Mitsubishi Montero Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Montero should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero has the most documented problems with a problem score of 237 — driven primarily by 3 recalls, 174 complaints, and issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.

Q: What is the best year Montero to buy?

The 2005 Mitsubishi Montero is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 1, meaning 0 recalls and 1 complaint on record.

Q: Which Montero has the fewest problems?

The 2005, 2006, 2003 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Mitsubishi Montero model year (1997–2006) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Mitsubishi Montero Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2002

3 recalls · 174 complaints

22 reported injuries

2 reported deaths

Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Problem score: 237

#2 WORST

1997

2 recalls · 98 complaints

10 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Problem score: 124

#3 WORST

1998

4 recalls · 80 complaints

15 reported injuries

Top issue: SUSPENSION

Problem score: 122

Best Mitsubishi Montero Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2005

0 recalls · 1 complaint

Main area: STEERING

Problem score: 1

#2 BEST

2006

0 recalls · 4 complaints

Main area: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Problem score: 4

#3 BEST

2003

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 6

Found the right year? Verify that specific Montero with a free VIN report.

Mitsubishi Montero — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Problem Score	Verdict
2006	0	4	4	Excellent
2005	0	1	1	Excellent
2004	3	5	14	Excellent
2003	2	0	6	Excellent
2002	3	174	237	Avoid
2001	4	0	12	Excellent
2000	2	56	72	Good
1999	2	40	59	Good
1998	4	80	122	Caution
1997	2	98	124	Caution

Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.

Mitsubishi Montero Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Montero models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report. Confirm all historical recalls have been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Montero should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero if possible. It has 3 recalls, 174 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. The overall problem score is 237 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Montero to buy?+

The 2005 Mitsubishi Montero is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 1. It has only 0 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.

Which Montero has the fewest problems?+

The 2005, 2006, 2003 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Mitsubishi Montero Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Mitsubishi Montero.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Mitsubishi Montero.

Check a Specific Mitsubishi Montero VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →