RoadVitals

1995 Mitsubishi Montero 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.
36
Latest Sep 8, 2014
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.
42%
of 86 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.
0
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 1995 Mitsubishi Montero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 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

The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words

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
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
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
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
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
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
Engine
Filed Mar 31, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT AS STATED IN RECALL 00 V 311 001, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014741
Incident
Mar 28, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 2003

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT AND COLLATERAL DAMAGES HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES WITHIN EIGHTEEN MONTHS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING AND NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL 00V311001.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008331
Incident
Aug 3, 2001
Mileage
143,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2002

VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICE A OIL LEAK. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE SERVICED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE POROUS HEAD CAUSED THE ENGINE LEAK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID
10001165
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 8, 2002

CRANKSHAFT AND SPROCKET HAD TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE THEY FAILED. MR

NHTSA ID
768220
Incident
Apr 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ALL LIGHST ON DASHBOARD CAME ON, AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF CRANKSHAFT PULLEY DISCONNECTING FROM MOTOR. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
8016727
Incident
Aug 20, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 10, 2002

CRANKSHAFT/ PULLEY BOLT SEPARATED, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. RECALL 00V311001 HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. 3.5 LITER ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013610
Engine
Filed May 29, 2002

BOLT THAT HOLDS PULLEY INTO THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 30 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8010630
Incident
May 28, 2002

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .