Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 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 ↗Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag
- Summary
- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-001.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL
- Summary
- CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
- Consequence
- THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
- Remedy
- MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
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 (74)
74 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 74 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 18 | 24.3% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 13.5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 12.2% |
| Air bags | 6 | 8.1% |
| Structure | 5 | 6.8% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 6.8% |
| Steering | 4 | 5.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 5.4% |
| Visibility | 4 | 5.4% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 4.1% |
How 1998 compares with other Montero years
Best and worst Montero years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2003 | 39 | 2 |
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 Vehicle
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 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 17 / 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 1998 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
1998 Mitsubishi Montero FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 20V035000 (air bag), 04V428000 (equipment), 98V220000 (brake), 98V205000 (unknown or other). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Mitsubishi Montero problems?
Owners filed 74 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (18), Service brakes (10), Engine and engine cooling (9) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero get?
EPA rates the 3 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 1998 Montero compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Mitsubishi Montero model years at least five years old, the 1996 drew the fewest complaints (27) and the 2001 the most (166). The 1998 drew 74. 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.