The most-reported Montero Sport run is JA4LS31H5YP (2000 builds) with 6 complaints, 4.3× the typical run. Engine and engine cooling problems make up 19% of reports; 2000 is the worst model year at 1.9 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for Montero Sport model years 1997–2004.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Mitsubishi Montero Sport has 190 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 9% of every Montero Sport complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JA4LS31H5YP•••••• | 2000 | 3 | — | |
| JA4MT31H2YP•••••• | 2000 | — | 1 | |
| JA4MT31H4YP•••••• | 2000 | 1 | — | |
| JA4LS21H43J•••••• | 2003 | 1 | 1 | |
| JA4MT31H7YP•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| JA4MT31H8YP•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| JA4LS31H3YP•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| JA4MT21H71P•••••• | 2001 | — | — | |
| JA4LS31H5XP•••••• | 1999 | — | — | |
| JA4MT31HXYP•••••• | 2000 | — | — | |
| JA4LS21H02J•••••• | 2002 | 2 | — | |
| JA4MT21HX2J•••••• | 2002 | 1 | — |
Each of the other 178 Montero Sport runs has 3 complaints or fewer.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Mitsubishi Montero Sport the gap between build years is 1.9×: a 2000 car draws 1.9 complaints per run, a 2004 one 1.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 26 | 17 | 6 | |
| 2002 | 43 | 36 | 12 | |
| 2001 | 48 | 37 | 3 | |
| 2000 | 72 | 38 | 12 | |
| 1999 | 25 | 19 | 4 | |
| 1998 | 24 | 20 | 3 | |
| 1997 | 21 | 18 | 1 |
Heaviest year here is 2000 at 1.9 complaints per run; lightest is 2004 at 1.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 19% of everything Mitsubishi Montero Sport owners report: Engine And Engine Cooling, 50 of 264 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 8 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 7 | — | |
| Power Train | — | 5 | |
| Electrical System | — | 2 | |
| Air Bags | 23 | — | |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | |
| Steering | 2 | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 4 recall campaigns on the Mitsubishi Montero Sport; the 4 below cover build years 1997 to 2004. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 01V027000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings | 1999–2001 |
| 00V311001 | Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 1997–1999 |
| 04V095000 | Equipment:other:labels | 2004 |
| 99V041000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission | 1999 |
01V027000 was opened in 2001 on cars built from 1999: 2 years on the road before the recall.
The Montero Sport against its rivals
The Montero Sport draws 1.4 complaints per production run; the Isuzu Rodeo 3.4 and the Infiniti QX4 2.1. That is the lowest rate of the 3.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi Montero Sport | 264 | 190 | 15.9% | |
| Isuzu Rodeo | 1,577 | 463 | 9.4% | |
| Infiniti QX4 | 223 | 104 | 12.6% |
How serious were they
Of the 264 reports on the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, 15.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Mitsubishi Montero Sport | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 264 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 42 (15.9%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 11 (4.2%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 37 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 3 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 174% above the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Mitsubishi Montero Sport share of that is 264 complaints over 190 runs, 0.02% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 264 NHTSA complaints from 190 Montero Sport runs and 4 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Montero Sport production run has the most complaints?
JA4LS31H5YP, a 2000 build, with 6 complaints, 3 of them after a crash. The typical Montero Sport run has 1.4.
Which Montero Sport years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2000 is heaviest at 1.9 complaints per run and 2004 lightest at 1.
Does the Montero Sport get more complaints than the Isuzu Rodeo?
No: 1.4 complaints per production run for the Montero Sport against 3.4 for the Isuzu Rodeo.
How many Montero Sport complaints involve a crash?
15.9% of 264 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 11 involved a fire.
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