← New search

1998 Mitsubishi Montero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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

Other model years Selected 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: 8 of 74 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
94,000 miles · Apr 5, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH,THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO WOBBLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ENCOMPASSED IN RECALL # 00V311000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. HOWEVER,…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH,THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO WOBBLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ENCOMPASSED IN RECALL # 00V311000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STRONGLY BELIEVED OTHERWISE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 94,000.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10187107

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2000
SteeringSuspension

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S FRONT INNER TIE ROD BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. DEALER SAID CONSUMER NEEDED TO REPLACE TIE ROD/BALL JOINT, AND CONTROL ARM WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE WORN OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #860791

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 1999
Steering

I HAVE DONE ALMOST EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUBJECT VEHICLE, FROM SENDING LETTERS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO MITSUBISHI MOTORS SALES OF AMERICA TO THE MARYLAND STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THERE ARE QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES BEING EMPLOYED BY OURISMAN MITSUBISHI AND M.M.S.A. IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE VEH…

Read full complaint

I HAVE DONE ALMOST EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUBJECT VEHICLE, FROM SENDING LETTERS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO MITSUBISHI MOTORS SALES OF AMERICA TO THE MARYLAND STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THERE ARE QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES BEING EMPLOYED BY OURISMAN MITSUBISHI AND M.M.S.A. IN THEIR ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE'S PROBLEM, ALONG WITH THE NON-REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED TIRES THAT WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED AND TO DATE, ONLY ONE TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER....ALSO, M.M.S.A. SENT A REGIONAL REP. TO ASSESS THE REFERENCED VEHICLE AND THE REP., WHO CLAIMED TO BE AN EXPERT ON THE REFERENCED VEHICLE IS NOT A CERTIFIED MECHANIC NOR IS HE A DEGREED ENGINEER. I FIND THE ENTIRE ORDEAL THAT I EXPERIENCED IS ONE THAT NO OTHER PURCHASER OF A VEHICLE, FROM A DEALERSHIP SHOULD BE FORCED TO ENDURE...THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS OWNED ONLY BY OURISMAN MITSUBISHI BEFORE IT WAS PURCHASED BY ME. I HAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION INDICATING THE STEPS TAKEN TO HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CORRECTED AND TO DATE, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS( DOT NUMBER: Y815B TIRE SIZE: 265/70R15 )

NHTSA ODI #713794

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1998
Steering

2 IDENTICAL VEHICLE IN ONE WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLE. BOTH ROLLED OVER IN HIGHWAY USE CAUSED BY SOME FORM OF STEERING PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #539792

Official recalls

4

20V035000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 23, 2020

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 & remedy

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.

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

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 & remedy

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.

98V220000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 9, 1998

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 & remedy

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.

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.

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

1

PE98042 · Rear Folding Seat Disengagement

Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Sep 3, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

A POLICE REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGED THAT DISENGAGEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR FOLDING SEAT DURING A SINGLE VEHICLE ROLLOVER INCIDENT PERMITTED ITS OCCUPANT TO BE EJECTED