Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Owners filed 174 complaints about the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero with NHTSA between Apr 2002 and Apr 2024. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (55).
Complaints
174
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
22
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic55
- Service brakes25
- Air bags19
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Electrical system14
- Structure11
- Power train10
- Steering6
- Fuel/propulsion system5
- Exterior lighting5
- Tires5
- Visibility4
- Equipment4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
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 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
18
13
12
15
18
16
11
4
10
6
1
14
5
7
9
6
3
1
0
2
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 18 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 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
Service brakes, hydraulic
55 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKES, SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL, AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHO INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH A NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V254001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,451....UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FLUID GOING TO THE BRAKES. THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE ABS BOOSTER AND HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 07/16/13”
Service brakes
25 reports2 crashes1 fire
“A/L BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF EVERYTIME BRAKE PEDALS IS APPLIED ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE DASH. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01V254002 ABOUT A BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE RECALL FIX BUT GOT DENIED SINCE ITS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN. SHOULDNT THIS BE PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE? DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE BRAKES FAIL AND GET INTO AN ACCIDENT?”
Air bags
19 reports14 crashes
“My horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel or hit bumps when driving and when parked and turned off, if its close to freezing it will go off constantly early in the morning before dawn and I have to disconnect the battery or pull the fuse for the horn under the hood fuse panel to stop it. I can't drive it with a horn fuse in and have tried replacing the steering wheel airbag and it still has the same problem. My neighbor had the same issue on his 04 Jeep and his car was fixed with an airbag actuator recall. No warning lights ever come on. Only my mechanic has looked at the vehicle.”
Engine and engine cooling
17 reports1 crash
“2000 MONTERO CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON CONTINUOUSLY STEPS TAKEN, REPLACED PLUGS,WIRES, COILS, TIMING BELT, IDLER PULLEY, THERMOSTAT, ENGINE HEAT INDICATOR RISES TO HOT THAN BACK TO NORMAL, ENGINE RUN'S SLUGGISH, NO POWER, SHIFTING IS DELAYED WHEN ON AN INCLINE AND HEAR A MUFFLED BACK FIRE ON OCCASION NO POWER. THIS SUV HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE WE BOUGHT IT. NOT A GOOD BUY FOR SURE. *TR”
Electrical system
14 reports
“I checked and there's several recalls on the vehicle and I purchase it last year from the dealership and I never received anything about the recalls and now my vehicle doesn't want to start it lock me out.”
Structure
11 reports1 crash
“THE HOOD FLEW UP WHEN SAFETY LATCH FAILED TO HOLD IT,, PLUS BRAKE LINE TROUBLES AS WELL AS GAS TANK FILL PIPE ALL RUSTED OUT,, HOOD WAS ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 30MPH AN WRAPPED ARROUND WINDSHIELD,,”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.