IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. BUT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. ALSO, DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
2000 Mitsubishi Montero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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: 5 of 51 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Power Train complaints
5 reportsSTEERING-FRONT END VIBRTATION. *AK
AFTER ~ 2HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING THE "N" (NEUTRAL) LIGHT FLASHES WHICH INDICATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVERHEATED. THE CAR MOST BE STOPPED ASAP TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION SO AS TO NOT DAMAGE IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED EVERYTIME I GO ON A TRIP LASTING MORE THAN 2 HOURS OF HWY DRIVING AM I DAMAGIN…
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AFTER ~ 2HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING THE "N" (NEUTRAL) LIGHT FLASHES WHICH INDICATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS OVERHEATED. THE CAR MOST BE STOPPED ASAP TO COOL THE TRANSMISSION SO AS TO NOT DAMAGE IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED EVERYTIME I GO ON A TRIP LASTING MORE THAN 2 HOURS OF HWY DRIVING AM I DAMAGING THE CAR OR CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY (FIRE/PERSONNEL INJURY) HAZARD!? I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO SEARCH FOR A CAUSE AND SOLUTION BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING. IS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COMPROMISED AND THERBY CAUSING THIS? IN ADDITION, THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN ONE IS TRAVELLING. BEING THAT I TRAVEL A LOT I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. ASIDE FROM BEING A SAFETY ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY A COSTLY REPAIR ISSUE IT'S A NUISANCE! FLASHING LIGHT ?
CONSUMER HEARD CHATTERING NOISES, DEALER FOUND TIMING BELT AND IDLER, AND TENSIONER PULLEY WERE CAUSE OF NOISE, DEALER REPLACED ALL THREE COMPONENTS. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH
TOOK MY TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER ON 2/22/01 FOR ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON. THEY REPLACED A LEAKY FUEL CAP AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. TOLD THEM WHEN I CALL FOR SERVICE ABOUT THE 2ND -3RD SHIFT THAT WAS SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE COULD NOT FIND WHAT I WAS SPEAKING OF THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT BACK FOR TH…
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TOOK MY TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER ON 2/22/01 FOR ENGINE LIGHT THAT CAME ON. THEY REPLACED A LEAKY FUEL CAP AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. TOLD THEM WHEN I CALL FOR SERVICE ABOUT THE 2ND -3RD SHIFT THAT WAS SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE COULD NOT FIND WHAT I WAS SPEAKING OF THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT BACK FOR THE SAME REASON THEY THEN SAID THAT MITSUBISHI HAD A LETTER STATING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 2ND - 3RD SHIFT. THE CALLED THE TECH LINE AND NO ONE NEW WHAT TO DO WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY IN TURN WANTED ME TO PAY FOR A TRANNY FLUSH, I REFUSED TELLING THEM I HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY A MECHANIC FRIEND THAT THIS IS NOT THE PROBLEM, SO I DID NOT HAVE THAT DONE. TO BOOT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THIS (80.00).!! WHEN I CALLED AGAIN ABOUT MY VECHICLE DOING THE SAME THING I TOLD THEM I DID NOT FEEL THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE DRIVING A DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WAS NOT GOOD, THE TOLD ME THAT I WAS IN NO DANGER. THE THIRD TIME, THEY INSTRUCTED ME MITSUBISHI COULD DO NOTHING ELSE TO HELP ME AND I HAD TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. SO NOW I AM DRIVING A POSSIBLE DAMAGED TRANSMISSION AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE WILL HAPPEN. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AND INVESTIGATION INTO THIS, THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME OTHER VEHICLES(MONTERO'S) HAVE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING AS WELL NOT JUST MINE. I BELIEVE THIS IS MITSUBISHI'S RESPONSIBLITY TO FIX THIS EVEN IF IT MEANS A NEW TRANSMISSION!! IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TALK FURTHER ON THIS PROBLEM PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT THE GIVEN NUMBERS. THANKS AND HAVE A GREAT DAY. --- CONCERNED CONSUMER
Official recalls
220V035000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.