Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reports
92,000 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE ON 10-24-05. SHE HAD RECALL 00V311000 REPAIR WORK DONE IN OCTOBER -2002. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT. SHE FELT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. SHE SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND TO M…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE ON 10-24-05. SHE HAD RECALL 00V311000 REPAIR WORK DONE IN OCTOBER -2002. THE CONTACT WANTED TO FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE SHE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CRANK SHAFT. SHE FELT THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. SHE SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND TO MITSUBISHI. MITSUBISHI TOLD HER TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND IT MAY OR MAY NOT BE COVERED. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND HE TOLD HER THAT AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLT, AS STATED IN THE RECALL. SHE THOUGH THE RECALL NOTICE SHOULD HAVE STATED THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE ACTUALLY CHANGED THE BOLT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10140768
95,812 miles · Oct 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. IN 6-03 HE BROUGHT THE CAR I TO DEALER BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF. THE REPAIR WORK COST $463.06. ON 7-26-03 THE CONTACT BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE FOUND THERE WAS RECALL 00V311001 AND THE DEALER FIXED IT AT NO COST LAST WEEK ON 9-29-…
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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. IN 6-03 HE BROUGHT THE CAR I TO DEALER BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF. THE REPAIR WORK COST $463.06. ON 7-26-03 THE CONTACT BROUGHT IT BACK BECAUSE THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE FOUND THERE WAS RECALL 00V311001 AND THE DEALER FIXED IT AT NO COST LAST WEEK ON 9-29--0) THE TIMING BELT CAME OFF AGAIN. HE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED, AND THE MECHANIC COULD SEE THE BOLT STICKING OUT. TALKED TO THE DEALER, AND THE DEALER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR IT BECAUSE IT HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY. LATER THE CONTACT FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE ESTIMATE REPAIR EXPENSE WOULD BE $500.00. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND NEITHER WANTED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE DEALER DID NOT REPAIR IT CORRECTLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10138715
120,000 miles · Feb 22, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V311001 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD. THEN, TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE…
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RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V311001 CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE MAIN ROAD. THEN, TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE. CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A YEAR AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10112899
98,648 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
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.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10106874
30,000 miles · Nov 8, 2004
Seat Belts
SHOULDER BELT GUIDE ALLOWS FOR BELT TO BE TRAPPED. THIS PRESENTS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY IN A CRASH.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10098438
125,200 miles · Jul 31, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL SERVICE. 18 MONTHS LATER, THE BOLT BACKED OUT, CAUSING APPROX. $1000 IN DAMAGES, REPAIRED AT PRIVATE MECHANIC'S GARAGE. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; SAME GARAGE REPAIRED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; PRIVATE GARAGE R…
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1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT RECALL SERVICE. 18 MONTHS LATER, THE BOLT BACKED OUT, CAUSING APPROX. $1000 IN DAMAGES, REPAIRED AT PRIVATE MECHANIC'S GARAGE. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; SAME GARAGE REPAIRED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. HAPPENED AGAIN 1 MONTH LATER; PRIVATE GARAGE REFUSED TO REPAIR AGAIN. TOOK IT TO MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP; PAID ANOTHER APPROX. $1100 FOR REPAIRS. HAPPENED AGAIN 2 MONTHS LATER; DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO WARRANTY REPAIR; ESTIMATES ANOTHER $2800 TO REPLACE ENTIRE CRANKSHAFT. MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIRS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10083048
85,000 miles · Jul 11, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE REAR CALIPERS BECAME VERY HOT, LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10024406
Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2002
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD 5 ALTERNATERS IN THE LAST 13 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA ODI #8024109
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 2002
SeatsCrash
WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AT ZERO SPEED, I WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A CONVERSION VAN GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. PRIMARY IMPACT CAUSED THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO COLLAPSE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I AS THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED SEVERE LOWER AND UPPER SPINE INJURIES. DT
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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 BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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