1996 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 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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS OF THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY HAVE FALLEN. SHE HEARD A STRANGE NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HER TO CALL AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS FOR THESE FAILURES WERE AVAILABLE FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL THAT RELATES TO THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ RECALL#00V311001. UPDATED 12/12/07 , REMAILED COMPLAINT EVOQ 2/07/08. *LJ

WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT HELD IT DISENGAGED. RECALL 00V311001 WAS ISSUED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 40-45 MPH METAL THAT KEPT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BACK UP RIGHT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK DECLINED BACKWARDS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. DRIVER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. THE ENTIRE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

THE BUTTERFLY VALVE IN THE INTAKE PLENUM IN THE 3.5L DOHC COMES LOOSE AND DROPS INTO THE MOTOR WHICH CAN CAUSE IT TO STOP SUDDENLY, THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS APPARENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE A REPLACEMENT PART TO FIX IT; HOWEVER, IT IS EXPENSIVE AND THEY DO NOT HELP WITH THE COST. *LA

NHTSA RECALL 00-V-311-001:MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER WON'T HONOR THIS RECALL IN PUERTO RICO. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 00-V-311-001 CONCERNING 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. RECALL REPAIRS FAILED IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER REAR DOOR HINGES HAD TO BE REPLACED , THE TIE ROD BROKE ON THE TRUCK, AND THE WATER PUMP FROZE SEIZING POWER TO THE TIMING BELT.

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS HAD COME ON, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE (LOSS OF POWER). THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. CONTACTED DEALER. THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD BROKEN. THERE IS A RECALL, 00V311001, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SHE HAS ALWAYS HAD TROUBLE WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *SCC

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 98V205000 ON FLOOR MATS FOR 3RD ROW SEAT. HAD IT SERVICED. HOWEVER, 2ND ROW SEAT ALSO HAD SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.I COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED,OR KILLED.IWAS VERY LUCKY.*AK (TIRESIZE: 235-75R15)

ENGINE STALLED AT STOP LIGHT. MECHANIC FOUND A BUTTERFLY SCREW ON THE PLENUM MANIFOLD CAME OFF AND FELL INTO ENGINE, PART NO MD 3359040, CAUSED $ 4000 DAMAGE. DEALER HAD TO TIGHTEN AND USE LOCK TIGHT SCREWS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. *SLC

BACK DOOR HINGES HAVE RUSTED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPLACE HINGES. *AK

ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERABLE AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. BRAKES MADE GRINDING AND STREAKING NOISES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. DEALER STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSED BY CELL PHONE USE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING. AUTO HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT/SRS LIGHT REPEATEDLY. THE COMPUTER READING STATES TO REPLACE VARIOUS SENSORS. SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. PROBLEM IS PERPLEXING SERVICE MECHANICS -VEHICLE OWNER FEARFUL SRS MAY NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. VEHICLE IN SERVICE OVER 7 WEEKS.

THERE WERE THREE MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS. IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THEY WERE ISSUED, AND MANUFACTURER HASN'T COMPLIED WITH THEM UP TO THIS DATE. *AK

OUR CENTURY "SMART MOVE" INFANT/TODDLER CARSEAT DID NOT INSTALL SECURELY. IT WOBBLED & DID NOT FIT IN THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT CORRECTLY - IT BLOCKED OUR VIEW OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW. WE ENDED UP EXCHANGING IT FOR THE FISHER PRICE CARSEAT, AND LIKE IT MUCH BETTER. A FRIEND OF MINE ALSO RETURNED HER "SMARTMOVE" FOR THE SAME REASON.

1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SEEMS PRONE TO PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE PADS AT 17,000 MILES, 30,000, AND IT APPEARS REPLACEMENT WILL AGAIN BE NECESSARY AT 40,000 MILES.

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. MANUFACTURER SAID IT'S AN EMISSION PROBLEM. INFORMED IT'S NORMAL. TAKES TOO LONG TO WARM UP BEFORE SHIFTING. *AK

WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE MAKES A VERY ROUGH STOP. OWNER BELIEVES THAT HE CAN SEE BRAKE FLUID ON THE FRONT WHEELS. THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR HAS TO BE REPLENISHED EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES. DEALER NOT ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. OWNER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE BRAKE PROBLEMS. *AK