Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems

Owners filed 83 complaints about the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport with NHTSA between Apr 2003 and Jun 2017. The most-cited component is power train (15).

Complaints
83
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train15
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  3. Air bags9
  4. Electrical system9
  5. Engine and engine cooling8
  6. Service brakes7
  7. Suspension6
  8. Fuel system, gasoline6
  9. Engine5
  10. Fuel/propulsion system4
  11. Structure4
  12. Equipment4
  13. Visibility4
  14. Wheels3

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200310
200420
200510
20068
20073
20086
20091
20102
20112
20122
20134
20147
20155
20161
20172

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

15 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD PIERCING SOUND WHEN THE IGNITION WAS STARTED. ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2014Power trainODI 10621355

Service brakes, hydraulic

10 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Service brakesODI 10649213

Air bags

9 reports7 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHILE STEERING ABRUPTLY, THE VEHICLE WENT OFF ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER THREE TIMES LANDING ON ITS ROOF. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2015Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10682739

Electrical system

9 reports
“"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN A OIL LEEK ACCOR IN DUE TIME IT AUTOMATICALLY DRIPS DIRECTLY ON ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS.ALSO THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM DOESN'T FUNCTION A READING ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC WHEN FINDING ISSUE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2017Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10992777

Engine and engine cooling

8 reports1 crash
“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 MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10881447

Service brakes

7 reports1 crash
“A SIREN SOUND CAME ON. MY HUSBAND PROCEEDED TO GET OF THE ROAD. IN HIS ATTEMPT, THE BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. HE THE PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A AUTO SHOP. AFTER A THOROUGH CHECK, THE OWNER (MASTER MECHANIC) DISASSEMBLE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO CHECK IF THE BOOSTER HAD FAILED, HE STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A BOOSTER. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON FRIDAY, MAY 7 AROUND 4:00PM. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE, THE SIREN NOISE CAME BACK ON. WE ARE AWAITING TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN ON MONDAY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2015Service brakesODI 10715411
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.