Mitsubishi Montero Problems by Year
NHTSA has 667 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls on file for the Mitsubishi Montero, across 12 model years (1995–2006). The 2001 model year has the most complaints (166). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes, hydraulic.
Mitsubishi Montero years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Montero year: 1995, 2001, 2002. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2001 Montero: 166 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2002 Montero: 111 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1995 Montero: 86 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2005 Montero: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2006 Montero: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 Montero: 5 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mitsubishi Montero problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 156 | 10 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 111 | 9 | 1 |
| Suspension | 63 | 7 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 56 | 9 | 0 |
| Power Train | 54 | 10 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 48 | 8 | 29 |
| Service Brakes | 47 | 5 | 3 |
| Steering | 41 | 11 | 6 |
| Structure | 32 | 9 | 4 |
| Visibility | 23 | 8 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| Equipment | 16 | 8 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 8 | 4 |
| Tires | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 14 | 7 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Seats | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Engine | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mitsubishi Montero problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Mitsubishi Montero model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Montero | 4 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2005 Montero | 1 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 2004 Montero | 5 | 3 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2003 Montero | 39 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Montero | 111 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Montero | 166 | 4 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Montero | 51 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Montero | 40 | 2 | — | Suspension | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Montero | 74 | 4 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Montero | 63 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Montero | 27 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1995 Montero | 86 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Mitsubishi: all Mitsubishi models · Mitsubishi VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Montero years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (86), 2001 (166), 2002 (111) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Montero year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mitsubishi Montero?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with 156 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Montero have?
10 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.