32 of the
452 complaints filed about the Mitsubishi Montero Sport
are about the steering —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
THIS WEEK I HAVE HAD TWO OCCURRENCES WHERE THE HORN JUST STARTS BLARING AND WON'T STOP. ONCE WAS IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THE OTHER WAS AT 5:00 AM. MY ONLY DIY ALTERNATIVES ARE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY (OBVIOUSLY CAN'T USE THE VEHICLE), OR REMOVE THE FUSE (VERY UNSAFE). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NO WEATHER PROBLEMS, TEMPERATURE WAS MILD (AROUND 70 DEGREES). PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE HORN RARELY WORKED AT ALL; AT LEAST NOT WHEN I WANTED IT TO WORK. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEAR TO BE VERY WIDESPREAD ON THIS VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT, IT INVOLVES REMOVING THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY, SO GETTING IT FIXED IS VERY COSTLY (OVER $1000). I EXPECT TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON A FEW ITEMS HERE & THERE ON A 16 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, BUT I DON'T EXPECT TO SPEND OVER $ 1000 ON A VEHICLE JUST TO MAKE THE HORN WORK RIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #10969265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10936341 — 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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING PUMP PULLEY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10672312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AND THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10653961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER QUICKLY CHECKING TIRES, ETC. I NOTICED THE FRAME HAD RIPPED IN HALF. THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED FOR 4-5 FEET. FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE FRAME THE PASSENGER SIDE IS UNAFFECTED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS POOR METAL/FRAME FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #10551670 — 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.
WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT. LOST STEERING CAPABILITY. DURING TROUBLESHOOTING FOUND THE DRIVERS SIDE OUTER TIE ROD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE ADJUST TUBE. BOTH LOCK NUTS WERE TIGHT AND IN THE ORIGINAL POSITIONS AND THE ADJUST TUBE AND INNER TIE ROD WERE TIGHT. THREADS OF THE TIE ROD DID NOT APPEAR TO BE STRIPPED BUT THE ADJUST TUBE WOULD NOT TIGHTEN TO THE OUTER TIE ROD LOCK NUT. THIS IS THE FIRST AND ONLY INSTANCE OF THIS FAILURE ON THIS CAR. DEALER IS REPLACING BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE INNER TIE ROD, OUTER TIE ROD AND ADJUST TUBE AT MY COST. MY CONCERN IS THE SEVERITY OF THE FAILURE. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH DEATHS OR MAJOR INJURY OCCURRING. AUTO IS 10 YEARS OLD WITH APPROX 120000 MILES. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER BOTH INDICATED THAT THIS IS A WEAR ITEM BUT IS NOT PART OF AN INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #10376383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 MITSUBUSHI MONTERO SPORT...TIE ROD SLEEVE ON PASSENGER SIDE UNEXPECTEDLY CAME APART AS I WAS PULLING OUT FROM PARKING SPACE ONTO BUSY ROADWAY. THIS CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO STEER CORRECTLY. MECHANIC REPLACED TIE ROD AND FEELS THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS THREADS WHERE STILL INTACT JUST FITTING WAS NOT PROPER. YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SCREW TIE ROD TOGETHER AND PHYSICALLY PULL THEM APART BY HAND. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE TIE RODS THAT FAILED SO NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN THEY CAME APART IT WAS A TOTAL SHOCK. I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS THAT WHERE REMOVED FOR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY. THE REPAIR BILL WAS $285 I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO RECOUP OUR EXPENSES. I'M HOPING YOU CAN ADVISE ME ON HOW TO DO THIS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10342275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTARO SPORT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS LOOSE WHICH WAS TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED OPERATION WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZE DEALER. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL DEFECT FOR THE 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTARO SPORT THAT MENTIONED THE IDENTICAL FAILURES AS THE 2000 MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #10334973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT THE PITMAN ARM TIE ROD BOLT SNAP WHILE BACKING UP IN THE PARKING LOT. IT WAS NOT LOOSE WHATSOEVER NO SYMPTOMS IT JUST SNAP.IT WAS THE ORIGINAL OEM PART FROM THE FACTORY. IF IT WAS BROKEN AT THE HIGHWAY I WOULD HAVE KILLED MYSELF AND OTHERS AND WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE THE PART SAVE HERE IF YOU WISH TO INVESTIGATE . *TR THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10293200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT CAME LOOSE ON THE 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT ON 9-6-05. THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT BROKE THE AIR CONDITIONER BELT. THE CONTACT LOST POWER STEERING ABILITY, THE ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE AND THE HARMONIC BALANCER FAILED. IN 1999 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CRANK BOLT BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10135678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT SHEARING OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10106874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING MY DRIVE TO WORK AT ESM MARKETING, I WAS DRIVING ON I95 IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA, AND GOT OFF ON CYPRESS CREEK ROAD AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEELS DID NOT MOVE. THE FRONT END OF THE STEERING LEFT ME UNBLE TO CONTROL OR MANIPULATE MY VEHICLE. I LANDED ON A MEDIAN STRIP, MAGICALLY BACK OUT OF THE MEDIAN AND MADE MY WAY TO A SHELL GAS STATION. I HAD THE GENTLEMEN LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE STATED TO ME THAT "YOU MUST HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU SUVIVED THE STOP". I HAD MY MECHANIC COME TO MY CAR AND REPAIR THIS DAMAGE AND HE STATED THAT SAME THING. " IN ALL THE 16 YEARS AS A MECHANIC HE NEVER SAY ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. HE REPAIR THE FRONT END. APPARENTLY, THE MITSUBISHI FRONT END STREERING WHEEL PART WHERE THE PART TWISTED INTO THE SLEEVE OF THE FRONT END WAS STRIPPED. MY MECHANIC REPAIR THIS DAMAGE AND FIRST CHOICE IS THE MECHANIC THAT CAME TO MY RESCUE. MY MECHANIC REPAIRED THE DAMAGE AND TOLD ME THAT THE PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND THAT I SHOULD GET A REIMBURSEMENT ON THE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10092979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SWAYS, WONDERS ON THE ROAD AND IS UNCONTROLLABLE. ALSO, IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS LOOSE UNDER THE FRONT END. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE FEELS EXACTLY THAT WHICH I AM DESCRIBING BUT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE DRIVEN AND THAT THEY TOO DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS OBSTACLE TO HAVE CONTROL OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10054733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 MONTER SPORT XLS 2WD 46,000 MILES. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE STEERING FEELS LOOSE AND IS ALSO RATTLING. CAUSES EXTRA EFFORT IN STABILIZING VEHICLE IN A SINGLE DIRECTION. WAS TAKEN TO TWO SAN ANTONIO BASED DEALERS GILLMAN MITSUBISHI SAN ANTONIO AND NORTHPOINT MITSUBISHI. NORTHPOINT MITSUBISHI DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALTHOUGH MITSUBISHI PROVIDES POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH INCLUDES SUSPENSION, DRIVETRAIN TO 60,000 MILES MITSUBISHI CORP DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE STATING THAT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AFTER EXPLAINING TO MITSUBISHI CORP THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF HIGHWAY SAFETY THE STILL REFUSE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10050667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MONTERO HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS FROM DAY ONE WITH REPEATED/NUMEROUS VISITS TO SEVERAL MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIPS IN MY AREA. I HAVE HAD ALL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ FROM OTHER OWNERS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT I BOUGHT THIS SPORT UTILITY AND HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. THE MONTERO HAS HAD PULL TO THE RIGHT AS DESCRIBED, A VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS, AND A HORRIBLE PERFORMANCE OF BRAKING THAT HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY LIFE AND MY DAUGHTERS AND COUNTLESS OTHER FAMILIES. I HAVE A LIFETIME PURCHASE PLAN FOR ALIGNMENTS WHICH ARE PERFORMED ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS AND I HAVE ALSO GONE THROUGH 4 SETS OF BRAKES. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED MY MONTERO TO JUST DIE, COMPLETELY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC- DANGEROUS!! THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND EVERYONE HONKING AND CURSING ME OUT IT STARTS AFTER I RESTART IT. ALSO, WITH THIS COMES A FIRE BURNING SMELL THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY VARIOUS MECHANICS THAT I HAVE AN OIL LEAK IN MY ENGINE. I HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE MONTERO BACK AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED A MELTED GASKET IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALL MY BELTS AND SPARKPLUGS. THE SUNROOF HAS HAD IT'S SHARE OF PROBLEMS OF LEAKING UNCONTROLALLABLY WHEN IT RAINS AND HERE IN FLORIDA IT HAS BEEN BETTER TO STAND IN THE RAIN THAN IN MY SUV. NOW MY FRONT READING LIGHTS UNDER MY REAR MIRROR IS LEAKING BUCKETS OF WATER AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME OVER $500.00 FOR A NEW SUNROOF AFTER I PAID OVER INVOICE FOR THIS LUXURY! ALL OF MY BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE REAR HAVE BLOWN OUT NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE TO REPLACE. THIS SUV IA THE MILLION DOLLAR MONEY PIT MISTAKE AND DO NOT RECCOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY! I'M SO GLAD THAT I AM NOT GOING CRAZY AND THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME AND HOPE TO NOT EVER EXPERIENCE MY AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING IN AN A ACCIDENT! MITSUBISHI WILL HAVE A HUGE LAW SUIT!!
NHTSA complaint #10040982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.