IllustrationWHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WILL PULL TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENTS, BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK
1994 Mitsubishi Montero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Montero years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reportsWHILE DRIVING BOLT THAT HOLDS STEERING ROD TO TIRE FELL OUT. THIS CAUSED LEFT FRONT TIRE TO WOBBLE. IF ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
ENGINE IS PROBABLY IN NEED OF NEW HEAD OR BLOCK. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES?*AK
POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OFF. THERE IS A RECALL (CAMPAIGN ID # 00V311001) BUT MITSUBISHI STATES THAT MY MONTERO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE EXPER…
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POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OFF. THERE IS A RECALL (CAMPAIGN ID # 00V311001) BUT MITSUBISHI STATES THAT MY MONTERO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL STATES.*AK
VEHICLE HAD BEEN HAVING SAME PROBLEM A S STATED IN RECALL 00 V 311 001 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BOLT.*AK
DEALER SAID THATPOSSIBLE CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE IS LOOSE WRIST PIN IN CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THAT MITSUBISHI CORP. DOES NOT HAVE RECALL ON THIS AND NOT CONSIDERED AS FACTORY DEFECT. NEED NEW ENGINE BUT MITSUBISHI MADE THIS TYPE ONLY FOR 3 YEARS AND NONE AVAILABLE EVEN FOR USED OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 2 USED/REM…
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DEALER SAID THATPOSSIBLE CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE IS LOOSE WRIST PIN IN CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THAT MITSUBISHI CORP. DOES NOT HAVE RECALL ON THIS AND NOT CONSIDERED AS FACTORY DEFECT. NEED NEW ENGINE BUT MITSUBISHI MADE THIS TYPE ONLY FOR 3 YEARS AND NONE AVAILABLE EVEN FOR USED OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 2 USED/REMANUFACTURED ENGINE DEALERS (1 FROM MIDWEST AND 1 FROM BALTIMORE), FINDING A USED ENGINE IS VERY HARD BECAUSE SO MANY OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM ARE LOOKING FOR ONE. THE 3.5 LTR. DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE IS A PROBLEM ENGINE THAT IS WHY MITSUBISHI STOPPED PRODUCING IT AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE HEADACHES ON IT. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN A MONTH AND STILL NO ENGINE AVAILABLE EITHER USED OR REMANUFACTURED WITHIN THE US. ACCORDING TO AN ENGINE DEALER, THERE ARE 3 OF US WAITING FOR AN ENGINE IN MARYLAND. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER ESTIMATE ON REPAIR COST IS $6,000 (INITIAL ESTIMATE) AND COULD NOT REALLY TELL A CLOSER ESTIMATE UNTIL ENGINE IS OPENED.
TURN SIGNAL WHEN SWITCHED FOR LEFT TURN AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED INSTEAD OF CANCELLING ORIGINAL DIRECTION. HAPPENS VICE VERSA IN EITHER DIRECTION. ENGINE IS MAKING VERY LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE DUE TO "POSSIBLE LOOSE WRIST PIN" ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI DEALER WHO GAVE INITIAL RE…
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TURN SIGNAL WHEN SWITCHED FOR LEFT TURN AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED INSTEAD OF CANCELLING ORIGINAL DIRECTION. HAPPENS VICE VERSA IN EITHER DIRECTION. ENGINE IS MAKING VERY LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE DUE TO "POSSIBLE LOOSE WRIST PIN" ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI DEALER WHO GAVE INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $6,000. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A USED OR REBUILT ENGINE FOR 1 WEEK NOW AND NONE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL US. ACCORDING TO ONE USED ENGINE DEALER, THAT 3.5 LTR.ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE THAT A TRADED IN ENGINE FOR A REBUILT ONE DOES NOT LAST LONG AND GETS SOLD FAST ONCE IT HAS BEEN REMANUFACTURED. FURTHER, THE ENGINE IS REALLY DEFECTIVE BECAUSE MITSUBISHI DISCONTINUED IT AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS DUE TO HEADACHES. MITSUBISHI IS ONE LOUSY JAPANESE COMPANY WHO DOES NOT WANT TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE. SOMEONE SHOULD POINT OUT TO MITSUBISHI THAT THEY ARE HERE IN THE US AND NOT IN JAPAN WHRE THEY HIDE DEFECTS AND GET AWAY WITH IT.*AK
THEIR IS A LOW SPOT IN BRAKES BEFORE THEY CATCH WHEN PEDAL IS APPLIED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR BRAKE HOSE (00V-226) WHICH CAN DEVELOP A LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
FRONT LEFT FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSE SPLIT, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. RECALL 96V143001 FOR SAME DEFECT WAS PERFORMED IN JANUARY 3,1997, BUT SAME DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED.*AK BRAKE HOSE FAILED WITH ONE INCH LONG AXIAL SPLIT RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES. *YH
BRAKE HOSE WAS REPORTED AS REPLACED BY DEALER IN JAN. 97 UNDER RECALL. IN JUNE 2000 HOSE FAILED DURING VERY HARD BRAKING CONDITIONS. ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVOIDED. *AK
Official recalls
500V311001 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Oct 2, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
00V226001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 15, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT LOWER BRAKE HOSES CAN DEVELOP A CRACK, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN IMPAIRED BRAKING ABILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER BRAKE HOSES.
98V205000 · Unknown Or Other
Sep 2, 1998
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 & remedy
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.
96V143002 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 12, 1996
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
96V143001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jul 25, 1996
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFICIENCY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.