2003 Mitsubishi Montero Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG HESITATION AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10881447

Incident

Aug 12, 2015

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN WHAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

NHTSA ID

10724898

Incident

May 26, 2015

Mileage

162,000 mi

A SIREN SOUND CAME ON. MY HUSBAND PROCEEDED TO GET OF THE ROAD. IN HIS ATTEMPT, THE BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. HE THE PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A AUTO SHOP. AFTER A THOROUGH CHECK, THE OWNER (MASTER MECHANIC) DISASSEMBLE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO CHECK IF THE BOOSTER HAD FAILED, HE STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A BOOSTER. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON FRIDAY, MAY 7 AROUND 4:00PM. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE, THE SIREN NOISE CAME BACK ON. WE ARE AWAITING TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN ON MONDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10715411

Incident

May 3, 2015

Mileage

187,000 mi

THE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF THE PADS WHERE STUCK AND IT COST $1000 TO REPAIR SINCE IT NEEDS TO REMOVE THE STEERING AIRBAG,THIS SHOULD BE ON A RECALL.THIS HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WHO HAS SAME MODEL ON MITSUBISHI FORUMS FOUND HERE HTTP://MITSUBISHIFORUM.COM/FORUM/MITSUBISHI-MONTERO-MONTERO-SPORT-14/HORN-ACTIVATE-ITSELF-01-MONTERO-LTD-28034/. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662222

Incident

Dec 4, 2014

Mileage

177,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

10649213

Incident

Oct 16, 2014

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD PIERCING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

NHTSA ID

10621355

Incident

Aug 11, 2014

Mileage

230,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND A BUZZER. I THEN WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT BUDGE. IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS A BRICK UNDER IT. THERE WAS NO WAY OF STOPPING SAFELY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO YOU THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT DOWN. PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON BRAKES AND FINALLY STOPPED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DISCOVERED IT IS QUITE COMMON. HOW IS IT SAFE FOR A VEHICLE WITH A ANTILOCK BRAKE MALFUNCTION TO TAKE OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY? I HAVE CONTACT MITSUBISHI AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL!! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?! THIS IS VERY UNSAFE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE PARKED SINCE THE INCIDENT. I FEEL MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS AND UPGRADE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PRICE AND WOULD COST ME 1700.00 TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED. WITH NO GUARANTEE OF IT NOT DOING IT AGAIN. *JS

NHTSA ID

10585588

Incident

Oct 16, 2013

Mileage

187,800 mi

I WAS DRIVING, STARTED HEARING OOZING SOUND THEN I APPLIED BRAKES, VERY HARD AND WON'T GO DOWN. THEN I PULLED OVER THE SIDE CURB AND THE CURB STOPPED THE CARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10556663

Incident

Oct 2, 2013

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY HYDRAULIC BRAKE STOP WORKING I HAVE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE REPAIR IS 2500 MY CAR IS A 2003 WITH 90000 MILE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10525110

Incident

Jul 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10496520

Incident

Jan 31, 2013

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL AND A CONTAINER HAD TO BE USED TO KEEP THE FUEL FROM LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL WAS SEEPING THROUGH THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL VAC AND VAPOR FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V319000 (FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE STORAGE) AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ID

10477373

Incident

Sep 27, 2012

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE PARKED, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO STOP THE HORN. THE FAILURE RECURRED DIFFERENT TWICE, BOTH TIMES DURING COLDER WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

10433766

Incident

Oct 31, 2011

Mileage

168,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THERE WAS A LIGHT BLINKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AN ALARM WENT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID

10382546

Incident

Feb 3, 2011

Mileage

190,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 MONTERO LIMITED AND SUDDENLY MY BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR HAD A HIGH PIERCING NOISE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEAR BY MITSUBISHI DEALER IN MARLOW HEIGHTS MARYLAND ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IF IT WAS THE ACCUMULATOR THEY WOULD FIXED IT AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, AFTER THEIR REVIEW IT THEY SAID IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER AND IT WOULD COST ME $2500 AFTER TAKING IT TO ANOTHER MECHANICAL SHOP I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ACCUMULATOR AND THE PART WAS $228 PLUS LABOR CHARGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365734

Incident

Aug 5, 2010

Mileage

114,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT WAS ROTATING THE TIRES WHEN HE NOTICED ONE OF THE STUDS ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE STUD WAS REPLACED. THE SAME FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL IN WHICH THE STUDS WERE REPLACED BY THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,900.

NHTSA ID

10343029

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

Mileage

83,000 mi

IN 2007 I HAD THE BRAKES TO MY 2003 MITSUBUSHI MONTERO LIMITED REPLACED BECAUSE I FELT THEY MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AS DESIRED. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. IN DEC 2007 I TRIED STOPPING IN LESS THAN 3 INCHES OF SNOW. MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IT SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING OR EVEN A CRUNCHING SOUND. WHEN DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS THE BRAKES APPEAR TO WORK VERY WELL BUT IN WET OR SNOW CONDITIONS IT DOES NOT HANDLE AT ALL. SINCE THEN THE FRONT BRAKES WAS AGAIN REPLACED IN NOV 2008. AGAIN ON 27 JAN 2009 I TRIED STOPPING IN LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE ON THE CURB IN ORDER TO STOP. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR. MY BRAKES DOES NOT WORK IN SNOW CONDITIONS OR EVEN IN EXTREMELY WET CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256903

Incident

Jan 26, 2009

Mileage

107,800 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN, SHE HEARD A POPPING SOUND. SHE HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS TWISTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10235977

Incident

Jul 25, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

LOUD HUMMING NOISE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR END. EXCESSIVE WEAR ON REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. GOT LOUDER THE HIGHER THE MPH WENT. HAD MECHANIC INSPECT AND FOUND THE ARM FROM THE WHEEL TO THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS SEPARATED AND ABOUT TO COME APART. MISTUBISHI DEALER REPAIRED AND CHARGED 2100.00 TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228163

Incident

May 5, 2008

Mileage

73,945 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE WOULD FLUCTUATE FROM WARM TO HOT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE DEALER WERE BOTH ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 59,082 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,500.

NHTSA ID

10196197

Incident

Jun 5, 2007

Mileage

57,500 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 MITSUBISHI TO WORK ON FEBRUARY 5,2007, AT 6:30 A.M. WHEN, ALL AT ONCE I HEARD A GROANING NOISE AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE "ENGINE FAILURE" LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFFENED AND JUST LUCKILY I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO AN AUTO REPAIR STATION/WRECKER SERVICE TO COAST INTO. I CALLED MY BOYFRIEND TO COME AND TAKE ME TO WORK,AND HE THEN CALLED THE MITSUBISHI "ROADSIDE SERVICE" NUMBER TO TOW IT TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND REPAIRED. LATER THAT DAY HE CALLED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS,THEY TRIED TO BLAME US FOR 1. LOW OIL 2.OIL NOT CHANGED OFTEN ENOUGH 3. "BAD" OIL. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO PROVE THAT NONE OF THESE WERE TRUE-WE EVEN THREATENED TO SEND THE OIL TO HAVE IT "TESTED"(WE USE MOBIL 1) THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE OIL ANYMORE. A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THEY CHANGED THE OIL,THEY SOMEHOW FOUND THE OIL AND SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE OIL HAD CARBON AND METAL SHAVINGS IN IT, THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE OIL. EACH DAY WE CALLED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON,THE SERVICE MANAGER "A.J." WOULD GIVE US A RUN AROUND AND WOULD SAY THEY WERE RUNNING THE VEHICLE TO SEE HOW IT WAS WORKING. THEY THEN SAID , AFTER 17 DAYS,THE VEHICLE WAS READY TO LEAVE AND TO RUN IT FOR 1,000 MILES AND SEE IF THE NOISE GOES AWAY! *JB

NHTSA ID

10184274

Incident

Feb 5, 2007

Mileage

16,000 mi

I WAS OPERATING A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO WHEN I REAR ENDED A MERCURY MOUNTAINEER AND PROJECTED IT INTO 2 OTHER VEHICLES...... HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF MY MONTERO, HOWEVER, MY DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I WAS PROJECTED INTO THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN MY HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174759

Incident

Nov 28, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

RECENT INCIDENT OF RIGHT BACK WHEEL DISPLAYING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND IMPAIRING DRIVING, AS WELL AS REPEATED INCIDENTS OF BRAKE WEAR, MALFUNCTION AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISES. REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF REAR RIGHT ROTOR. DRIVER WAS IN FEAR FOR HER SAFETY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167605

Incident

Sep 5, 2006

Mileage

11,000 mi

MITSUBISHI MONTERO 2003 - BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES (1ST AT 19K AND 2ND AT 30K) ON THE ODOMETER. SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER DESCENDING DOWN HILL. IF YOU RIDE THE BRAKES (KEEPING SLIGHT PRESSURE APPLIED WHILE PERIODICALLY APPLYING MORE BRAKE) WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THIS CAUSES THE ROTORS TO HEAT UP AND THEN WARP. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE ROTORS GET TOO HOT BRAKING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE LONG BEACH MITSUBISHI SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS THAT THE 2003 MONTERO USES A SMALLER BRAKE PAD THEN ITS PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10164849

Incident

Jun 28, 2006

Mileage

19,000 mi

5-4-06. 2003 MONTERO CENTER DIFFERENTIAL LIGHT FLASHES SLOWLY. *TS ***NAR***

NHTSA ID

10157346

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH A DEER WAS STRUCK WITH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO GAIN SPEED, SPUN AROUND, VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES IN A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE ACCIDENT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THERE WERE THREE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE ALL OF WHICH WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT WAS SIX MONTHS PREGNANT AND RECEIVED INJURIES DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE POLICE WERE ALERTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED, BUT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10154690

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

Mileage

100,000 mi