1996 Mitsubishi Montero Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Montero years
- Fewer complaints than other years 9th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero. That ranks 9th out of 12 Montero model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (10 complaints, 37%), typically at around 146,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 27owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 37% | 146,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 6 | 22% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 4 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 4% | 125,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 4% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Mitsubishi Montero recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
Unknown or other
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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
Other Mitsubishi Montero years
← 1995 Montero · 1997 Montero →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Montero | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 Montero | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Montero | 5 | 3 |
| 2003 Montero | 39 | 2 |
| 2002 Montero | 111 | 3 |
| 2001 Montero | 166 | 4 |
| 2000 Montero | 51 | 2 |
| 1999 Montero | 40 | 2 |
| 1998 Montero | 74 | 4 |
| 1997 Montero | 63 | 2 |
| 1996 | 27 | 2 |
| 1995 Montero | 86 | 2 |
See all Mitsubishi Montero problems by year, every Mitsubishi model, or the Mitsubishi VIN decoder.
Similar Mitsubishi models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, unknown or other, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 10 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Montero model years, the 1996 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.