Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Owners filed 40 complaints about the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero with NHTSA between May 1999 and Mar 2021. The most-cited component is suspension (11).
Complaints
40
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension11
- Power train8
- Air bags5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Steering2
- Electrical system2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Equipment1
- Structure1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Exterior lighting1
- Child seat1
- Other / unknown2
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
13
9
5
1
2
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
3
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 13 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 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
11 reports1 crash
“HIGHW SPEED OF40MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED WITH HEAVY WHEEL VIBRATION VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLED AND REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT TO THE FACTORY. WHEN MAKIN A TURN IF THERE WAS A CRACK OR POT HOLE IN THE STREET THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO SHIFT OFF THE WHEELS LEANING TO LEFT. IF IT RAINS THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE TO THE LEFT. *AK”
Power train
8 reports
“WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED 5 TO 15MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK”
Air bags
5 reports1 crash1 related recall
“IN THE DEALER , I MAKES THE APPOINTMEMT TO 7AM, AND THE DEALER NIMAY MITSUBISHI, AVE. KENNEDY 1011 SAN JUAN, PR NO WORK WITH THE CAR AT THE 200PM. NO WORK WITH THE HOURS APPOINMENT. THE WORK IS HORRIBLE”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports2 fires
“1999 MONTERO BLEW UP AND CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING 2ND DEGREE BURNS MITSH REFUSES TO RELAEASE RECALL OR SPECIFICATINS TO ME WONT CALL ME BACK OR RESPOND TO LETTERS IT HAS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE 1ST CONTACT THEY DID OPEN A CASE FILE BUT THEN REFUSES TO CONTACT ME. *AK”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports
“RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE SR01004 IN THE MAIL.CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE ON DATE. AFTER ARRIVING WAS INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. HAD CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NOT VERY INFORMATIVE REGARDING PARTS. *AK”
Steering
2 reports
“TAKATA RECALL # OOV-311 002 CRANSHAFT PULLER BOLT , FUI A LA CAMPAA DEALER MITSUBISHI PARR AUTO EN MAYAGUEZ PUERTO RICO, PARA CAMBIAR EL TORNILLO DEL DAMPER , EL VEHICULO EN MOVIMIENTO EN CARRETERA ME HA BOTADO EL TORNILLO YA 3 VECES Y HA CONSECUENSIAS ME HA HECHO AVERIAS EN EL MOTOR ,ME ROMPIO EL RADIADOR POLEAS DAMPER CUA Y OTROS Y EL ALTO RIESGO DE TENER UN ACCIDENTE ME PREOCUPA ,EL 6/20/2012 EL SUPERVISOR DE LOS TECNICOS MARIO ANDRADES Y CESAR EN SAN JUAN DE AUTO STOP / MITSUBISHI EN AGUADA, PUERTO RICO YA TIENEN CONOCIMIENTO DEL RECALL Y LOS TECNICOS DE AUTO STOP INSPECIONARON EL VEHICULO A SABIENDAS DE DICHA CAMPAA , ME DIERON POR ESCRITO QUE QUE POR HABER REPARADO EL VEHICULO EN MC/AUTO SERVICE UN MECANICO CERTIFICADO , Y PIDO EL REEMBOLSO DEL DINERO Y ME PIDIERON TODAS LAS FACTURAS DE LAS PIEZAS Y LA LABOR LA CUAL SE LAS ENVIE Y LO HIBAN A EVALUAR COSA QUE NUNCA ME ENVIARON CONTESTACION Y LO LLAMABA EN MUCHAS OCACIONES Y NADA , LUEGO EL 14 DE AGOSTO 2018 EL VEHICULO EN MOVIMIENTO POR LA CARRETERA VOLVIO Y ME BOTO OTRA VEZ EL TORNILLO DEL DAMPER Y ME HIZO UNA AVERIA LA CUAL REPARE EN CENTRO J.VELEZ ID AU-97-50-0083 Y LLEVO LA MONTERO A AUTO STOP /…”
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.