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Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Mitsubishi Montero problems

Owners filed 27 complaints about the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero with NHTSA between Feb 1997 and Aug 2007. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (10).

Full 1996 Montero research
Complaints
27
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling10
  2. Steering4
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  4. Power train4
  5. Structure2
  6. Equipment2
  7. Seats1
  8. Electrical system1
  9. Child seat1
  10. Vehicle speed control1
  11. Other / unknown6

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
19975
19985
19992
20004
20011
20023
20033
20043
20050
20060
20071

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

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports1 related recall
“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 AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT NO RECALLS FOR THESE FAILURES WERE AVAILABLE FOR HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL THAT RELATES TO THESE FAILURES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000. UPDATED 01/02/08. *LJ RECALL#00V311001. UPDATED 12/12/07 , REMAILED COMPLAINT EVOQ 2/07/08. *LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10200601
Recall: Engine and engine cooling: engineGet this fixed

Steering

4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING STEERING FAILED. THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT THAT HELD IT DISENGAGED. RECALL 00V311001 WAS ISSUED. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2004Steering, Engine and engine coolingODI 10094576
Get this fixed

Service brakes, hydraulic

4 reports
“ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERABLE AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD. BRAKES MADE GRINDING AND STREAKING NOISES. ALSO, VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2000Service brakes, hydraulicODI 868614
Get this fixed

Power train

4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. DEALER STATED THAT THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF INTERFERENCE IN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CAUSED BY CELL PHONE USE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 22, 2000Power train, Unknown or otherODI 859007
Get this fixed

Structure

2 reports
“NAR 03/05/2003 THE CONSUMER REAR DOOR HINGES HAD TO BE REPLACED , THE TIE ROD BROKE ON THE TRUCK, AND THE WATER PUMP FROZE SEIZING POWER TO THE TIMING BELT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2003Steering, Structure, EquipmentODI 10011341
Get this fixed

Equipment

2 reports
“CD PLAYER/STEREO SPEAKER FAILED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 1997EquipmentODI 604688
Get this fixed
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.