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VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Mitsubishi Montero Sport1997–2004

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🚙 SUV
Mitsubishi Montero Sport
1997–2004
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.0/yr · seg. median 0.0
Limited data — provisional
Safety
Low
0 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
1
Recalls
0
Complaints
2004
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2004
8
Years Analyzed
1
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Mitsubishi Montero Sport Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2004

1 recall · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Mitsubishi Montero Sport — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
200410——
57
39
51
Avoid
200300——
82
39
67
Excellent
200200——
82
39
67
Excellent
200100——
82
39
67
Excellent
200000——
82
39
67
Excellent
199900——
82
39
67
Excellent
199800——
82
39
67
Excellent
199700——
82
39
67
Excellent

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the Montero Sport compares — best year within each era shown.

Pre-2013

Older Montero Sport models are deeply depreciated but carry higher wear and repair risk. High mileage is common. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and verify full recall history.

Proceed with Caution
1997 · 671998 · 671999 · 672000 · 672001 · 672002 · 672003 · 672004 · 51

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Montero Sport to buy?+

See the Buyer Score table above for a full ranking of every Montero Sport model year.

Which Montero Sport years have the most problems?+

The 2004 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2004 Montero Sport leads with 1 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

What is the Buyer Score?+

The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.

What are the most common Montero Sport problems?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Common Problems

Full year-by-year breakdown of every documented defect for the Mitsubishi Montero Sport.

Reliability Score

Reliability rating and score breakdown compared to similar suv vehicles.

Years to Avoid

Every Montero Sport year ranked by problem score — worst years listed with full reasoning.

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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