Model year record

1997 Mitsubishi Montero recalls & problems

The 1997 Mitsubishi Montero has 2 safety recalls and 63 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (18 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints63filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths9 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicSep 9, 1998

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 98V22000061,800 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAK RESULTING IN DETERIORATED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND ROUTING. IF THE LINES ARE NOT CORRECTLY CENTERED IN THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE, THE LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED BY BENDING SLIGHTLY TO CORRECT. IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BRAKE LINE WEAR, THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.

Unknown or otherSep 2, 1998

Unknown or other

Recall 98V20500060,243 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.

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

1997 Mitsubishi Montero 4-DR. 4x4

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

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

16mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

Montero

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Montero

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Montero

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-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	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	18	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	17	0	0	0	156,000 mi
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Starter assembly	8	0	3	0	103,250 mi
SuspensionFront; Front › Wheel bearing	6	1	0	2	—
Air bagsFrontal	5	4	0	4	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	5	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline › Differential unit	5	1	0	4	—
StructureBody; Body › Door	4	1	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar	3	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield; Glass, side/rear	3	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsRear/other; Front › Anchorage	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	1	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

SeatsFire
ON 5/31/14, MY 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A LARGE BURN IN THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. AFTER CALLING MITSUBISHI, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME SINCE IT WAS STILL SMOLDERING AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER MANY FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO MITSUBISHI, THEY BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR SINCE THE CAR WAS 17 YEARS OLD. ALL OF THE COST TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS ON ME AS THE OWNER. *TR
May 31, 2014 · 172,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
1997 MITSUBISH MONTERO 3.5 LITER AUTOMATIC- CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAS COME OUT ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND HAS COST OVER $3000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE INSIDE OF THE CRANKSHAFT WHERE THE BOLT GOES IS COMPLETELY STRIPPED TO THE POINT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AS THIS APPEARS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH ALL YEARS OF MONTEROS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD COVER THE COST FOR THERE NEGLIGENCE. *TR
Apr 16, 2011 · 270,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY PIN/BOLT GETS SHEARED OFF. DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AS THE PUMP IS NOT TURNING BECAUSE THE PROBLEM AFFECT THE ENTIRE PULLEY SYSTEM. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE TIMING GEAR/BELT/HARMONIC BALANCER. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS IS THE 2ND MECHANIC WHO HAS TOLD ME THAT IT'S AN ENGINE DEFECT BECAUSE THE PIN/BOLT IS TOO SHORT. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. IT OCCURS UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS AT LOW OR NO SPEED. *TR
May 12, 2009
Unknown or otherFire1 injury
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING. I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT AND THE FLAMES CAUSED ME SEVERE BURNS TO MY BODY. I WAS NEARLY ASPHYXIATED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Jul 15, 2008 · 61,505 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE THREE TIMES WHICH CREATED NO POWER STEERING AND NO CHARGING OF THE BATTERY PURCHASED NEW CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BUT DID NOT HELP THE THIRD TIME INSTALLED A LOCK WASHER ON THE BOLT AND RE TORQUED TO SPEC LAST WEEK. *TR
Mar 5, 2008 · 156,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
Jun 15, 2008 · 190,000 miles
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
STARTED CAR, NOTICED 3 RANDOM LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THEN POWER STEERING WAS INTERMITTENT. THEN A/C WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COOL DOWN. THEN POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY. CAR WAS DRIVEN TO REPAIR SHOP NEARBY, SINCE NO LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER. MECHANIC FOUND CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKEN THAT LED TO POWER STEERING AND A/C PULLEY NOT WORKING. INCIDENT LED TO NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL DURING TURNING , AS POWER STEERING WOULD "KICK" IN AT TIMES DURING CORNERING AND LEAD TO OVERSTEER. HAD TO CHANGE CRANKSHAFT BOLT, HARMONIC BALANCER, TIMING BELT GEAR, AND SOMETHING ELSE. *TR
Jun 25, 2007 · 134,990 miles
Engine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY AND BOLT BECAME DISCONNECTED. THIS OCCURRED TWICE.
Sep 26, 2005 · 92,165 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.