Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Owners filed 97 complaints about the 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport with NHTSA between Aug 2000 and Dec 2019. The most-cited component is structure (15).
Complaints
97
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure15
- Service brakes, hydraulic15
- Suspension14
- Power train14
- Air bags10
- Steering10
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Vehicle speed control6
- Electrical system6
- Seat belts6
- Equipment4
- Engine2
- Wheels2
- Visibility2
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 Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
12
9
14
11
7
3
3
2
4
5
6
5
3
2
2
3
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 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
Structure
15 reports
“I HEARD A NOISE WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WHILE HITTING BUMPS, WHEN I STOPPED DRIVING AND LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE FRAME WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE, AND ESPECIALLY BAD WHERE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BRACKET IS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME, ITS SO LOOSE IT DOESN'T LOOK SAFE TO DRIVE.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
15 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE CONTACTS CONCERNS WITH THE ENGINE VIBRATION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE ROTORS. FOLLOWING REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,196 UPDATED 06/08/10.*LJ WITH ONLY A 157,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED EVOQ 08/18/10......UPDATED 12/05/12 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THIS VEHICLE BE CANCELED. UPDATED 12/7/2012 *JS”
Suspension
14 reports
“SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEH, IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME AS TO HOW OFTEN I WAS HAVING TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AND COMPONENTS REPLACED. A FRIEND TOLD ME TO CHECK RECALLS FOR MITSUBISHI AND NOW I FIND THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS A RECALL. WELL DUE TO ME BEING WAY PAST MY WARRANTY THE RECALL DOES NOT HELP ME, BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR THE DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE THESE FREE REPAIRS. REFUND FOR ALL CONSUMERS WHO BROUGHT THE THINGS. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURY AT THIS POINT. *TR”
Power train
14 reports1 fire
“THE 2000 MONTERO SPORT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 1995-1999 MODEL. THE CRANKSHAFT HAS COME OFF THE VEHICLE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ,INCLUDING $1400.00 ON THE LAST VISIT TO MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THE CRANKSHAFT ITSELF HAS TO BE REPLACE AND WHILE THEY ARE DOING THAT , THEY MIGHT AS WELL REPLACED THE PISTON TO,WHICH WILL CAUSE THOUSANDS MORE DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. MITISI NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THERE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HONOR THESE REPAIRS. WHY WILL A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELL A CUSTOMER THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK”
Air bags
10 reports10 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO VEHICLES AHEAD OF HER WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT ROLLED OVER AND LANDED ON ITS DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SHOULDER, HIP, KNEE, BACK, FACE, BACK, AND SPINE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.*BF*JB”
Steering
10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.