Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2003 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 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/FUEL LEAKAGE
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
- Consequence
- IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
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 (39)
39 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 39 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 11 | 28.2% |
| Power train | 6 | 15.4% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 12.8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 10.3% |
| Air bags | 3 | 7.7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 7.7% |
| Suspension | 3 | 7.7% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 5.1% |
| Tires | 2 | 5.1% |
| Visibility | 2 | 5.1% |
How 2003 compares with other Montero years
Best and worst Montero years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 63 | 2 |
| 1998 | 74 | 4 |
| 1999 | 40 | 2 |
| 2000 | 51 | 2 |
| 2001 | 166 | 4 |
| 2002 | 111 | 3 |
| 2003 | 39 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 0 |
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 15 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $5,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 593 g/mi
- EPA class
- Sport Utility Vehicle -
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 18 / 15 | $5,500 | 593 |
| 3.8 L 6-cyl · 5-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 18 / 15 | $5,500 | 593 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2003 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
2003 Mitsubishi Montero FAQ
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 04V428000 (equipment), 04V319000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2003 Mitsubishi Montero problems?
Owners filed 39 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (11), Power train (6), Fuel system (5) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero get?
EPA rates the 3.8 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 14 city, 18 highway and 15 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2003 Montero compare with other years?
Among the 1997–2006 Mitsubishi Montero model years at least five years old, the 2005 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2001 the most (166). The 2003 drew 39. 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.