Most Mitsubishi Montero Sport VINs open with JA4 (Japan, 1997–2004). Position 11, the plant, shows 2 codes, most often P (74%); a 2004 Montero Sport carries 4 in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 4 recall campaigns and 264 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN
Here is a real 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN JA4LS31R22J055093 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Mitsubishi Montero Sport we have on record, from 1997 to 2004, opens with the same three characters, JA4:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JA4 | 1997–2004 | Japan | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Mitsubishi Montero Sport it is not one number either — assembly moved between 2 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | 1997–2002 | 195 | |
| J | 1997–2004 | 64 |
Counted from 261 dated Mitsubishi Montero Sport VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Mitsubishi Montero Sport has not yet outlived: its 11 years still map one-to-one. All 11 model years of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport, 1991 to 2004, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
| 1999 | X | — |
| 1998 | W | — |
| 1997 | V | — |
| 1993 | P | — |
| 1992 | N | — |
| 1991 | M | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Mitsubishi Montero Sport VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 6 VINs the Mitsubishi Montero Sport uses 10 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | L (67%) · G (17%) · M (17%) | 3 distinct |
| 5 — series | S (67%) · J (17%) · T (17%) | 3 distinct |
| 8 — engine | P (33%) · H (33%) · S (17%) · R (17%) | 4 distinct |
What a decoded Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN gets you
Behind a Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN: 264 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 4 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 264 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 19 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 11 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Mitsubishi Montero Sport
A Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN normally opens with JA4; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 4 recall campaigns and 264 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Mitsubishi Montero Sport.
What year is my Montero Sport by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2004 Montero Sport carries 4, a 2003 Montero Sport carries 3, a 2002 Montero Sport carries 2.
Where was my Montero Sport built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 264 dated Mitsubishi Montero Sport VINs it reads P 74%, J 24%.
What does position 4 mean on a Mitsubishi Montero Sport VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 6 Mitsubishi Montero Sport VINs here, L is the most common character in position 4, on 67% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Mitsubishi Montero Sport check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with JA4. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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