Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗MITSUBISHI/BRAKE LINES
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINES CAN DEVELOP PIN HOLES DUE TO CHAFFING AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE IN THE INNER FENDER.
- Consequence
- BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAK RESULTING IN DETERIORATED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND ROUTING. IF THE LINES ARE NOT CORRECTLY CENTERED IN THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE, THE LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED BY BENDING SLIGHTLY TO CORRECT. IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BRAKE LINE WEAR, THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
MITSUBISHI/CARGO MATS
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
- Consequence
- IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (63)
63 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine and engine cooling is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 63 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 27% |
| Service brakes | 14 | 22.2% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 12.7% |
| Suspension | 6 | 9.5% |
| Air bags | 5 | 7.9% |
| Equipment | 5 | 7.9% |
| Power train | 4 | 6.3% |
| Structure | 4 | 6.3% |
| Steering | 3 | 4.8% |
| Visibility | 3 | 4.8% |
How 1997 compares with other Montero years
Best and worst Montero years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 14 | 3 |
| 1994 | 31 | 5 |
| 1995 | 86 | 2 |
| 1996 | 27 | 2 |
| 1997 | 63 | 2 |
| 1998 | 74 | 4 |
| 1999 | 40 | 2 |
| 2000 | 51 | 2 |
| 2001 | 166 | 4 |
| 2002 | 111 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 16 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 555 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicles
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 16 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 17 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 17 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 18 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1997 Montero for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1997 Mitsubishi Montero FAQ
How many recalls does the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 98V220000 (brake), 98V205000 (unknown or other). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1997 Mitsubishi Montero problems?
Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. Engine and engine cooling (17), Service brakes (14), Electrical system (8) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero get?
EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 15 city, 18 highway and 16 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1997 Montero compare with other years?
Among the 1993–2002 Mitsubishi Montero model years at least five years old, the 1993 drew the fewest complaints (14) and the 2001 the most (166). The 1997 drew 63. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.