Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Owners filed 74 complaints about the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero with NHTSA between Sep 1997 and May 2021. The most-cited component is suspension (18).
Complaints
74
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
12
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension18
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Air bags6
- Structure5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Steering4
- Tires4
- Visibility4
- Exterior lighting3
- Seat belts3
- Power train3
- Wheels2
- Engine1
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 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
10
30
13
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1999 | 30 |
| 2000 | 13 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 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
Suspension
18 reports2 crashes
“CONSUMER STATES HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF "CLICKING" NOISE. DEALER FINALLY DETERMINED THAT VHEICLE HAD A BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHICH COULD CAUSE TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL, WHILE TURNING AND FLIP OVER.*JB”
Engine and engine cooling
9 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH,THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO WOBBLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ENCOMPASSED IN RECALL # 00V311000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STRONGLY BELIEVED OTHERWISE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 94,000.*AK”
Service brakes, hydraulic
8 reports1 related recall
“WHILE DRIVING COULD STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKES WILL NOT OPERATE. PEDAL WILL GO ALWAY TO GROUND. *AK”
Air bags
6 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE MITSUBISHI AIRBAG RECALL IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS NOT YET SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS.....I HAVE TO CALL WITHIN 2 MONTHS TO SEE IF THE PARTS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REPAIR SHOPS.”
Structure
5 reports1 crash
“IN A FRONTAL HEAD ON COLLISION VEHICLE IMPACTEED ON A TREE, AND IT PUSHED RADIATOR INTO ENGINE, AND FRAME BENT BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD NO BUMPER. NOT SURE IF IT CAME FROM MAUFACTURER WITHOUT IT OR IT WAS REMOVED.*AK”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 crash
“DRIVING TO STORE I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. TRIED TO STOMP ON THROTTLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF AND SPEEDS PAST 80 MILES PER HOUR THROTTLE RELEASED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY SAFETY RECALLS ON THIS VERY SCARY MALFUNCTION AND MAKER SAYS TAKE IT TO A DEALER. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.