RoadVitals

1995 Mitsubishi Montero Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
86
Latest Mar 25, 2019
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Feb 5, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 86 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1995 Mitsubishi Montero. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 86 · page 1 of 4

Body & structure
Filed Mar 25, 2019

RIGHT REAR AXLE HOUSING WELD ID CRACKED WHERE IT WAS WELDED FROM THE FACTORY. IT IS LEAKING GEAR FLUID FROM THE CRACK. IT GOES ABOUT 3/4 THE WAY AOUND THE AXLE. I WAS DRIVING AND I FELT A STRANGE FEELING IN THE REAR OF THE MONTERO CHECK3D IT AND FOULD WHWERE IT IS SEPERATEDAT THE WELD, LIKE IT WAS NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY IN THE WELDING JIG.

NHTSA ID
11191255
Incident
Mar 24, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR THE RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ID
10631653
Incident
Aug 23, 2014
Mileage
192,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 13, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A SERIES OF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND LATER TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ID
10535203
Incident
Aug 2, 2013
Mileage
154,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 31, 2009

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10282353
Incident
Aug 28, 2009
Mileage
219,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 11, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT ALMOST STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE FOUND THAT A PULLEY FAILED IN THE CRANKSHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AT SOME POINT, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF THE RECALL. MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS WELL WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO HAVE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 215,000. UPDATED 7/9/09 *CN THE BOLT HOLDING THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY ON, FELL OUT WHICH ALLOWED THE PULLEY TO ALSO FALL OFF. UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10273557
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
215,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PULLEY WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10235321
Incident
Jul 15, 2008
Mileage
152,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 22, 2008
1 injury reported

I HAVE A 1995 MONTERO SR AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I SMELLED OIL AND WHEN I STOPPED TO CHECK IT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE CAVED IN AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND WHAT'S LEFT OF IT ANY WAY , THE WELD ON HOUSING THE AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS BROKE ANY HOW I TOW IT HOME AND CHECK IT TO FIND OUT THAT THE TEETHING ON THE AXLE INSIDE IS GONE THE FACT THERE IS NO OIL AND THE SEAL AND THE BEARING INSIDE THE HOUSING IS GONE , SO I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT TO CHANGE THE AXLE ASSEMBLY FOR ABOUT LITTLE OVER 5000 DOLLARS ,WOW THEN I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS UNCOMMENT TO HAPPEN ON A UTILITY TRUCK IN A NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION THIS TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIVING OFF ROAD , ANY WAY I CALLED MITS COMPANY AND THEY GAVE ME NO ANSWER AND TOLD ME TO GO TO THE DEALER HHH , I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT , BY THE WAY MY TRUCK HAS BEN PARKED FOR A YEAR AND HALF I STILL HAVE IT HOPING TO FIND A CHEAP AXLE TO REPLACE BUT I THINK MITS COMPANY SHOULD REPLACE IT . I MEAN WHAT ARE THE ODDS SO MANY TRUCKS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SAME AXLE SIDE PLUS SOME OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS THAT OTHERS HAD FILED COMPLAINS AGAINST MITS MOTORS I HAVE THEM TOO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228691
Incident
Sep 7, 2006
Mileage
109,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 26, 2007

CRANKSHAFT PULLY FAILED AND IS NOW BEING REPAIRED FOR 3RD TIME IN ONE YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10188931
Incident
Apr 23, 2005
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2007

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING,CHARGING SYSTEM, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT. MY WIFE WAS PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE STEERING LOSS DURING HER COMMUTE FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA I.D. 00V311001 BUT THE BOLT WAS NEVER REPLACED JUST INSPECTED. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SERVICE REP'S AND WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THAT ,MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE "RECALL WARRANTY" EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE BOLT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10178354
Incident
Dec 22, 2006
Mileage
142,103 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Nov 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BAY, AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD FRACTURED, AND THE BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FRACTURED BOLT BECAUSE A SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED 5 YEARS EARLIER FOR THE RETORQING OF THE BOLT. THE VEHICLE HAD AIR CONDITIONING WORK AND THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT PERFORMED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THAT WORK COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT.

NHTSA ID
10172750
Incident
Nov 1, 2006
Mileage
110,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 8, 2006

WHILE DRIVING MY 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SR, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT RECLINING BRACKET BROKE CAUSING ME TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, I WAS FORCED TO SWERVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED THE BRACKET HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE SEAT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10161882
Incident
Jul 8, 2006
Mileage
178,100 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2006

THE MECHANIC THE OWNER OF AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, COMPLETED A TUNE UP OF THE 3.0 LITER ENGINE, THAT WAS RUNNING FINE WHEN BROUGHT TO HIM. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THEN THE ENGINE HAD A LOUD GRINDING AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS BLOWING UP. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE SPARK PLUGS OUT AND USED A LIGHT TO DETERMINE THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED AND RUINED FROM A LOOSE PIECE OF METAL THE SIZE OF A MANS TOE NAIL. THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY RUINED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC DISPUTES THE FACT HE DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE BUT WAS WILLING TO INSTALL ANOTHER ENGINE IF I PURCHASED IT. THIS IS THE THIRD ENGINE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED ON AND THE LAST TIME WAS WHILE I OWNED THE VEHICLE TOO. I HAD THE VEHICLE INTO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC FOR A TUNE UP. THEY DID A TUNE UP FOR $625, WHICH THEY FIRST CALLED AND QUOTED $350 THEN CALLED BACK AND CHANGED IT TO THE $625. THEY COMPLETED THE TUNE UP MOVED THE CAR OUT TO SEE HOW IT RAN. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE BUT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER IDLING THAT LENGTH OF TIME A PIECE OF METAL THE SIZE OF A SPARK PLUG ELECTRODE WAS LOOSE IN A CYLINDER AND RUINED THE ENGINE. THE SHOP DID NOT WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE THEY INSIST THE FAILURE IS NOT THEIR FAULT, BUT SINCE IT HAPPENED UNDER THEIR CARE THEY ACTUALLY FOUND A WRECKED MONTERO WITH A60,000 MILE ENGINE AND INSTALLED IT FOR THE PRICE OF THE TUNE UP. THE CAR WAS OUT OF COMMISSION FOR THREE WEEKS AND WE WERE NOT REIMBURSED FOR TIME AND EXPENSE BUT THE SHOP DID A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF REPLACING. THE ENGINE BLOCK OF THE OLD ENGINE WAS SITTING ON THE FLOOR OF THE SHOP WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR. THE CYLINDER THAT WAS RUINED WAS SCRATCHED AND SCOURED COMPLETELY OVER THE WHOLE THING. SHOULD I FIND AND INSTALL AN ENGINE IT WILL BE NUMBER FOUR, THE ORIGINAL OWNER HAD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE WHEN HE OWNED IT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10147214
Incident
Jul 26, 2005
Mileage
175,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 29, 2005

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FAILURE: ATTACHMENT OF SEAT BACK FRAME TO SEAT BRACKET FOR RECLINING BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT(SIDE NEAR SHIFTER) - LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN THE DRIVE WAY WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR. IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING TRAFFIC OR REAR-END COLLISION COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I AM NOT FAT EITHER 6'2" - 210 POUNDS. CAR NOW UNDRIVABLE DUE TO LACK OF BACK SUPPORT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10146318
Incident
Dec 28, 2005
Mileage
147,500 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 21, 2005

DT: THE CALLER SAID SMOKE CAME OUT OF TAIL PIPE WHEN VEHICLE FIRST ACCELERATED. HE HAD TO PUT OIL IN THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL. DEALER TOLD HIM VEHICLE IDLED TOO SLOWLY, AND THAT OIL WAS GETTING ON THE VALVES, CAUSING THE SMOKE. HE WAS TOLD THE GUIDES WERE DROPPING TOO LOW, AND THAT WAS LETTING THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE VALVES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP FOR FREE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10137207
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Mileage
88,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 30, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. *BF THE ROAD CONDITION WAS DRY, THE CONSUMER WASN'T BUCKLED UP, AND THE AIR BAG WASN'T INFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS KICKED BACK TO THE RIGHT, OVERTURNED AND STOPPED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10103945
Incident
Mar 3, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed Aug 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING A 1995 MITUBISHI MONTERO A POSSIBLY FATAL FAILURE OCCURRED. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DRIVEWAY THE BRACKET OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY HORIZONTAL. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MONTERO JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10086604
Incident
Aug 10, 2004
Mileage
119,157 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2004

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE THE CRANK SHAFT. PULLEY BEGAN WOBBLING AND SHREDDING THE BELTS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE TOWED 130 MILES BACK TO DEALER LOCATION. TOLD BY DEALER THE DEFECTIVE BOLT WAS DUE TO RECENT HEAD GASKET WORK AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS BOLT FAILING OR THE SAFETY RECALL THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10080874
Incident
May 28, 2004
Mileage
199,367 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD ONTO A GRASSY AREA. THE VEHICLE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES COMING TOWARDS IT. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081618
Incident
Jul 7, 2004
Exterior lighting
Filed May 30, 2004

TURN SIGNAL FAILURE - IT MAKES A LOUD SPARKING SOUND AND FAILED. *LA

NHTSA ID
10074497
Incident
Feb 22, 2004
Mileage
70,231 mi
EngineSteering
Filed May 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING . CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP CONSUMER NOTICED THAT PULLEY FELL OFF. DEALER DETERMINED THAT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED, CAUSING $900.00 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10074049
Incident
May 13, 2004
Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2004

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. THIS PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE MONTERO SPORT WHICH IS UNDER RE-CALL. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT APPLY UNDER THE RE-CALL BECAUSE OF THE VIN# AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10055780
Mileage
149,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2003

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. PULLEY CAME OFF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN, AND LOSE POWER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10048305
Incident
Nov 19, 2003
Engine
Filed Sep 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.

NHTSA ID
10040987
Incident
Sep 26, 2003
Mileage
70,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 29, 2003

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BELT FALLING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
10041934
Incident
Sep 29, 2003
Engine
Filed Jul 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

NHTSA ID
10027254
Incident
Jul 14, 2003

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.

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