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1996 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.
27
Latest Aug 23, 2007
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
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 12, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 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 27 · page 1 of 2

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
Filed Jul 16, 2002

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 98V205000 ON FLOOR MATS FOR 3RD ROW SEAT. HAD IT SERVICED. HOWEVER, 2ND ROW SEAT ALSO HAD SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8013970
Steering
Filed Apr 18, 2002

I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.I COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED,OR KILLED.IWAS VERY LUCKY.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235-75R15)

NHTSA ID
760876
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2001

ENGINE STALLED AT STOP LIGHT. MECHANIC FOUND A BUTTERFLY SCREW ON THE PLENUM MANIFOLD CAME OFF AND FELL INTO ENGINE, PART NO MD 3359040, CAUSED $ 4000 DAMAGE. DEALER HAD TO TIGHTEN AND USE LOCK TIGHT SCREWS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
884720
Incident
Mar 22, 2001
Body & structure
Filed Dec 21, 2000

BACK DOOR HINGES HAVE RUSTED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE HINGES. *AK

NHTSA ID
876882
Brakes
Filed Aug 24, 2000

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERABLE AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. BRAKES MADE GRINDING AND STREAKING NOISES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
868614
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Transmission
Filed Mar 22, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. DEALER STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSED BY CELL PHONE USE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
859007
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 15, 2000

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. AUTO HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/SRS LIGHT REPEATEDLY. THE COMPUTER READING STATES TO REPLACE VARIOUS SENSORS. SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. PROBLEM IS PERPLEXING SERVICE MECHANICS -VEHICLE OWNER FEARFUL SRS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. VEHICLE IN SERVICE OVER 7 WEEKS.

NHTSA ID
718251
Incident
Jul 2, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 2, 1999

THERE WERE THREE MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS. IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THEY WERE ISSUED, AND MANUFACTURER HASN'T COMPLIED WITH THEM UP TO THIS DATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
841604
Seat belts
Filed Mar 10, 1999

OUR CENTURY "SMART MOVE" INFANT/TODDLER CARSEAT DID NOT INSTALL SECURELY. IT WOBBLED & DID NOT FIT IN THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT CORRECTLY - IT BLOCKED OUR VIEW OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. WE ENDED UP EXCHANGING IT FOR THE FISHER PRICE CARSEAT, AND LIKE IT MUCH BETTER. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO RETURNED HER "SMARTMOVE" FOR THE SAME REASON.

NHTSA ID
704256
Brakes
Filed Dec 14, 1998

1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SEEMS PRONE TO PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE PADS AT 17,000 MILES, 30,000, AND IT APPEARS REPLACEMENT WILL AGAIN BE NECESSARY AT 40,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
701341
Incident
Nov 1, 1998
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 8, 1998

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. MANUFACTURER SAID IT'S AN EMISSION PROBLEM. INFORMED IT'S NORMAL. TAKES TOO LONG TO WARM UP BEFORE SHIFTING. *AK

NHTSA ID
832005
Incident
Aug 23, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 10, 1998

WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE MAKES A VERY ROUGH STOP. OWNER BELIEVES THAT HE CAN SEE BRAKE FLUID ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR HAS TO BE REPLENISHED EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES. DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. OWNER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID
830585
Brakes
Filed May 4, 1998

PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR.

NHTSA ID
535170
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Steering
Filed Jan 4, 1998
1 injury reported

VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT, NO RESPONSE FROM STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN EMBANKMENT, ROLLING OVER. DRIVER HEARD LOUD NOISE AT TIME OF STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
527767
Incident
Dec 4, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 1997

VEHICLE ABRUPTLY LOSES SIGNIFICANT POWER. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ID
526678
Incident
Jul 9, 1997
Transmission
Filed Oct 27, 1997

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605217
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 1997

CD PLAYER/STEREO SPEAKER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604688

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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