The Mitsubishi Montero Sport is a SUV built from 1991 to 2004. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Montero Sport is
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport is a SUV that Mitsubishi built from 1991 to 2004 — 14 model years. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest sibling in the Mitsubishi range: Endeavor.
Where the Montero Sport is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 260 Montero Sports on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JA4 | 1997-2004 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mitsubishi VIN decide which of these 1 lines your Montero Sport belongs to. What every character in a Montero Sport VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mitsubishi Montero Sport adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mitsubishi Montero Sport tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Montero Sport owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mitsubishi Montero Sport have? Power & range
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.5L 6-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.5L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.4L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Mitsubishi Montero Sport tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Montero Sport's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Montero Sport by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Montero Sport | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 10 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 567 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,347/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 25 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
The Montero Sport is a SUV, built from 1991 to 2004. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Mitsubishi Montero Sport made?
Across 260 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Mitsubishi Montero Sport warranty?
New models carry 5 years / 60,000 miles basic cover and 10 years / 100,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Montero Sport reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Montero Sport?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mitsubishi
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 2003–2026 | 140 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mitsubishi Eclipse | 1990–2012 | 136 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Mirage | 1985–2026 | 65 | 39 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 2002–2017 | 78 | 30 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi Galant | 1985–2012 | 67 | 24 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mitsubishi 3000GT | 1991–1999 | 21 | 19 mpg | 4.0/5 |