Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension18
- Service brakes, hydraulic9
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Air bags6
- Unknown or other5
- Structure5
- Steering4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Visibility4
- Power train3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 614011 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE PROCEDURES AND WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION FOR OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 612508 | INFORMATION CONTAINING RECOMMENDED FUELS FOR CERTAIN VEHICLES. *TT |
| 609778 | A/T DTCS 29-32 SET CONDITIONS SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. YD |
| 609777 | PARK/NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH ADJUSTMENT SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. YD |
| 609774 | THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ILLUMINATE AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1715 MAY SET IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. IN ADDITION, SLUGGISH ACCELERATION WITH THE TRANSMISSION RETURING TO NORMAL SHIFTING AFTER THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED OFF, THEN BACK ON. |
| 6092416 | MITSUBISHI MOTOR SALES OF AMERICA, INC. IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES TO MODIFY THE REAR CARGO AREA CARPET (MAT). *TT |
| 6088731 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 6088726 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED MANUAL TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 606595 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN OF A WHINE COMING FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. *TT |
| 604259 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS SNOW TIRE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CERTAIN CARS AND SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES. *TT |
| 602927 | ADDITION OF FOG LIGHT RELAY. *YC |
| 601992 | PROCEDURES FOR ELIMINATING OR REDUCING AN APPARENT DIFFERENTIAL WHINING NOISE. *YC |
| 601990 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LONG COLD START TIMES, SAG DURING WARM-UP, AND STALLING. *TT |
| 601838 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS CORRECTIONS TO THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON STROKE SPECIFICATION. *YC |
| 601499 | PROCEDURES FOR THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY SECURITY SYSTEM. *YC |
| 601498 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE PAINT PEELING FROM THE ROOF RACK SURFACE. *YC |
| 601488 | DIGANOSIS AND REPAIR PROCEDURES TO ELIMINATE CONDITIONS REGARDING THE MIL ILLUMINATED AND/OR DTC P1715. 96-98 MONTERO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE 10-97 UP TO VIN WJ003864; 97-98 MONTERO SPORT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE 10-97 TWO WHEE DRIVE MODELS UP TO VIN WP024415 AND FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS UP TO VIN WP024406. *YC |
| 600864 | REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR REPAIRING POOR-FITTING PASSENGER SIDE SRS AIR BAG COVERS. *YC |
| 600314 | COMPLAINTS OF VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE NOTICEABLY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. *YC |
| 600309 | SOME VEHICLES EXPERIENCE GAPPING BETWEEN THE REAR MUD GUARD AND THE REAR FENDER. *YC |
| 600308 | ON SOME VEHICLES THE EDGE OF THE SURFACE SKIN ON THE DRIVER'S KNEE PROTECTOR IS PEELING. *YC |
| 54034 | PREVENTING DUST FROM ENTERING THE INTERIOR. *YC |
| 54031 | ACCESSORY INSTALLATION FOR THE FRONT FENDER FLARE AND MUDGUARD. *YC |
| 54023 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON CORRECTED CRANKSHAFT BEARING PROCEDURES. *YC |
| 10238900 | This is a revised Safety Recall bulletin sent to dealers informing them of new Takata inflator return procedures. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
REAR FOLDING SEAT DISENGAGEMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation