IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDS SPEEDS OF 60 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. CAUSE OF VIBRATION IS UNDETERMINED. *AK
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
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
Suspension complaints
18 reportsCONSUMER STATES HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF "CLICKING" NOISE. DEALER FINALLY DETERMINED THAT VHEICLE HAD A BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHICH COULD CAUSE TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL, WHILE TURNING AND FLIP OVER.*JB
STEERING WHEEL "SHIMMIES". TECH CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD FIND NOTHING!*AK
VEHICLE VIBRATION. REPURCHASED BY MITSUBISHI 6/2000
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
THERE IS A CONTINUOUS AND EXTREME PULSATION,VIBRATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 40 M.P.H. THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS WHEN BRAKING AT CERTAIN SPEEDS AS WELL. FROM READING YOUR WEB SITE THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT CONSUMER WOULD HEAR NOISE FOR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE AT PURCHASE, A SLIGHT CHURP WAS NOTICED, FRONT RIGHT. IT WAS CHECKED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. AFTERWARDS, NOISE INCREASED STEADILY. A FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS FIXED, BUT CONTINUED TO RATTLE. SWAY BAR/ BUSHINGS WERE RE…
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WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT CONSUMER WOULD HEAR NOISE FOR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE AT PURCHASE, A SLIGHT CHURP WAS NOTICED, FRONT RIGHT. IT WAS CHECKED, BUT NOT CORRECTED. AFTERWARDS, NOISE INCREASED STEADILY. A FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS FIXED, BUT CONTINUED TO RATTLE. SWAY BAR/ BUSHINGS WERE REPAIRED. ALSO STEERING BECAME LOOSE. HOWEVER, CHURPING CONTINUED. DIAGNOSIS BY A LOCALMECHANIC CLAIMED THAT CHURPING AND RATTLING WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SWAY BAR LINK AND PEELING TOP BUSHING. BUT MITSHIBISHI DEALERS DISAGREED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS, AND PERSUADED CONSUMER TO LEAVE VEHICLE AS IT IS. *AK
WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE OR SKID. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED BRAKES ARE STICKING. WOULD HAVE ODORS/FUMES COMING INSIDE VEHICLE. ALSO, SOME SQUEAKING COMING FROM FRONT END. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE BRAKE PADS CAUSING GRINDING NOISE. MJS
CONSTANT VIBRATION AT 50 AND OVER, HEAVY SHAKING, STEERING WHEEL MUST NE HELD BY 2 HANDS. *AK
Official recalls
420V035000 · 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
1PE98042 · 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