70 of the
452 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Montero Sport
are about the engine —
15% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
I have a 2002 Mitsibishi Montero Sport.I was driving home from work, and all the sudden i couldn't steer. I had no steering, Lost power to vehicle and battery light came on. Wasnt sure what happened, looked under the hood and noticed belts were off. Went and got new ones and noticed when trying to put the mew belts on the bolt on the crankshaft pulley was loose and the pin was broken making that pulley loose.I was lucky that I decided to take a street with less traffic otherwise I could of gotten into an accident.This should definitely be a RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11427619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN A OIL LEEK ACCOR IN DUE TIME IT AUTOMATICALLY DRIPS DIRECTLY ON ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS.ALSO THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM DOESN'T FUNCTION A READING ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC WHEN FINDING ISSUE
NHTSA complaint #10992777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 3 TIMES THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, THEN FOUND OUT IT HAD AN OPEN RECALL FROM 2000. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY, FELT THEY DISMISSED MY SITUATION AS I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL DESCRIBED AND I WAS CONCERNED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL ABOUT THE 1ST TWO REPAIRS. MY CAR BROKE DOWN YESTERDAY, AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, AND WAS ONCE AGAIN UNDRIVEABLE. IT IS RELATED TO THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT. I SENT THE DEALER A VERY DETAILED EMAIL ABOUT THIS FINAL SITUATION AND TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS FILING A COMPLAINT. NO RESPONSE FROM THEM. THE RECALL IS REGARDING A BOLT THAT SECURES A PULLEY. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE SYMPTOMS WERE THE SAME, THE CAR STARTS MAKING RATTLING NOISES THEN WILL NOT STEER, THEN IS UNDRIVEABLE. THESE ARE THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL AS "WORST CASE". I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO FROM A DEALER BUT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF AN OPEN RECALL, SO JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED IT AFTER READING ONLINE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS THIRD TIME THE CAR BROKE DOWN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, STRAIGHT, MEANING NOT TURNING. THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAS ALSO DRIVING, BUT DON'T REMEMBER IF I WAS TURNING OR NOT. I DO HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM A PREVIOUS REPAIR AND MY VISIT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY BUT DON'T KNOW HOW TO UPLOAD FROM MY PHONE AT THIS TIME. THE DATES THE CAR BROKE DOWN FROM THE SAME PROBLEM ARE FEB, 2016, JUNE, 2016 AND OCTOBER 6, 2016. I AM DESPERATE TO RESOLVE THIS SINCE I NO LONGER HAVE TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP, THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING SITUATION STARTING IN FEBRUARY 2016.
NHTSA complaint #10914810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PIN IN THE HARMONIC BALANCER BROKE CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLING A/C BELT AND DRIVE BELT CAUSING HARMONIC BALANCER TO SEIZE UP. PIN WAS REPLACED. MONTHS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO COME ON SHOWING A CODE OF MISFIRE. AS WELL AS HARMONIC BALANCER COMING LOOSE...**5/5/15**..... BELTS COME OFF ON HIGH WAY DOING ABOUT 70 MPH. HARMONIC BALANCER LOOSE AGAIN. CRANK BOLT STUCK AND UN REMOVABLE.BELTS CAME OFF AND GOT CAUGHT IN FAN...UPDATED 07/30/15 *BF UPDATED 9/29/2015
NHTSA complaint #10725193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND STALLED. CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT FELL OUT AND HARMONIC BALANCER FELL OFF.CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10705834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEAT GAUGE IS FAULTY AND IT WILL BLOW HOT HEAT ONLY OUT OF DRIVER SIDE VENTS AND BLOWS COLD OUT OF THE REST OF THE VENTS. HEAT GAUGE SAYS ITS RUNNING FINE BUT IT IS REALLY OVERHEATING TO THE BOILING POINT. I AM NOT SURE HOW LONG IT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM AS I JUST BOUGHT IT 2 WEEKS AGO AND HAVE HAD NO USE FOR THE HEAT TILL NOW AND NEVER DROVE IT FAR ENOUGH TILL TODAY WHEN I NOTICED THE HEAT GAUGE AND HEARD IT BOILING OVER WITH STEAM COMING OUT OF THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #10640621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE MADE A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10585857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS PULLING IN A SHEETS STATION AND GOING INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND WHEN I LEFT GO THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE KEPT MOVING AND CRASHED INTO A RED POST WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE THEN I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL COMING BACK UP AND WAS ABLE TO ,PUT IN REVERSE AND CRUISE BACK IN SAME PARKING SPACE DID DAMAGE TO MOTOR AND RADIATOR AND FRONT BODY MY WIFE CLAIMS THIS HAS DONE IT TO HER AS WELL. I WAS SCARED.
NHTSA complaint #10554835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ARE 00 MITS MONTERO SPORT, ON THE FWY SHE TRY TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OUT OF THE FWY. SHE WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN SO SHE PUT THE TRANSMISSION TO LOWER GEARS TO MAKE THE SUV TO SLOW DOWN IT HELP BUT NOT TO GET THE SUV TO STOP. SO SHE HIT THE CAR IN-FRONT. SO AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE CAR THE RPM WERE RUBBING HIGH SO SHE PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. SO POLICE CAME OVER BECAUSE CAR WAS ON THE BLOCKING THE OFF-RAM. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOW UP AND LOOK UNDER THE HOOD HE TOLL MY WIFE THAT THE THROTTLE IT WAS STOCK IN THE OPEN POSITION THAT WHAT CAUSE HER NOT TO BE ABLE TO STOP .... THE OFFICER TOLL MY WIFE SHE WAS LUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10551356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 60 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND HAD TO BE TURNED WITH ABRUPT FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,790. UPDATED 03/05/14*LJ THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND CRANK SHAFT WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10548943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I JUST PICKED UP MY SON'S VEHICLE FROM THE SERVICE GARAGE WHERE I HAD JUST HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS INSTALLED FOR HIM. I WAS ON THE WAY TO MEET MY HUSBAND AT THE GROCERY STORE BUT NEEDED TO DROP OFF SOME LETTERS AT THE OUTDOOR MAIL BOX AT THE POST OFFICE WHICH WAS < 1/4 MILE FROM THE SERVICE GARAGE. AS I PULLED UP TO THE POST OFFICE DROP BOX, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WAS GOING JUST A FEW MILES AN HOUR. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE REVVED LOUDLY AND THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. I PUSHED HARDER ON THE BRAKE BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP! THANK GOD THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME OR IN THE PARKING LOT, SO I JUST STEERED THE VEHICLE AROUND THE LOT CONCENTRATING ON NOT HITTING ANYTHING! ALL THE WHILE TRYING TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. IT TOOK ABOUT 10-15 SECONDS AND THE ENGINE FINALLY REVVED BACK DOWN (TO THE NORMAL SOUND) AND THE BRAKES WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE GROCERY STORE WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE (MY SON WAS GIVEN THE VEHICLE AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES) ACCORDING TO MY SON. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING-I AM SO GLAD NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I JUST WANT SOME KIND OF RECORD OF THIS, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS LATER. IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10473099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAD DETACHED FROM THE PULLEY ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE), THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT ONLY COVERED 1997-1999 MONTERO SPORT MODELS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
NHTSA complaint #10457120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. SUDDENLY, WITHIN THIRTY SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL UNSEIZED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT A FAULTY CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10417892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG I-17 NEAR PHOENIX, AZ MERGING ONTO I-10 WEST - WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. ALL WHILE GOING 65 MPH. IT TOOK EVERY BIT OF MY STRENGTH TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO MARK MITSUBISHI IN AVONDALE, AZ FOR REPAIRS. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS THE "REPAIRS" WERE DONE. THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO THE BOLT - CRANK SHAFT PULLEY - I PAID NEARLY $600 FOR REPAIRS. FOUR AND A HALF WEEKS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING AN HOUR FROM MY HOME ON 202 IN CHANDLER WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, AS SOON AS I GOT ON THE OFF RAMP, I HEARD METAL HIT AND SAW SOMETHING FLY ACROSS THE OFF-RAMP. AGAIN, I HAD MY VEHICLE TO TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR YET ANOTHER REPAIR OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THEN APRIL 8TH, AGAIN IT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CAN'T FIX IT A THIRD TIME. THEY REFUNDED MY MONEY FROM THE FIRST REPAIR. A LOCAL MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE BOLT BACK IN, FOR IT TO COME OUT AGAIN TODAY, APRIL 26TH. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE, THAT DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK THAT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WORK ON IT. I WAS IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED AND WAS VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT INJURED AND THAT I DID NOT GET INTO ACCIDENT INJURING ANYONE ELSE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER ISSUE THAT MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR PERMANENTLY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #10398920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 33 MPH, THE CRANKSHAFT PULLED SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING: ENGINE) FOR THE 1999 MODEL BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NOW THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 154,000.
NHTSA complaint #10374933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 01' MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT XLS 3.0L AS OF THE LAST WEEK IN MARCH I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY A/C AND CALL AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT. TO MY SURPRISE THE MITSUBISHI/SATURN SHOP, THE PLACE THAT I HAD TAKEN IT TO 6MTHS TO A YEAR BE4, MY OXYGEN SENSOR TO BE REPLACED AND SOME OTHER THINGS, WAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. SO I CALL WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM, AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD GOTO A LICENSED MECHANIC SHOP TO GET MY A/C FIXED, OXYGEN SENSOR HAD DEFAULT AGAIN, BUT IT STILL HAD WARRANTY ON IT WITH THE PREVIOUSLY SHOP SO THE RECENT SHOP COULD NOT REPLACE IT AND I ALSO STILL HAD WARRANTY COVERAGE WITH THE CREDIT UNION THAT I PAY MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO. SO I CALLED THE WARRANTY GROUP, AND THE WARRANTY GROUP PAID FOR A/C TO BE FIXED AND I ONLY HAD TO PAY 100 DEDUCTIBLE. I RECEIVED MY SUV BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THEN I NOTICED A KNOCKING WITHIN THE MOTOR SO I WENT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A OIL CHANGE, BUT I JUST RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP AND OIL CHANGE. SO I KNEW THAT I DIDN'T NEED A OIL CHANGE. THE SHOP COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE KNOCKING NOISE, BUT ON 5- 23-10 MY SUV HAD MALFUNCTION THIS TIME MY CRANKSHAFT,PULLEY,RODS HAD SEPARATED AND THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING MY ENGINE TOGETHER WAS THE MAIN BOLT. SO I GOT IT TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND I HAD TO GET MY ENGINE REPLACED. THE WARRANTY GROUP PAID FOR THE PRE-USED ENGINE, AND I RECEIVED MY SUV BACK ON 6-11-10. I DID NOT DRIVE MY TRUCK NO MORE THEN TO MY HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY YARD, BUT ON THAT TUESDAY JUNE 15, 10 I WENT INTO A FURNITURE STORE FOR ABOUT 20 MINS. AND LEFT MY A/C ON, CAME BACK AND ONLY THE FAN WAS BLOWING, SO I CUT-OFF MY SUV AND WAITED FOR 5MINS. CUT MY SUV BACK ON AND DROVE BACK HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS. I HAD A APPT ON WED. 06-16-10, MY SUV OIL ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THIS TIME I CHECKED THE OIL AND NO OIL IN THE MOTOR PUT 2QTS BEGIN HOME SPEED DROP75-45RADIATOR BURSTED NEEDENGINE.THE 96-99 RECALL ONMITSUB. MONT IS THE SAMETHING WRONG WITH THE01'.
NHTSA complaint #10346515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND NOTICED VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVING BELTS WERE DISLODGED AND THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS HANGING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 152,000.
NHTSA complaint #10328188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALER MADE UNKNOWN REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE CONTACTS CONCERNS WITH THE ENGINE VIBRATION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE ROTORS. FOLLOWING REPAIRS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,196 UPDATED 06/08/10.*LJ WITH ONLY A 157,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER IT FINALLY BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. UPDATED EVOQ 08/18/10......UPDATED 12/05/12 *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THIS VEHICLE BE CANCELED. UPDATED 12/7/2012
NHTSA complaint #10326567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.