Model year record
2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport recalls & problems
The 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 54 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (11 complaints).

Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 4-DR.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | ★★★★★ |

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Montero Sport 2WD
| City / highway | 16 / 21 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
Montero Sport 2WD
| City / highway | 15 / 20 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel
Montero Sport 4WD
| City / highway | 15 / 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel
Montero Sport 4WD
| City / highway | 14 / 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bagsFrontal | 11 | 100,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 7 | — |
| Electrical systemHorn; Alternator/generator/regulator | 7 | 85,500 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 6 | — |
| StructureBody | 5 | 124,802 mi |
| Power trainAxle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal; Transfer case (4-wheel drive) | 5 | 56,000 mi |
| SteeringRack and pinion; Linkages | 3 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Linkages; Windshield wiper/washer | 3 | — |
| Service brakes | 3 | 155,500 mi |
| Tires | 2 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 2 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical system
I checked and there's several recalls on the vehicle and I purchase it last year from the dealership and I never received anything about the recalls and now my vehicle doesn't want to start it lock me out.
- Engine
I have a 2002 Mitsibishi Montero Sport.I was driving home from work, and all the sudden i couldn't steer. I had no steering, Lost power to vehicle and battery light came on. Wasnt sure what happened, looked under the hood and noticed belts were off. Went and got new ones and noticed when trying to put the mew belts on the bolt on the crankshaft pulley was loose and the pin was broken making that pulley loose.I was lucky that I decided to take a street with less traffic otherwise I could of gotten into an accident.This should definitely be a RECALL.
- Power train
DRIVE MODE SELECTOR WILL NOT MOVE FROM THE AWD POSITION.
- Structure › Body
THE HOOD FLEW UP WHEN SAFETY LATCH FAILED TO HOLD IT,, PLUS BRAKE LINE TROUBLES AS WELL AS GAS TANK FILL PIPE ALL RUSTED OUT,, HOOD WAS ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 30MPH AN WRAPPED ARROUND WINDSHIELD,,
- Service brakes
MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER HAS BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY WHICH RESULTED IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITRGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE RESULTED IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND CAN DELAY FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND SHOULD BE ON THE SAFETY RECALL LIST NO. SR-01-008REVII. HE SAID THIS BULLETIN SUPERCEDES SR-01-008REVI. HE SAID THAT MITSUBISHI SHOULD REPLACE THE OLD HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR WITH THE NEW MODEL. AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE 6/20/01. I DON'T KNOW THE…
- Service brakes
MY MITSUBISHI MONTERO LIMITED STARTED MAKING A STRANGE NOISE FROM UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT SHOWING A RECALL. WHEN I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI ALL THEY WOULD SAY IS IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND
- Exterior lighting
BOTH HEAD LIGHT BEAMS SOMETIMES DISAPPEAR WHEN SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAM WHILE DRIVING LEAVING YOU DRIVING IN THE DARK WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS.
- Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT AT A CERTAIN ANGLE, THE HORN OF THE VEHICLE ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN MODULE RELATED TO THE AIR BAG AND A RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE RELAY SWITCH WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILUREClosed
IN OCTOBER 2001, MITSUBISHI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 01V-254) TO REMEDY A DEFECT CONDITION THAT COULD RESULT IN A LEAK OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR IN APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MODEL YEARS (MY) 2001-2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 12, 1999 THROUGH JUNE 20, 2001. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED IMPROPERLY, WHICH OVER A PERIOD OF TIME MAY RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR. THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.DURING RQ06-007, MITSUBISHI INDICATED THAT THE…