The Mitsubishi Montero Sport has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1997–2004. On average a defect was admitted 1.13 years after the car was built, the slowest took 3 years. The most recalled system is Equipment (1 campaigns). Owners also filed 264 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Equipment 1 Read
What's wrong. On certain sport utility vehicles, the vehicle capacity weights as stated on the tire and loading information label are in error
Risk. This information could potentially result in consumers loading their vehicles beyond the gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr)
Fix. Owners will be sent replacement labels with instructions on how to install them. The recall began on april 14, 2004. Owners should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5l engines. These vehicles do not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 106, "brake hoses." these vehicles are equipped with noncompliant brake vacuum hoses
Risk. These hoses could burst causing fluid leakage, increasing the braking capability of the vehicle and could result in a crash
Fix. Dealers will replace the vacuum hose. Owner notification began february 15, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5l engines. These vehicles do not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 106, "brake hoses." these vehicles are equipped with noncompliant brake vacuum hoses
Risk. These hoses could burst causing fluid leakage, increasing the braking capability of the vehicle and could result in a crash
Fix. Dealers will replace the vacuum hose. Owner notification began february 15, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5l engines. These vehicles do not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 106, "brake hoses." these vehicles are equipped with noncompliant brake vacuum hoses
Risk. These hoses could burst causing fluid leakage, increasing the braking capability of the vehicle and could result in a crash
Fix. Dealers will replace the vacuum hose. Owner notification began february 15, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles: mirage model vehicles equipped with 1.5l engines; montero sport models equipped with 3.0l engines; and montero models equipped with 3.0l engines. The bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose and the pulley could fall off the vehicle
Risk. The condition can result in a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. On the mirage vehicles, the dealers will install a new, improved crankshaft pulley bolt on the older engines. On new engines which already have the improved bolt, the dealer will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specification. On the montero models, dealers will tighten the crankshaft pulley…
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles: mirage model vehicles equipped with 1.5l engines; montero sport models equipped with 3.0l engines; and montero models equipped with 3.0l engines. The bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose and the pulley could fall off the vehicle
Risk. The condition can result in a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. On the mirage vehicles, the dealers will install a new, improved crankshaft pulley bolt on the older engines. On new engines which already have the improved bolt, the dealer will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specification. On the montero models, dealers will tighten the crankshaft pulley…
What's wrong. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles: mirage model vehicles equipped with 1.5l engines; montero sport models equipped with 3.0l engines; and montero models equipped with 3.0l engines. The bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose and the pulley could fall off the vehicle
Risk. The condition can result in a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. On the mirage vehicles, the dealers will install a new, improved crankshaft pulley bolt on the older engines. On new engines which already have the improved bolt, the dealer will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specification. On the montero models, dealers will tighten the crankshaft pulley…
Power Train 1 Read
What's wrong. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive and automatic transmissions. Automatic transmission fluid could be vented onto the hot exhaust system as a result of unanticipated heat generation in the transmission
Risk. The vented transmission fluid could come into contact with the hot exhaust system and ignition of the transmission fluid could result
Fix. Dealers will modify the transmission control unit to limit vehicle speed to below approximately 30 miles per hour when the vehicle is operated in the four-wheel-drive low range, an additional label describing the proper use of four-wheel-drive low range will be provided, and will relocate the transmission breather…
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 1.13 years |
| Slowest campaign | 3 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | —% |
| Campaigns on record | 4 |
Which Montero Sport years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Equipment | |
| 2001 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 2000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | |
| 1997 | Engine And Engine Cooling |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Mitsubishi Montero Sport have?
4 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1997–2004. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Montero Sport still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 1.13 years, and the slowest campaign came 3 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.