Mitsubishi Montero complaints by model year
783 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2003 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 2002 | 111 | 9 | 1 | 3 |
| 2001 | 166 | 15 | 2 | 4 |
| 2000 | 51 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 1999 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 1998 | 74 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 1997 | 63 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| 1996 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 | 86 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| 1994 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 1993 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 1992 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 1991 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1997–2006. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 14 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 74 | 68 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power train | 4 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Structure | 4 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Mitsubishi Montero recalls (16)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Montero model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20V035000 | Jan 23, 2020 | Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag | 1998, 1999, 2000 | 4.4% |
| 04V428000 | Sep 1, 2004 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL | 1998–2004 | — |
| 04V319000 | Jul 6, 2004 | MITSUBISHI/FUEL LEAKAGE | 2002, 2003, 2004 | — |
| 04V095000 | Feb 20, 2004 | MITSUBISHI/TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL | 2004 | — |
| 04V067000 | Feb 11, 2004 | MITSUBISHI/FMVSS 225/OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS | 2001 | — |
| 01V254001 | Aug 3, 2001 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA/BRAKE BOOSTER | 2001, 2002 | — |
| 00V311001 | Oct 2, 2000 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT | 1992–1996 | — |
| 00V226001 | Aug 15, 2000 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA/FRONT BRAKE HOSES | 1994 | — |
| 00V123002 | May 1, 2000 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA/FMVSS 111/REARVIEW MIRROR | 2001 | — |
| 98V220000 | Sep 9, 1998 | MITSUBISHI/BRAKE LINES | 1997, 1998 | — |
| 98V205000 | Sep 2, 1998 | MITSUBISHI/CARGO MATS | 1994–1998 | — |
| 96V143002 | Aug 12, 1996 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/BRAKE HOSES | 1992, 1993, 1994 | — |
| 96V143001 | Jul 25, 1996 | MITSUBISHI/BRAKE HOSES | 1992, 1993, 1994 | — |
| 95V103004 | May 24, 1995 | INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES | 1986–1991 | — |
| 89V030000 | Mar 3, 1989 | FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL | 1989 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Mitsubishi Montero FAQ
How many recalls has the Mitsubishi Montero had?
NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns that cover at least one Mitsubishi Montero model year from 1986 to 2006. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Mitsubishi Montero year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2001 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (166) and the 2005 the fewest (1). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Mitsubishi Montero problems?
Across the 1997–2006 model years, owners most often name the service brakes, engine and engine cooling, suspension in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Mitsubishi Montero get?
EPA rates the 2006 Mitsubishi Montero at 15 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.