RoadVitals

1997 Mitsubishi Montero Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
8
Latest Jun 9, 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.
13%
of 63 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 electrical

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

ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jun 9, 2014
Fire reported

ON 5/31/14, MY 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A LARGE BURN IN THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. AFTER CALLING MITSUBISHI, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME SINCE IT WAS STILL SMOLDERING AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER MANY FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO MITSUBISHI, THEY BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR SINCE THE CAR WAS 17 YEARS OLD. ALL OF THE COST TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS ON ME AS THE OWNER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597034
Incident
May 31, 2014
Mileage
172,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Sep 4, 2004

1. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AND ESTIMATED CHARGES FOR REPAIRS TO FRONT BRAKE, INCLUDING NEW ROTOR, WOULD BE $1000. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL FOR 1997 MONTEROS IN REGARD TO BRAKE LINES. *AK 2. SERVICE ENGINE SOON COMES ON AT RANDOM AND ONLY GOES OFF WHEN THE BATTERY IS UNHOOKED AND REHOOKED OR REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10090429
Incident
Sep 1, 2004
Mileage
110,500 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 16, 2004

1 - THIS JUST STARTED HAPPENING, NO ACCIDENT OR MISUSE. 2 - VEHICLE WILL NOT START AT TIMES AND MUST KEEP TURNING IGNITION, EVENTUALLY IT STATS. (CHANGED BATTERY, TERMINALS, WIRES, ETC, WITH NO AFFECT) ALARM GOES OFF SPORADICALLY OR SETS ON IT'S OWN. DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK, THEN IMMEDIATELY LOCK BACK. WINDOWS ARE NOT GOING UP CORRECTLY AND ARE TILTING SLIGHTLY CAUSING A SMALL AIR LEAK ON BOTH FRONT WINDOWS. ALL PROBLEMS ARE ANNOYING BUT I CAN STILL GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081177
Incident
Jan 6, 2004
Mileage
75,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2004
Fire reported

IN EARLY 2003 I PURCHASED A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO FULL SUV. IN APRIL 2003 MY GIRL FRIEND WAS DRIVING THE CAR ONE DAY , WHEN IT JUST BROKE DOWN ON HER .HEN SHE TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR YOU COULD HEAR THE ENGINE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START.I GOT IT TOWED,AND MY MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT AND SAID ONE OF THE MAIN FUSE (MFI-MULTI FUEL INJECTION) HAD BLOWN.*AK HE REPLACED THE FUSE AND THE CAR WAS FINE, TWO WEEKS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN , SO HE REPLACED THE FUSE AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CHECKED FOR ANY RECALL THERE WAS NONE.ON 7/8/04 IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME WHEN THE FUSE WAS REPLACED I TURNED OVER THE ENGINE AND THE WHOLE CAR WAS SMOKING THROUGH THE HOOD AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE I WAS SO SCARED I RAN AWAY FROM IT UNTIL THE SMOKE WENT AWAY.THE CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME AND MY MECHANIC SHOWED ME ALL THE BURNED WIRE IN THE HARNESS, PLEASE LET ME NOW IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ID
10080813
Incident
Jul 8, 2004
Electrical
Filed Dec 3, 2002

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS LOOSING POWER. CONSUMER STATES' NOW VEHICLE WILL NOT START. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
8023626
Incident
Feb 1, 2002
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 16, 2001

ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED AND NEVER GOES OFF, ON ONE OCCASION WHEN THE BATTERY WAS FAILED, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. *SLC

NHTSA ID
880747
Incident
Feb 16, 2001
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 10, 2000

I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND CD CHANGER ON THIS VEHICLE, AS WELL AS NUMBROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *AK

NHTSA ID
719928
Incident
Aug 15, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jun 19, 1997

14 HOURS AFTER PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE THE CONSUMER TRIED TO START IT UP AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THEN TRIED TO TURN THE RADIO ON AND THE RADIO DID NOT WORK BECAUSE OF A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
813278
Incident
Jun 13, 1997

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 .