Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Power Train complaints

8 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2003

Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED 5 TO 15MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10026454

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2001

Power Train

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #885580

Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2000

Power Train

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 50-55MPH AND WHILE TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS, VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED. VEHICLE HAD 30 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. WHEN DEALER WAS CONTACTED, DEALER NOTED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR AFTER ONLY 30 THOUSAND MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875689

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000

Power TrainSuspension

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PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING BAD CHOP WEARING ON OUTSIDE AND IN THE MIDDLE, FRONT END SLANTED INWARD I BELIEVE CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR BADLY ALSO BAD VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END AS WELL TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES STILL NOT CORRECTED THEY SAY TIRES ARE BAD I REPLACED TIRES AT 18,700 MILES STILL DOING SAME THING NOTHTHING HAS CHANGED CAR IS STILL AT DEALER FOR REPAIR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT A COLD START SEEMS LIKE IT DOES NOT TO GO HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND VERY HIGH RPMS AT 35 MPH TAKEN TO DREALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE ON THIS THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL FOR THE MONTERO SPORT. FRONT END FEELS LO0SE WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH TERRAIN FEELS LIKE BOTTOM IS GOING TO FALL OUT. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK WHEN APPLIED QUIKLY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R15 )

NHTSA ODI #717282

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999

Power Train

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V041000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP & SET APPOINTMENT. TOOK VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS & LATER PICKED IT UP. SMELLED BURNING OIL A WEEK LATER. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED VENTILATION HOSE WAS RELOCATED AT BOTTOM OF TRANSMISSION. DEBRIS WAS ENTERING HOSE & GOING TO TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS CAUSI…

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NHTSA ODI #854525

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1999

Power Train

I HAVE GONE FROM "THERE IS NOTHING WRONG W/ THE VEHICLE" TO HAVING IT AT THE DEALERSHIP 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. I HATE THIS VEHICLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716549

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999

Power Train

THREE SEPERATE INCIDENTS OF MY TRANSMISSION FAILING.......SAND AND OTHER DEBRIS IS GETTING PUSHED UP INTO THE HYDROLICS AND BREAKING SEALS, TEARING UP TRANSMISSION, AS I UNDERSTOOD......MITSUBISHI WARANTEED THE FIRST TWO CASES, BUT NOT THE THIRD.......PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS, FOR I WAS FOOLED INTO BUYING AN "OFF-ROAD" VEHICHLE B…

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NHTSA ODI #713694

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1999

Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID DUE TO A PIN HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING, CAUSE UNKNWOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #837684

Official recalls

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.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.