Mitsubishi Montero Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Mitsubishi Montero model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1988 drew the fewest (1) and the 2001 the most (166).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15–16 |
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Steering | — | 15 |
| 1987 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 1 | Seat belts | — | 16 |
| 2006 | 4 | 0 | Service brakes | — | 15 |
| 2004 | 5 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 15 |
| 1989 | 10 | 2 | Seat belts | — | 15–16 |
| 1992 | 12 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15 |
| 1993 | 14 | 3 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15 |
| 1991 | 18 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15 |
| 1990 | 23 | 1 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15–16 |
| 1996 | 27 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 14–15 |
| 1994 | 31 | 5 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 14–15 |
| 2003 | 39 | 2 | Service brakes | — | 15 |
| 1999 | 40 | 2 | Suspension | — | 15–16 |
| 2000 | 51 | 2 | Service brakes | — | 15–16 |
| 1997 | 63 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 15–16 |
| 1998 | 74 | 4 | Suspension | — | 15–16 |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
86 | 2 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 14–15 |
| 2002 Among the most complaints |
111 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 14–15 |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
166 | 4 | Service brakes | — | 14 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Mitsubishi Montero years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2001 Mitsubishi Montero: 166 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 74 (45%); Electrical system 22 (13%); Engine and engine cooling 21 (13%).
Reports mention 15 crashes, 2 fires, 14 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 107,371 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2002 Mitsubishi Montero: 111 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 68 (61%); Engine and engine cooling 8 (7%); Air bags 7 (6%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 8 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 85,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
1995 Mitsubishi Montero: 86 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 34 (40%); Steering 12 (14%); Suspension 8 (9%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 21 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 147,500 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Mitsubishi Montero years with the fewest complaints
1988 Mitsubishi Montero: 1 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 1 (100%).
1 recall campaign listed.
1987 Mitsubishi Montero: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 3 (100%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Mitsubishi Montero owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 39 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 83,000 |
| 2002 | 111 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 85,000 |
| 2001 | 166 | 15 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 107,371 |
| 2000 | 51 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1998 | 74 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 63 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 110,500 |
| 1996 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 86 | 7 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 147,500 |
| 1994 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Mitsubishi Montero recalls
- INTERIOR SYSTEMS:ACTIVE RESTRAINTS:BELT BUCKLES (1986–1991 model years; 658,000 vehicles across all models; filed May 1995; 95V103004)
- MITSUBISHI AMERICA/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT (1992–1996 model years; 210,000 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2000; 00V311001)
- MITSUBISHI/FMVSS 225/OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTIONS (2001 model year; 134,000 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2004; 04V067000)
- MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL (1998–2004 model years; 100,432 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2004; 04V428000)
- MITSUBISHI/BRAKE HOSES (1992–1994 model years; 93,000 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 1996; 96V143001)
All 16 Mitsubishi Montero recall campaigns · Mitsubishi Montero problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Mitsubishi Montero years FAQ
Which Mitsubishi Montero year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1988 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Mitsubishi Montero years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2001, 2002 and 1995 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Mitsubishi Montero problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (220 of 779 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Montero have?
NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns covering the Mitsubishi Montero. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Mitsubishi Montero recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
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.