Mitsubishi Montero Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Mitsubishi Montero across 9 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (34). The words owners use most often: “crankshaft pulley” (22% of reports).
- 111engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Crankshaft pulley: mentioned in 24 of 111 complaints (22%)
- Crank shaft: mentioned in 8 of 111 complaints (7%)
- Bolt broke: mentioned in 6 of 111 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 40 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 111 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 2 an injury.
Mitsubishi Montero engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 Montero | 3 | 8% | 37,500 |
| 2002 Montero | 8 | 7% | 29,500 |
| 2001 Montero | 21 | 13% | 58,250 |
| 2000 Montero | 5 | 10% | — |
| 1999 Montero | 4 | 10% | 64,500 |
| 1998 Montero | 9 | 12% | 94,000 |
| 1997 Montero | 17 | 27% | 156,000 |
| 1996 Montero | 10 | 37% | 146,000 |
| 1995 Montero | 34 | 40% | 143,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine
Model years: 1995, 1996
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mitsubishi montero. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated when the vehicle was purchased from the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle had a strong hesitation as the failure progressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
2000 montero check engine soon light on continuously steps taken, replaced plugs,wires, coils, timing belt, idler pulley, thermostat, engine heat indicator rises to hot than back to normal, engine run's sluggish, no power, shifting is delayed when on an incline and hear a muffled back fire on…
1997 mitsubish montero 3.5 liter automatic- crank shaft bolt has come out on 5 separate occasions and has cost over $3000 to have it replaced. The inside of the crankshaft where the bolt goes is completely stripped to the point i now have to replace the engine. This is not an isolated issue as this…
Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminates when towing, on steep grades, or even continuously. Diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0125 is displayed indicating insufficient coolant temperature, even though actual coolant temperature is within normal range of 200 to 215 degrees. Replacement of coolant…
Crankshaft pulley pin/bolt gets sheared off. Dash lights come on and vehicle power steering stops working as the pump is not turning because the problem affect the entire pulley system. It also affects the timing gear/belt/harmonic balancer. This is the 3rd time in as many years this has happened…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mitsubishi Monteros have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 111 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Mitsubishi Montero. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mitsubishi Montero engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Mitsubishi Montero?
The most frequent phrase is “crankshaft pulley”, in 24 of 111 complaints, followed by “crank shaft” (8).
Other Mitsubishi Montero problems
See all Mitsubishi Montero problems.