1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the equipment › appliance › air conditioner. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip3
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly2
000
Suspension2
000
Structure2
121
Fuel System, Gasoline2
020
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000
Tires1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings01V027000
Filed Feb 5, 200119,000 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5L ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH NONCOMPLIANT BRAKE VACUUM HOSES.

Risk. THESE HOSES COULD BURST CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE, INCREASING THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine00V311001
Filed Oct 2, 2000210,000 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission99V041000
Filed Mar 4, 199910,000 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD BE VENTED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF UNANTICIPATED HEAT GENERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION.

Risk. THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT TO LIMIT VEHICLE SPEED TO BELOW APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE, AN ADDITIONAL LABEL DESCRIBING THE PROPER USE OF FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE WILL BE PROVIDED, AND WILL RELOCATE THE TRANSMISSION BREATHER VENT. IN ADDITION, THE OWNER'S MANUAL WILL BE CORRECTED WITH THE PROPER INFORMATION TO REFLECT THE CHANGE TO THE SPEED LIMITATIONS IN THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2016150,000 milesKS

MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 3 TIMES THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, THEN FOUND OUT IT HAD AN OPEN RECALL FROM 2000. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY, FELT THEY DISMISSED MY SITUATION AS I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIBED AND I WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL ABOUT THE 1ST TWO REPAIRS. MY CAR BROKE DOWN YESTERDAY, AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, AND WAS ONCE AGAIN UNDRIVEABLE. IT IS RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. I SENT THE DEALER A VERY DETAILED EMAIL ABOUT THIS FINAL SITUATION AND TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS FILING A COMPLAINT. NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE RECALL IS REGARDING A BOLT THAT SECURES A PULLEY. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME, THE CAR STARTS MAKING RATTLING NOISES THEN WILL NOT STEER, THEN IS UNDRIVEABLE. THESE ARE THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL AS "WORST CASE". I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO FROM A DEALER BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF AN OPEN RECALL, SO JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED IT AFTER READING ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS THIRD TIME THE CAR BROKE DOWN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, STRAIGHT, MEANING NOT TURNING. THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAS ALSO DRIVING, BUT DON'T REMEMBER IF I WAS TURNING OR NOT. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM A PREVIOUS REPAIR AND MY VISIT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD FROM MY PHONE AT THIS TIME. THE DATES THE CAR BROKE DOWN FROM THE SAME PROBLEM ARE FEB, 2016, JUNE, 2016 AND OCTOBER 6, 2016. I AM DES

Tires
Filed Nov 8, 2013AZ

TIRES PURCHASE NEW, MAINTAINED WELL WITH APPROX 25K MILES OF WEAR. WITH NO NOTICE, HAD A TREAD SEPARATION ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE. TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH ONLY A PARTIAL CREDIT FOR WARRANTY. OTHER TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND TOLD IT WAS A FLUKE. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, WAS PULLING OFF FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50MPH AND LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED AND RIPPED FENDER OFF OF SUV. NO NOTICE OF WEAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. WITNESS DRIVER PULLED OVER AND TOLD ME THAT HIS WIFE NOTICED A HUGE BUBBLE IN THE TIRE RIGHT BEFORE THE TREAD FELL APART. TOOK TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY SAID IN EFFECT, "SO SAD, TOO BAD" BUT I MUST BE UNLUCKY AND THE OTHER TWO TIRES STILL "LOOK" GOOD. TIRE REPLACED. NOW, SAME DAY THIRD TIRE IS LOOSING AIR-NO NAILS, GOOD SEAL, GOOD VALVE. I EXPECT IT TO BLOW UP SOON AS WELL. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE ANYMORE TIRES. I HOPE THAT I AM ALIVE BY THE TIME I CAN AFFORD TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO TIRES. I AM ASTONISHED THAT THESE HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED OR THAT THE MFTR IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL REPLACEMENT. THESE ARE NOT OVER TIME NOTICEABLE ISSUES, THEY ARE IMMEDIATE FAILURES AND LIFE THREATENING. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2010180,291 milesFL

ON SAT. 2/6/2010 WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING WHICH SCARED ME FOR A MOMENT. AFTER PULLING OVER, I INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT MY HARMONIC BALANCER HAD COME LOOSE. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE HOUSE, AND PARKED IT. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 13, 200993,500 milesFL

TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE OVERHEAT OR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE (SAFETY CONCERN) TO ALLOW TRANS TO COOL DOWN. I NOW DISCOVER MITSUBISHI HAS A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THIS ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE, REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF A LARGER CAPACITY TRANSMISSION PAN, FILTER AND SCREEN, AND A LONGER FILL TUBE AND MEASURING WAND. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Mar 13, 2008115,000 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A TAPPING SOUND. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE, APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, AND HEARD THREE THUMPS FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE TO THE MECHANIC. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE A/C BELT WAS MISSING. WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE BELT, HE NOTICED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS LOOSE AND WAS UNABLE TO BE TIGHTENED. HE ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE NOISE SHE HEARD WAS THE A/C BELT DETACHING AND STRIKING THE ENGINE. DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY'S FAILURE, THE A/C BELT DETACHED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE A/C BELT DETACHED ONCE AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 6, 200740,473 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISH MONTERO SPORT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND OVERHEATED ON LONG TRIPS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,473. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000. *AK

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly
Filed Dec 1, 2006100,000 milesNJ

THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ONE OF THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2005143,000 milesTX

VEHICLE LOST USE OF POWER STEERING DURING A 90 DEGREE TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF IT. I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO PARKING LOT OF NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. I NOTICED THAT THE V-BELT TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND OTHER COMPONENTS WAS TURNING RATHER SLUGGISHLY AND COULD HEAR A SQUEAKING/CHIRPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER SWITCHING OFF THE A/C, I OBSERVED THAT THE V-BELT BEGAN TO TURN MORE FREELY BUT STILL SOMEWHAT SLOWER THAN NORMAL. I THEN DROVE THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS (35-40 MPH) TO MY HOME APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES AWAY. THE NEXT MORNING, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY MECHANIC'S SHOP APPROXIMATELY 1.25 MILE AWAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE V-BELT HAD NOW JUMPED OFF THE PULLEYS BECAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT WAS NOT IN ALL THE WAY, CAUSING THE V-BELT TO BE MISALIGNED WITH THE OTHER PULLEYS. THAT SAME DAY, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP (FAZELI MITSUBISHI - MESQUITE, TX) WHERE THE PREVIOUS 120K SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE HAD BEEN PERFORMED. DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT THE PULLEY BOLT HAD BACKED-OUT DUE TO VIBRATION FROM THE PULLEY AND THAT THE INTERNAL THREADS OF THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BEEN DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR REQUIRING THE CRANKSHAFT TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $3300 TO $3850 AND INVOLVING A TWO WEEK TIME-FRAME. THE DEALERSHIP CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE AND ARE AWAITING MY DECISION WHETHER OR NOT

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Jun 5, 200576,000 milesCA

NUTRAL LIGHT COMES ON (FLASHING) WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, ONCE ON 5/08/05 AND AGAIN ON 6/5/05

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Feb 18, 2005CA

THE DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. *TT

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Jan 24, 2005CA

THE CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

StructureCrashFire1 injured
Filed Nov 30, 2004NJ

THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE WHILE MERGING AND ROLLED OVER HITTING THE CENTER WALL OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. *TC THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A ROLL OVER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN A SEAT BELT, THE AIR BAGS DID IN FACT DEPLOY, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS SHIFTED TO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT DUE TO THE IMPACT AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE/SHE DID NOT GO OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND WAS DRIVING PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC *JB

StructureFire
Filed Sep 22, 2003PA

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT WHEEL WELL CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Jul 24, 2003AZ

1999 MONTERO SPORT. THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C BELT WENT OUT 3 TIMES LAST SUMMER AND NOW, ITS SUMMER AGAIN IN AZ, AND THERE GOES THE A/C AGAIN! IT HAS NOT BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE LAST A/C REPAIR! DID I FAIL TO MENTION THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT BEFORE 80,000 MILES?. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jul 16, 200390,493 milesNC

NEUTRAL LIGHT FLASHS WHEN DRIVING. *AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Jul 4, 200386,000 milesGA

THE MOTOR FOR MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I AM ALSO UPSET THAT THE PARTS STORE QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $110, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IT WOULD BE TWO WEEKS BEFORE ONE COULD BE OBTAINED, AND THEN ONLY MITSUBISHI WOULD SELL IT TO ME AND FOR $190. WHY WOULD A MOTOR GO OUT ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 86,000 MILES?. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2002AL

AFTER RECALL FOR THE CRANKSHAFT WAS DONE ON THE VEHICLE, THE DEFECT REACCURED. DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO FIX PROBLEM. TS

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly
Filed Jul 10, 2002OH

VEHICLE WAS TILTING TO LEFT,. DEALER DETERMINED BOTH REAR LEAF SPRINGS WERE CRACKED.*AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jun 13, 2002GA

ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND SUDDENLY ALL DOORS LOCKED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed Nov 16, 2001IN

AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AIR CONDITIONER BELT DISAPPEARED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE AIR CONDITIONER BELT, AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. *AK

20 of 33 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20091000Routine
20045100Routine
200331021Fatalities reported
200254001Fatalities reported
200163130Routine
200097111Fatalities reported
1999 — this page33340Routine
199835110Routine
199729110Routine

Compare every Montero Sport year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 5, 2001. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.