Mitsubishi Montero Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability

Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.

17
Total Recalls
357
Total Complaints
28
Total Crashes
41
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths
2001
Worst Year
2006
Best Year
0
Poor
Overall Reliability Score (0–100)

Own a Mitsubishi Montero? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Mitsubishi Montero — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison

YearVerdictRecallsComplaintsCrashesInjuriesDeathsTop Issue
2006BestExcellent1Fuel/Propulsion SystemFull report →
2005Excellent1SteeringFull report →
2004Good35Service BrakesFull report →
2003Good23234Air BagsFull report →
2002Caution26644Service BrakesFull report →
2001WorstAvoid311297Service Brakes / HydraulicFull report →
2000Good13211Service Brakes / HydraulicFull report →
1999Good12423Power TrainFull report →
1998Avoid346818SuspensionFull report →
1997Caution23814Service Brakes / HydraulicFull report →

10 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.

Most Common Mitsubishi Montero Problems

Service Brakes / Hydraulic
79
Engine And Engine Cooling
33
Electrical System
27
Suspension
27
Service Brakes
27
Power Train
24
Air Bags
19
Structure
16
Steering
15
Unknown Or Other
13
Visibility
11
Exterior Lighting
8

Based on 357 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.

Montero Years to Avoid

2001 Montero
112 complaints · 3 recalls · 9 crashes
Details →
1998 Montero
46 complaints · 3 recalls · 8 crashes
Details →
2002 Montero
66 complaints · 2 recalls · 4 crashes
Details →

Ranked by combined complaints, recalls, crashes, injuries, and deaths.

Best Montero Years to Buy

2006 Montero
1 complaints · 0 recalls
Details →
2005 Montero
1 complaints · 0 recalls
Details →
2004 Montero
5 complaints · 3 recalls
Details →

Years with fewest complaints and recalls.

Mitsubishi Montero Problems by Year

Select a year to see detailed complaints, recall notices, and safety incident data.

Frequently Asked Questions — Mitsubishi Montero Reliability

What year Montero has the most problems?

Based on NHTSA data, the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 112 complaints and 3 safety recalls. See the full 2001 report for specific defects.

Is the Mitsubishi Montero reliable?

The Mitsubishi Montero has accumulated 357 owner-filed complaints and 17 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2006 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Montero.

What are the most common Montero problems?

The most frequently cited problem areas are: Service Brakes / Hydraulic (79 reports), Engine And Engine Cooling (33 reports), Electrical System (27 reports), Suspension (27 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.

How do I check if my Montero has an open recall?

Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

Check a Specific Mitsubishi Montero VIN

Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.

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