1994 Mitsubishi Montero

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.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT LOWER BRAKE HOSES CAN DEVELOP A CRACK, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN IMPAIRED BRAKING ABILITY AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER BRAKE HOSES.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Risk. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.

Defect. UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Risk. BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFICIENCY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END HER VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD BUT WAS UNABLE TO GIVE SPECIFIC DETAILS REGARDING THE HEAD INJURY. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A BROKEN ANKLE, HEAD TRAUMA AND WAS ALSO PLACED IN INTENSIVE CARE DUE TO THE HEAD TRAUMA. THE POLICE STATED THAT IF THE AIR BAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOY THE CONTACT COULD HAVE AVOIDED A SERIOUS INJURY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAG; HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000. UPDATED 03/08/11 *BF UPDATED 12/14/11 *CN ADDED PICTURE UPDATED 12/18/13 *BF UPDATED 12/18/13

A 12 YEAR OLD BOY WAS KILLED WHEN HIS CARGO SEAT IN A MITSUBISHI MONTERO DETACHED AND CATAPULTED HIM OUT THE SIDE WINDOW IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, BUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR SEAT DESIGN THE BELTS ARE ALL ATTACHED TO THE SEAT, RATHER THAN THE FLOOR, GIVING THE OCCUPANT NO RESTRAINT WHEN THE SEAT COMES DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR. *TR

1994 MITSUBISHI MONTERO BOLT SECURING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. ACCIDENT AVERTED, THANK GOD. AS STATED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS, MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP AND MITSUBISHI AMERICA ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO REPAIR MY TRUCK BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT A MATCH FOR THE RECALL ON THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM. MY GUESS IS THAT WHEN SOMEONE DOES HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION THEY'LL PAY DEARLY IN LAWSUIT LOSSES WHEN THEY COULD SIMPLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND KEEP THEIR CONSUMERS SAFE! I WILL BEGIN A WRITING CAMPAIGN IN REGARD TO THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT'S CLEAR THAT MITSUBISHI DOESN'T CARE UNTIL SOMEONE DIES. NICE WAY TO RUN YOUR COMPANY. BY THE WAY, THERE ARE NO FIRES/DEATHS/DAMAGE OR POLICE REPORTS BECAUSE THUS FAR, EVERYONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN LUCKY! *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 1994 MITSUBISHI 3.0L MONTERO AT 55MPH ON A FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT HITTING ANY OTHER VEHICLES.WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MY DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BROKEN OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE. THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO INSTALL A REBUILT ENGINE (IF THEY COULD FIND ONE) FOR $6200. THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A SAFETY RECALL EXISTED FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

I SPENT $ 6000 LAST YEAR ON A NEW HALF BLOCK ENGINE. LAST MONTH MY MITSUBISHI MONTERO STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE DEALERS, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE PLENUM NEEDED TO GET CHECKED. THEY DID THAT, BUT NOW THEY FOUND THAT THE BUTTERFLY VALVES ON THE PLENUM BROKE OFF ( WHICH WERE PLASTIC) AND WENT IN TO THE ENGINE. THIS DAMAGED BOTH HEADS AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF $ 4700. MY PROBLEM IS, MITSUBISHI KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM (WHICH IS APPARENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE A REPLACEMENT PART TO FIX IT), BUT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT PLENUM IS SO EXPENSIVE THEY NEVER DID A RECALL TO FIX IT. *AK

I WAS DRIVING MY MITSUBISHI MONTERO 3.5L DOHC WHILE TRYING TO JOIN FREEWAY ON RAMP WHILE ACCELERATING TO REACH 60 MILES AN HOUR TO KEEP IN PACE WITH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER STARTED TO DECLINE DESPITE ME STEPPING ON THE GAS. AT THE SAME TIME I LOST POWER STEERING AND I NEARLY DIED DUE TO A POSSIBLE HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND GET OFF THE ROAD AT ONCE. I MANAGED TO DRIVE THE CAR AT VERY LOW SPEED TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC, AND IT DIED RIGHT IN HIS FRONT YARD. UPON EXAMINING IT HE TOLD ME THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE AND THATS WHY I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I ALSO CHECKED OUT IN THE INTERNET AT THIS SPECIFIC SITE: WWW.MITSUBISHISUCKS.COM/CARS/COMPLAINTS/USA/MODELS/MONTERO/1994.HTML. *AK I DISCOVERED THAT MITSUBISHI MONTERO RANGING FROM THE LATE 80S TO AS LATE AS 2002 ALL HAVE THIS COMMON DEFECT AND NOT ALL OF THEM ARE COVERED BY MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY DUE TO VIN OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT IT TO MITSUBISHI THAT IF THEY CANNOT PUT SAFE CARS ON THE ROAD THEN THEY BETTER WIND UP AND LET TOYOTA RUN THE SHOW . IF YOU GO TO EVERY DEALER IT IS THE SAME SONG :WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DO THEY THINK IM LYING IN THE FIRST PLACE? MY EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT ME AFTER GOING THROUGH 2 MONTEROS THAT THEY ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE CARS ON THE ROAD AND ANY OTHER DRIVER SHOULD WATCH OUT JUST INCASE ONE GOES NUTS AND LOSES STEERING CAPABILITY. I HAVE BEGUN KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED

I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WHEN MY AIRCONDITIONING AND POWER STEERING WENT OUT. BELIEVING IT WAS A BELT, I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND OUT THAT MY CRANKSHAFT BOLT HAD BROKEN CAUSING MY KEYWAY AND HARMONIC BALANCER TO FALL OFF. I CALLED THE LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER TO LOCATE THE PARTS, AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS DEFECTIVE AND A NHTSA RECALL WAS IN PLACE ON IT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THE BOLT WOULD BE REPLACED AS WELL AS ANY SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BREAKING OF THE BOLT. THE DEALER HAS NOW CALLED ME BACK, AND SAID THAT THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE REMOVING THE BROKEN BOLT FROM THE CRANKSHAFT AND HAD ALREADY SPENT TO MUCH TIME AND MONEY, AND SO THEREFORE WOULD NOT CONTINUE ANY WORK. IF I WANTED THE VEHICLE FIXED, IT WOULD BE ON MY DIME, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO HONOR THE SAFETY RECALL. NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE SINCE.*AK

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE ON THE 94 MONTERO SR AND I LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST. THUS, THE CAR WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION WAS ENCOUNTERED. THE RECALL SR-01-002 DOES NOT COVER THIS MODEL ENGINE EVEN THOUGH THE PART USED IS THE SAME THROUGHOUT THOSE YEARS.*AK

THE HARMONIC BALANCER HAS CAME APART TWICE. THE MECHANIC THAT I WAS HAS STATED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT COMING LOOSE. THIS PARTICULAR BOLT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE 3.5 L MONTERO ENGINES, BUT NOT THE 3.5 L ENGINES. *AK

A DEFECTIVE RIGHT BRAKE HOSE LOSE ALL BRAKE FLUID AND THE MONTERO RUN OUT OF BRAKE . THE MITSUBISHI ENGINEERS IN PR. SAID THAT THE RECALL FOR THE DEFECTIVE HOSE WAS MADE FOR THE LOWER HOSE NOT FOR THIS ONE. I THINK THAT 72331 MILES ARE NO THE REASON TO JUSTIFIED THE FAILURE OF THIS HOSE. I HAVE THE HOSE IF YOU WANT TO CHECK THIS HOSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WILL PULL TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES AND PERFORMED ALIGNMENTS, BUT COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING BOLT THAT HOLDS STEERING ROD TO TIRE FELL OUT. THIS CAUSED LEFT FRONT TIRE TO WOBBLE. IF ON THE HIGHWAY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE IS PROBABLY IN NEED OF NEW HEAD OR BLOCK. WAS THERE A RECALL ON THESE ENGINES?*AK

POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED WHILE MY WIFE WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY FELL OFF. THERE IS A RECALL (CAMPAIGN ID # 00V311001) BUT MITSUBISHI STATES THAT MY MONTERO IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL STATES.*AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN HAVING SAME PROBLEM A S STATED IN RECALL 00 V 311 001 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT/PULLEY BOLT.*AK

DEALER SAID THATPOSSIBLE CAUSE OF ENGINE FAILURE IS LOOSE WRIST PIN IN CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY AND THAT MITSUBISHI CORP. DOES NOT HAVE RECALL ON THIS AND NOT CONSIDERED AS FACTORY DEFECT. NEED NEW ENGINE BUT MITSUBISHI MADE THIS TYPE ONLY FOR 3 YEARS AND NONE AVAILABLE EVEN FOR USED OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE. ACCORDING TO 2 USED/REMANUFACTURED ENGINE DEALERS (1 FROM MIDWEST AND 1 FROM BALTIMORE), FINDING A USED ENGINE IS VERY HARD BECAUSE SO MANY OWNERS WITH SAME PROBLEM ARE LOOKING FOR ONE. THE 3.5 LTR. DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE IS A PROBLEM ENGINE THAT IS WHY MITSUBISHI STOPPED PRODUCING IT AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE HEADACHES ON IT. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN A MONTH AND STILL NO ENGINE AVAILABLE EITHER USED OR REMANUFACTURED WITHIN THE US. ACCORDING TO AN ENGINE DEALER, THERE ARE 3 OF US WAITING FOR AN ENGINE IN MARYLAND. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER ESTIMATE ON REPAIR COST IS $6,000 (INITIAL ESTIMATE) AND COULD NOT REALLY TELL A CLOSER ESTIMATE UNTIL ENGINE IS OPENED.

TURN SIGNAL WHEN SWITCHED FOR LEFT TURN AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHED TO RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED INSTEAD OF CANCELLING ORIGINAL DIRECTION. HAPPENS VICE VERSA IN EITHER DIRECTION. ENGINE IS MAKING VERY LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE DUE TO "POSSIBLE LOOSE WRIST PIN" ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI DEALER WHO GAVE INITIAL REPAIR ESTIMATE OF $6,000. HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A USED OR REBUILT ENGINE FOR 1 WEEK NOW AND NONE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL US. ACCORDING TO ONE USED ENGINE DEALER, THAT 3.5 LTR.ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE THAT A TRADED IN ENGINE FOR A REBUILT ONE DOES NOT LAST LONG AND GETS SOLD FAST ONCE IT HAS BEEN REMANUFACTURED. FURTHER, THE ENGINE IS REALLY DEFECTIVE BECAUSE MITSUBISHI DISCONTINUED IT AFTER ONLY 3 YEARS DUE TO HEADACHES. MITSUBISHI IS ONE LOUSY JAPANESE COMPANY WHO DOES NOT WANT TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE. SOMEONE SHOULD POINT OUT TO MITSUBISHI THAT THEY ARE HERE IN THE US AND NOT IN JAPAN WHRE THEY HIDE DEFECTS AND GET AWAY WITH IT.*AK

THEIR IS A LOW SPOT IN BRAKES BEFORE THEY CATCH WHEN PEDAL IS APPLIED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR BRAKE HOSE (00V-226) WHICH CAN DEVELOP A LEAK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

FRONT LEFT FLEXIBLE BRAKE HOSE SPLIT, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK WHILE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. RECALL 96V143001 FOR SAME DEFECT WAS PERFORMED IN JANUARY 3,1997, BUT SAME DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED.*AK BRAKE HOSE FAILED WITH ONE INCH LONG AXIAL SPLIT RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES. *YH

BRAKE HOSE WAS REPORTED AS REPLACED BY DEALER IN JAN. 97 UNDER RECALL. IN JUNE 2000 HOSE FAILED DURING VERY HARD BRAKING CONDITIONS. ACCIDENT NARROWLY AVOIDED. *AK