RoadVitals

1996 Mitsubishi Montero

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
27
Latest Aug 23, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Oct 2, 2000
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and transmission categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 54 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1032.3%
  • Brakes412.9%
  • Transmission412.9%
  • Steering412.9%
  • Body & structure26.5%
  • Interior & seats26.5%
  • Visibility13.2%
  • Seat belts13.2%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
00V311001

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Oct 2, 2000
210,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
The risk: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov
98V205000

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Sep 2, 1998
60,243 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 27
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS OF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAVE FALLEN. SHE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO CALL AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS FOR THESE FAILURES WERE AVAILABLE FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL THAT RELATES TO THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ RECALL#00V311001. UPDATED 12/12/07 , REMAILED COMPLAINT EVOQ 2/07/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10200601
Incident
Aug 21, 2007
Mileage
146,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Sep 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT HELD IT DISENGAGED. RECALL 00V311001 WAS ISSUED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10094576
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH METAL THAT KEPT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK UP RIGHT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK DECLINED BACKWARDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. DRIVER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057864
Incident
Feb 7, 2004
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 12, 2004

THE BUTTERFLY VALVE IN THE INTAKE PLENUM IN THE 3.5L DOHC COMES LOOSE AND DROPS INTO THE MOTOR WHICH CAN CAUSE IT TO STOP SUDDENLY, THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS APPARENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE A REPLACEMENT PART TO FIX IT; HOWEVER, IT IS EXPENSIVE AND THEY DO NOT HELP WITH THE COST. *LA

NHTSA ID
10052958
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2003

NHTSA RECALL 00-V-311-001:MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WON'T HONOR THIS RECALL IN PUERTO RICO. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034275
Incident
Aug 20, 2003
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2003

NHTSA RECALL 00-V-311-001 CONCERNING MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. RECALL REPAIRS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10022587
Incident
Jun 6, 2003
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningSteering
Filed Mar 5, 2003

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER REAR DOOR HINGES HAD TO BE REPLACED , THE TIE ROD BROKE ON THE TRUCK, AND THE WATER PUMP FROZE SEIZING POWER TO THE TIMING BELT.

NHTSA ID
10011341
Incident
Mar 29, 2001
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS HAD COME ON, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE (LOSS OF POWER). THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONTACTED DEALER. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BROKEN. THERE IS A RECALL, 00V311001, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8015089
Incident
Jul 8, 2002

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-22-54-003

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

TT253

EQUIPMENT

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-19-00-008

EQUIPMENT

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

TT237

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TT218

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; POWER TRAIN; VISIBILITY; WHEELS

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

TSB-15-54-004

EQUIPMENT

This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Montero by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006400—
2005100—
2004530—
2003392048.2
20021113156.5
20011664053.0
2000512051.3
1999402050.8
1998744157.3
1997632051.5
1996Viewing272042.5
1995862051.4
1994315048.1
1993143040.6
1992124048.1
1991182153.1
1990231253.9
1989102258.2
1988111—
1987311—
1986412—
1985000—
1984010—
1983000—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.