN WILL NOT STEER, THEN IS UNDRIVEABLE. THESE ARE THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL AS "WORST CASE". I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO FROM A DEALER BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF AN OPEN RECALL, SO JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED IT AFTER READING ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS THIRD TIME THE CAR BROKE DOWN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, STRAIGHT, MEANING NOT TURNING. THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAS ALSO DRIVING, BUT DON'T REMEMBER IF I WAS TURNING OR NOT. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM A PREVIOUS REPAIR AND MY VISIT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD FROM MY PHONE AT THIS TIME. THE DATES THE CAR BROKE DOWN FROM THE SAME PROBLEM ARE FEB, 2016, JUNE, 2016 AND OCTOBER 6, 2016. I AM DESPERATE TO RESOLVE THIS SINCE I NO LONGER HAVE TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP, THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING SITUATION STARTING IN FEBRUARY 2016.

NHTSA ID

10914810

Incident

Oct 6, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TIRES PURCHASE NEW, MAINTAINED WELL WITH APPROX 25K MILES OF WEAR. WITH NO NOTICE, HAD A TREAD SEPARATION ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE. TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH ONLY A PARTIAL CREDIT FOR WARRANTY. OTHER TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND TOLD IT WAS A FLUKE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WAS PULLING OFF FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50MPH AND LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND RIPPED FENDER OFF OF SUV. NO NOTICE OF WEAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. WITNESS DRIVER PULLED OVER AND TOLD ME THAT HIS WIFE NOTICED A HUGE BUBBLE IN THE TIRE RIGHT BEFORE THE TREAD FELL APART. TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY SAID IN EFFECT, "SO SAD, TOO BAD" BUT I MUST BE UNLUCKY AND THE OTHER TWO TIRES STILL "LOOK" GOOD. TIRE REPLACED. NOW, SAME DAY THIRD TIRE IS LOOSING AIR-NO NAILS, GOOD SEAL, GOOD VALVE. I EXPECT IT TO BLOW UP SOON AS WELL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANYMORE TIRES. I HOPE THAT I AM ALIVE BY THE TIME I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO TIRES. I AM ASTONISHED THAT THESE HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED OR THAT THE MFTR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL REPLACEMENT. THESE ARE NOT OVER TIME NOTICEABLE ISSUES, THEY ARE IMMEDIATE FAILURES AND LIFE THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551535

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

ON SAT. 2/6/2010 WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING WHICH SCARED ME FOR A MOMENT. AFTER PULLING OVER, I INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT MY HARMONIC BALANCER HAD COME LOOSE. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE HOUSE, AND PARKED IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10307719

Incident

Feb 5, 2008

Mileage

180,291 mi

TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE OVERHEAT OR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE (SAFETY CONCERN) TO ALLOW TRANS TO COOL DOWN. I NOW DISCOVER MITSUBISHI HAS A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THIS ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE, REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF A LARGER CAPACITY TRANSMISSION PAN, FILTER AND SCREEN, AND A LONGER FILL TUBE AND MEASURING WAND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268616

Incident

Apr 2, 2009

Mileage

93,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A TAPPING SOUND. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE, APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, AND HEARD THREE THUMPS FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE MECHANIC. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C BELT WAS MISSING. WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE BELT, HE NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS LOOSE AND WAS UNABLE TO BE TIGHTENED. HE ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE NOISE SHE HEARD WAS THE A/C BELT DETACHING AND STRIKING THE ENGINE. DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY'S FAILURE, THE A/C BELT DETACHED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE A/C BELT DETACHED ONCE AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10221021

Incident

Jan 21, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISH MONTERO SPORT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND OVERHEATED ON LONG TRIPS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,473. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *AK

NHTSA ID

10184327

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

Mileage

40,473 mi

THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ONE OF THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10174873

Incident

Feb 4, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE LOST USE OF POWER STEERING DURING A 90 DEGREE TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF IT. I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO PARKING LOT OF NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. I NOTICED THAT THE V-BELT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND OTHER COMPONENTS WAS TURNING RATHER SLUGGISHLY AND COULD HEAR A SQUEAKING/CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER SWITCHING OFF THE A/C, I OBSERVED THAT THE V-BELT BEGAN TO TURN MORE FREELY BUT STILL SOMEWHAT SLOWER THAN NORMAL. I THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (35-40 MPH) TO MY HOME APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AWAY. THE NEXT MORNING, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY MECHANIC'S SHOP APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILE AWAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE V-BELT HAD NOW JUMPED OFF THE PULLEYS BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS NOT IN ALL THE WAY, CAUSING THE V-BELT TO BE MISALIGNED WITH THE OTHER PULLEYS. THAT SAME DAY, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP (FAZELI MITSUBISHI - MESQUITE, TX) WHERE THE PREVIOUS 120K SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE HAD BEEN PERFORMED. DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT THE PULLEY BOLT HAD BACKED-OUT DUE TO VIBRATION FROM THE PULLEY AND THAT THE INTERNAL THREADS OF THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR REQUIRING THE CRANKSHAFT TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $3300 TO $3850 AND INVOLVING A TWO WEEK TIME-FRAME. THE DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AND ARE AWAITING MY DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO HAVE THE REPAIRS PERFORMED. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. WITH THIS INFORMATION AND REQUESTED TO HAVE A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT/CONSULT WITH THE DEALERSHIP'S TECHNICIAN. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THEIR WERE NO RECALLS INVOLVING MY VEHICLES AND SINCE IT IS WELL BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY COULD OFFER ME NO ASSISTANCE WHAT-SO-EVER. *NM

NHTSA ID

10134687

Incident

Aug 24, 2005

Mileage

143,000 mi

NUTRAL LIGHT COMES ON (FLASHING) WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ONCE ON 5/08/05 AND AGAIN ON 6/5/05

NHTSA ID

10124255

Incident

May 8, 2005

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *TT

NHTSA ID

10108772

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

10108773

Incident

Jan 7, 2005

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE WHILE MERGING AND ROLLED OVER HITTING THE CENTER WALL OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. *TC THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A ROLL OVER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN A SEAT BELT, THE AIR BAGS DID IN FACT DEPLOY, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS SHIFTED TO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT DUE TO THE IMPACT AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE/SHE DID NOT GO OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND WAS DRIVING PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10103947

Incident

Jun 25, 2000

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT WHEEL WELL CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10040228

Incident

Sep 20, 2003

1999 MONTERO SPORT. THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C BELT WENT OUT 3 TIMES LAST SUMMER AND NOW, ITS SUMMER AGAIN IN AZ, AND THERE GOES THE A/C AGAIN! IT HAS NOT BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE LAST A/C REPAIR! DID I FAIL TO MENTION THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT BEFORE 80,000 MILES?. *AK

NHTSA ID

10029106

Incident

Jul 24, 2003

NEUTRAL LIGHT FLASHS WHEN DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10028383

Incident

Jul 7, 2003

Mileage

90,493 mi

THE MOTOR FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I AM ALSO UPSET THAT THE PARTS STORE QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $110, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT WOULD BE TWO WEEKS BEFORE ONE COULD BE OBTAINED, AND THEN ONLY MITSUBISHI WOULD SELL IT TO ME AND FOR $190. WHY WOULD A MOTOR GO OUT ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES?. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025404

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

Mileage

86,000 mi

AFTER RECALL FOR THE CRANKSHAFT WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEFECT REACCURED. DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO FIX PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

8022184

VEHICLE WAS TILTING TO LEFT,. DEALER DETERMINED BOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE CRACKED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013628

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND SUDDENLY ALL DOORS LOCKED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011730

Incident

Jun 5, 2002

AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER BELT DISAPPEARED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE AIR CONDITIONER BELT, AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. *AK

NHTSA ID

899210

Incident

Nov 9, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

754083

Incident

Nov 3, 2001

THE AIR CONDITIONING DISPELLS AN ODOR SIMILAR TO URINE WHEN TURNED ON. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK SHAKES BADLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT 50 MPH OR GREATER. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR WORK. THE A/C PROBLEM HAS NEVER GONE AWAY . ALL THE DEALERSHIP DOES IS APPLY A DEODERANT BUT IT DOES NOT HELP. THE ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHANGED ONCE AND THE BRAKES WERE ALSO CHANGED. THE TIRES WERE EVEN ROTATED BUT THE VIBRATING CONTINUES.*AK

NHTSA ID

750732

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND MADE A SUDDEN STOP. HE WENT INTO THE WINDSHIELD, AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BRACKET BROKE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. METAL THAT ATTACHED THE BRACKET WAS VERY THIN. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

887864

Incident

May 9, 2001

WHEN DRIVING 65-70 MPH THERE IS A VERY LOUD SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. TTOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, WHO SAYS HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. BRAKING ACTION WAS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

885873

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 45-55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED, CONSUMER HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

883807

Incident

May 19, 2000