Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Owners filed 33 complaints about the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and Oct 2016. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (5).
Complaints
33
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Power train5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Suspension4
- Equipment4
- Structure3
- Steering2
- Tires2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Engine1
- Visibility1
- Seats1
- Exterior lighting1
- Electrical system1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 13, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
1
12
3
4
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports1 crash1 related recall
“ON SAT. 2/6/2010 WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING WHICH SCARED ME FOR A MOMENT. AFTER PULLING OVER, I INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT MY HARMONIC BALANCER HAD COME LOOSE. I GOT MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE HOUSE, AND PARKED IT. *TR”
Power train
5 reports1 related recall
“TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE OVERHEAT OR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE (SAFETY CONCERN) TO ALLOW TRANS TO COOL DOWN. I NOW DISCOVER MITSUBISHI HAS A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) ON THIS ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE, REQUIRING INSTALLATION OF A LARGER CAPACITY TRANSMISSION PAN, FILTER AND SCREEN, AND A LONGER FILL TUBE AND MEASURING WAND. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
5 reports1 crash1 related recall
“THE AIR CONDITIONING DISPELLS AN ODOR SIMILAR TO URINE WHEN TURNED ON. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK SHAKES BADLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT 50 MPH OR GREATER. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR WORK. THE A/C PROBLEM HAS NEVER GONE AWAY . ALL THE DEALERSHIP DOES IS APPLY A DEODERANT BUT IT DOES NOT HELP. THE ROTORS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHANGED ONCE AND THE BRAKES WERE ALSO CHANGED. THE TIRES WERE EVEN ROTATED BUT THE VIBRATING CONTINUES.*AK”
Suspension
4 reports
“THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ONE OF THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. *NM”
Equipment
4 reports
“1999 MONTERO SPORT. THE AIR CONDITIONER A/C BELT WENT OUT 3 TIMES LAST SUMMER AND NOW, ITS SUMMER AGAIN IN AZ, AND THERE GOES THE A/C AGAIN! IT HAS NOT BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE LAST A/C REPAIR! DID I FAIL TO MENTION THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REBUILT BEFORE 80,000 MILES?. *AK”
Structure
3 reports1 crash2 fires
“THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE WHILE MERGING AND ROLLED OVER HITTING THE CENTER WALL OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION. *TC THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A ROLL OVER. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY, THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN A SEAT BELT, THE AIR BAGS DID IN FACT DEPLOY, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS SHIFTED TO THE PASSENGER'S SEAT DUE TO THE IMPACT AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE/SHE DID NOT GO OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND WAS DRIVING PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.