Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2001. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2002.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Montero | 5 | 3 |
| 2003 Montero | 39 | 2 |
| 2002 MonteroMost complaints | 111 | 3 |
| 2001 MonteroMost complaints | 166 | 4 |
| 2000 Montero | 51 | 2 |
| 1999 Montero | 40 | 2 |
| 1998 Montero | 74 | 4 |
| 1997 Montero | 63 | 2 |
| 1996 Montero | 27 | 2 |
| 1995 Montero | 86 | 2 |
| 1994 Montero | 31 | 5 |
| 1993 Montero | 14 | 3 |
| 1992 Montero | 12 | 3 |
| 1991 Montero | 18 | 1 |
| 1990 Montero | 23 | 1 |
| 1989 Montero | 10 | 2 |
| 1988 Montero | 1 | 1 |
| 1987 Montero | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 Montero | 4 | 1 |
| 1985 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Service brakes, hydraulic171
- Engine and engine cooling155
- Suspension67
- Electrical system60
- Power train58
- Steering55
- Air bags50
- Service brakes47
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 17 Montero vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 13 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 | 4 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| 1997 | 2 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 4 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 15.6–16.0 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Montero 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.9 | 13.6 | 16.0 |
| 2005 | Montero 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.9 | 13.6 | 16.0 |
| 2004 | Montero 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.6 | 13.1 | 15.6 |
| 2003 | Montero · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 17.9 | 13.5 | 15.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
1 Montero cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
4,012 new Mitsubishi Montero cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2019, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2019 the largest markets were Spain (140).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 140 | 241 (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 585 | 242 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 458 | — |
| 2015 | 638 | — |
| 2014 | 199 | — |
| 2013 | 61 | — |
| 2012 | 239 | — |
| 2011 | 436 | — |
| 2010 | 1,256 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Montero in 1 alert. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The timing chain tensioner may malfunction. In some cases, the timing chain may consequently break, causing the engine to stop and leading to an accident.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
16 campaigns cover the Montero; the latest 12 are below.
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHTS AS STATED ON THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL ARE IN ERROR.
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN A STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION FOR HEADREST ADJUSTMENT WHEN INSTALLING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) TETHER STRAP.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT LOWER BRAKE HOSES CAN DEVELOP A CRACK, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS."
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINES CAN DEVELOP PIN HOLES DUE TO CHAFFING AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE IN THE INNER FENDER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
NHTSA recalls