2002 Mitsubishi Montero Owner Complaints

My horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel or hit bumps when driving and when parked and turned off, if its close to freezing it will go off constantly early in the morning before dawn and I have to disconnect the battery or pull the fuse for the horn under the hood fuse panel to stop it. I can't drive it with a horn fuse in and have tried replacing the steering wheel airbag and it still has the same problem. My neighbor had the same issue on his 04 Jeep and his car was fixed with an airbag actuator recall. No warning lights ever come on. Only my mechanic has looked at the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11583242

Incident

Jul 1, 2023

I was driving down the highway, without any prior indication the brake light, and break alarm came on and my breaks went out. All at the same.

NHTSA ID

11455457

Incident

Feb 8, 2022

My car has 2 recalls and my local Mitsubishi dealer refused to fix the recalls.

NHTSA ID

11438894

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

WE HAVE THE CAR FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS AND WE ALWASY HAVE A ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE THEY CAN FIX IT . WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THEM TO FIX IT

NHTSA ID

11234612

Incident

Feb 3, 2008

A/L BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF EVERYTIME BRAKE PEDALS IS APPLIED ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE DASH. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01V254002 ABOUT A BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE RECALL FIX BUT GOT DENIED SINCE ITS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN. SHOULDNT THIS BE PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE? DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE BRAKES FAIL AND GET INTO AN ACCIDENT?

NHTSA ID

11104697

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

135,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM IT GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AND ALSO THE HORN WHEN THE WEATHER DROPS COLD THE HORN GOING OFF CONTINUOUSLY MY MECHANIC CHANGE THE HORN RELAY MORE THAN 3 TIMES BUT THE ISSUE STILL THE SAME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CONNECTED OR NOT BUT I NEED HELP.

NHTSA ID

11063563

Incident

Nov 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CHIRPING SOUND. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254002 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10981628

Incident

Oct 15, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSFER CASE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10939248

Incident

Mar 19, 2016

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE CLUSTER WAS REPAIRED IN THE MONTERO BUT IT ONLY WORKS ONCE IN AWHILE. THE PANEL WILL TELL ME EVERY NOW AND THEN IF I HAVE FUEL OR NOT. ALSO, WE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE AN ISSUE RESOLVED THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE COST US ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WAS SHOWN HERE AS A DEFECT FOR OUR MAKE AND MODEL. OUR CAR WAS LEAKING GAS, AND MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO FIX IT, AT THEIR EXPENSE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LISTED HERE AND THERE WERE VERY MANY COMPLAINTS FILED. WE HAD TO TOW THE CAR IN BECAUSE OF THE LEAK, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. AMAZING THAT SO LITTLE CARE WAS SHOWN BY MITSUBISHI FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS THE COMPLAINT AND THE RECALL (NHTSA RECALL ID 01V254001) ABOUT THE CAR BEING PARKED AT AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE NOT MAINTAINING PROPER SEALING IN THE EVEN THAT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM THE RISE IN AMBIENT TEMP. LEAKAGE OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR, ETC. PLEASE CHECK THE RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID

10928638

Incident

Jan 21, 2011

Mileage

79,654 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON CENTRAL STREET IN HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL THE BRAKE LIGHT & ABS LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO AN ALARM SOUNDED. LOSS ALL BRAKES. WE WERE JUST GOING TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY 90. THIS COULD OF ENDED UP DEADLY. UPON INSPECTION BY PEP BOYS, IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER HAS FAILED. THE SUV CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS PART IS REPLACED. I HAVE NEW BRAKES ON THE SUV. *TR

NHTSA ID

10918621

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ID

10908227

Incident

Sep 30, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SCREECHING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ID

10904519

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ABS DELAYED TO ENGAGE AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AXLE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10897626

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

140,000 mi

NHTSA RECALL ID: 04V319000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO 2002 (02) MITSUBISHI RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.: SR-04-009 COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE RECALL DATE (Y/M):2004/07 DEFECT: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM THE RISE IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. NHTSA RECALL ID: 01V254001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO 2002 (02) MITSUBISHI RECALL CAMPAIGN NO.: COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM RECALL DATE (Y/M):2001/08 DEFECT: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.

NHTSA ID

10876066

Incident

Aug 1, 2002

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD GRINDING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A SQUEALING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ID

10855279

Incident

Apr 10, 2016

Mileage

68,000 mi

I TOOK MY TRUCK FOR A FRAME INSPECTION, FRAME WAS REND ENDEARED UNSAFE AND RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. BODY & ENGINE ARE INTACT. NEW FRAME IS 10,000.00. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEIR WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS YEARS FRAME. HE SAID THE METAL WAS DIPPED CORRECTLY. I CAN OBTAIN A WRITTEN REPORT. I ALSO CALLED MITSUBISHI & THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSATION.

NHTSA ID

10825482

Incident

Nov 20, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

MY 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO XLS WAS STATIONARY AND PARKED FOR THE NIGHT ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. AT APPROXIMATELY 4:00 AM, THE ALARM STARTED TO SOUND AND THE LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. THE FIRST NIGHT, THE NEIGHBORS AND POLICE DISCOVERED IT BEFORE ME, SO THE POLICE BROKE INTO MY CAR, OPENED THE HOOD, AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. WHEN I RECONNECTED THE BATTERY THE NEXT MORNING, THE ALARM CONTINUED TO SOUND, SO I REMOVED THE FUSE FOR THE HORN AND REPLACED IT LATER THAT DAY, TO BE GREETED WITH SILENCE. FOUR NIGHTS LATER, I HAD THE FUSE FOR THE HORN BACK IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS WOKEN UP AT 2:00 AM TO THE SOUND OF MY HORN BLARING. I ONCE AGAIN, HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE FOR THE HORN. THIS ISSUE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE BOTH A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND UNSAFE.

NHTSA ID

10824741

Incident

Feb 8, 2016

TAKATA RECALL - MY LATE HUSBAND AND I WERE IN A SUV ROLLOVER ACCIDENT IN MAY 4, 2006. OUR VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER SUV AND ULTIMATELY INVOLVED FOUR (4) VEHICLES TOTAL. THE AIRBAGS IN OUR VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY HUSBAND DIED LATER FROM COMPLICATIONS INDUCED BY INTERNAL BLEEDING. POLICE REPORT FILED AND SENT TO MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESPONSE OR COMMENT. NOTICED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL AIRBAG COMPLAINTS WITH NTSB FOR MY VEHICLE TYPE WITH NO OPEN INVESTIGATIONS. MY HUSBAND'S DEATH SHOULD TRIGGER SOME TYPE OF INVESTIGATION OR CONCERN FROM BOTH NTSB AND THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10795277

Incident

May 4, 2006

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID

10746422

Incident

Jun 8, 2015

Mileage

144,000 mi

THE POWER BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER POWER BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IS DEFECTIVE AS OUTLINED ION YOUR RECALL 01-V254-001. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT BERGSTROM AUTOMOTIVE APPLETON WI TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE TIME MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT AND INDICTED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART. PLEASE BE KNOWN THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE RECALL PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE NHTSA NOTIFICATION. THEY CLAIMED MY VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL DUE TO THE PRODUCTION DATE OF MY VEHICLE BUT I DID NOT CARE WE JUST NEEDED TO GET THE CAR FIXED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE ON 7/20/15 TO HAVE THE REPAIR MADE. BERGSTROM CONFIRMED ON 7/14/15 THAT THE PARTS ARRIVED. AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE FOR 7/24/15 TO FIX THE ACCUMULATOR. WE DROVE 2 HOURS TO THE BERGSTROM'S FOR THIS APPOINTMENT, WAITED 2 1/2 HOURS IN THEIR SHOW ROOM FOR THEM TO MAKE THE REPAIR, AND DROVE 2 HOURS HOME. WHEN STACY THE SERVICE CONSULTANT SPOKE WITH US SHE PROCEEDED TO GLAZE OVER THE ACCUMULATOR AND PROCEEDED TO DISCUS THE HEADLIGHT REPAIR WHICH I NEVER REQUESTED. THEY NEVER FIXED THE ACCUMULATOR BUT PROCEEDED TO FIX THE HEAD LIGHT ADJUSTER INSTEAD. I WASTED 6 1/2 HOURS AND THE MASTER CYLINDER ACCUMULATOR HAS NOT FIXED. TO SUM IT UP: REPAIR NOT MADE, SAID IT WAS COVERED THEN NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS. 6 1/2 HOURS WASTED.

NHTSA ID

10743812

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AT THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR MODULE ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ROCK HARD, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 01V254001: (SERVICE BRAKES); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10717110

Incident

Apr 23, 2015

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT, MY 2002 LIMITED MITSUBISHI MONTERO'S CAR ALARM WILL GO OFF AT EXACTLY 4:30 AM EACH MORNING UNTIL WE DISABLE THE ALARM WITH THE REMOTE. WE CHECKED AND NO ONE ELSE OR THING IS BUMPING OR SETTING OFF THE ALARM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10715075

Incident

Mar 10, 2015

Mileage

72,000 mi

MY MONTERO HAVE THE TAKATA AIR BAG. THE HORN INSIDE AIR BAG NOT WORKING I ORDER A AIR BAG THE AIR BAG SPECIALIST TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A TAKATA AIR BAG AND HE WILL NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE HE SAY IS PART OF A NATIONAL RECALL OF TAKATA AIR BAG. SO I'M DRIVING W/O THE HORN .CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY I CALL MITSUBISHI AND THEY SAY NO RECALL. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO. [XXX] E MAIL [XXX] PH [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ID

10678964

Incident

Jan 9, 2015

AGING OF THE COSMETIC VINYL COVERING ON STEERING WHEEL THAT COVERS AIR BAG MODULE WILL CONTRACT TOO MUCH IN COLD WEATHER, APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES F OR LOWER CAUSING CAR HORN TO GO OFF EVEN WITHOUT ENGINE RUNNING. THE VINYL COVERING SQUEEZES THE CAR HORN CONTACTS THAT ARE JUST UNDER THE COVER AND ON TOP OF AIR BAG MODULE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653550

Incident

Jan 7, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HOOD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10638415

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

83,000 mi