RoadVitals

2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jun 1, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
29%
of 31 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jun 1, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN A OIL LEEK ACCOR IN DUE TIME IT AUTOMATICALLY DRIPS DIRECTLY ON ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS.ALSO THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM DOESN'T FUNCTION A READING ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC WHEN FINDING ISSUE

NHTSA ID
10992777
Incident
May 20, 2017
Mileage
100 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 15, 2015

PIN IN THE HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLING A/C BELT AND DRIVE BELT CAUSING HARMONIC BALANCER TO SEIZE UP. PIN WAS REPLACED. MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON SHOWING A CODE OF MISFIRE. AS WELL AS HARMONIC BALANCER COMING LOOSE...**5/5/15**..... BELTS COME OFF ON HIGH WAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH. HARMONIC BALANCER LOOSE AGAIN. CRANK BOLT STUCK AND UN REMOVABLE.BELTS CAME OFF AND GOT CAUGHT IN FAN...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF UPDATED 9/29/2015*JS

NHTSA ID
10725193
Incident
Aug 15, 2014
Mileage
170,161 mi
Engine
Filed May 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10585857
Incident
Apr 23, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 4, 2013
Crash reported

I WAS PULLING IN A SHEETS STATION AND GOING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN I LEFT GO THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE KEPT MOVING AND CRASHED INTO A RED POST WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE THEN I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL COMING BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO ,PUT IN REVERSE AND CRUISE BACK IN SAME PARKING SPACE DID DAMAGE TO MOTOR AND RADIATOR AND FRONT BODY MY WIFE CLAIMS THIS HAS DONE IT TO HER AS WELL. I WAS SCARED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554835
Incident
Nov 29, 2013
Mileage
124,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Aug 30, 2012

I JUST PICKED UP MY SON'S VEHICLE FROM THE SERVICE GARAGE WHERE I HAD JUST HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS INSTALLED FOR HIM. I WAS ON THE WAY TO MEET MY HUSBAND AT THE GROCERY STORE BUT NEEDED TO DROP OFF SOME LETTERS AT THE OUTDOOR MAIL BOX AT THE POST OFFICE WHICH WAS < 1/4 MILE FROM THE SERVICE GARAGE. AS I PULLED UP TO THE POST OFFICE DROP BOX, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS GOING JUST A FEW MILES AN HOUR. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVVED LOUDLY AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP! THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME OR IN THE PARKING LOT, SO I JUST STEERED THE VEHICLE AROUND THE LOT CONCENTRATING ON NOT HITTING ANYTHING! ALL THE WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. IT TOOK ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THE ENGINE FINALLY REVVED BACK DOWN (TO THE NORMAL SOUND) AND THE BRAKES WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE GROCERY STORE WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE (MY SON WAS GIVEN THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES) ACCORDING TO MY SON. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING-I AM SO GLAD NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I JUST WANT SOME KIND OF RECORD OF THIS, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS LATER. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS? *TR

NHTSA ID
10473099
Incident
Aug 29, 2012
Mileage
117,329 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 15, 2006

HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT 3.5 L V6 ENGINE. 1. NO PRECEDING EVENT, CAR STARTED IDLING ROUGH WHEN FIRST STARTED. IDLE SMOOTHES AFTER A SHORT TIME. 2. RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYL #2 AT 30K MILES, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYL #1 AT 65,600 MILES. REPLACEMENT DENIED BY MANUFACTURER, EVEN THOUGHT IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. 3. NOT YET REPLACED DUE TO COST. *NM

NHTSA ID
10173592
Incident
Sep 3, 2006
Mileage
65,600 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2005

I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT WITH A 3.0 ENGINE. THE CAM SHAFT CAME APART AND THE MITSUBISHI REP REFUSE TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE NEW CAR WARRANTY. NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE SUV NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. WHAT HAPPEN TO CUSTOMER SERVICE? *JB

NHTSA ID
10108503
Incident
Dec 7, 2004
Mileage
40,140 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10038594
Incident
Jun 12, 2003
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2003
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A RESTAURANT DRIVE THRU LANE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT.

NHTSA ID
10031534
Incident
Jul 19, 2003
Mileage
900 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .