NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
97 reports61,000 miles · Oct 7, 2009
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHEN RETRIEVING HIS VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP; HE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHEN REMOVING THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE AND REPLACING IT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM RESET WHICH CAUSED IMPROPER IDLE. HE THEN ADDED THAT THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHEN RETRIEVING HIS VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP; HE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHEN REMOVING THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE AND REPLACING IT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER SYSTEM RESET WHICH CAUSED IMPROPER IDLE. HE THEN ADDED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE TO BE DUPLICATED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO VIEW THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE VEHICLE, NO ASSISTANCE COULD BE OFFERED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,273.
NHTSA ODI #10286669
30,000 miles · Aug 16, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEH, IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME AS TO HOW OFTEN I WAS HAVING TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AND COMPONENTS REPLACED. A FRIEND TOLD ME TO CHECK RECALLS FOR MITSUBISHI AND NOW I FIND THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS A RECALL. WELL DUE TO ME BEING WAY PAST MY WARRANTY THE RECALL DOES NOT HELP ME, BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR THE DEALE…
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SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEH, IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME AS TO HOW OFTEN I WAS HAVING TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED AND COMPONENTS REPLACED. A FRIEND TOLD ME TO CHECK RECALLS FOR MITSUBISHI AND NOW I FIND THE BRAKE SYSTEM HAS A RECALL. WELL DUE TO ME BEING WAY PAST MY WARRANTY THE RECALL DOES NOT HELP ME, BUT FROM WHAT I HEAR THE DEALER REFUSES TO MAKE THESE FREE REPAIRS. REFUND FOR ALL CONSUMERS WHO BROUGHT THE THINGS. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURY AT THIS POINT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280577
152,000 miles · Nov 14, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT WAS UNINJURED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE CRASH AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE HAD NEVER BEEN ANY MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE AIR BAGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.
NHTSA ODI #10248845
Mileage unknown · May 20, 2008
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TEN INCH FUSED LOOP/ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. THIS ACCIDENT HAD A DEATH INVOLVED. *KB THE LAWYER STATED THE FUSED LOOP/ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP DEPLOYED, THE ADDED 10 INCHES OF SLACK IN THE SEAT BEL…
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2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TEN INCH FUSED LOOP/ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. THIS ACCIDENT HAD A DEATH INVOLVED. *KB THE LAWYER STATED THE FUSED LOOP/ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP DEPLOYED, THE ADDED 10 INCHES OF SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM WOULD ELIMINATE THE ABILITY OF THE SEAT AND RESTRAINT SYSTEM TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT DURING A ROLLOVER WITH FATAL CONSEQUENCES.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10228469
78,000 miles · Oct 2, 2007
Seat Belts
I WENT TO PUT A CHILD'S SAFETY SEATS INTO CAR AND THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE AT ALL. WHEN I BOUGHT CAR I TOLD DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T WORK AND THEY SAID THE WOULD CHECK THAT DID NOT CHECK SEATBELT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I CALL MITSUBISHI AND THEY SAID THAT THE SEATBELTS WERE OUT OF THEIR TIME FRAME FOR REPLA…
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I WENT TO PUT A CHILD'S SAFETY SEATS INTO CAR AND THE SEATBELT WOULD NOT LOCK IN PLACE AT ALL. WHEN I BOUGHT CAR I TOLD DEALERSHIP THAT THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T WORK AND THEY SAID THE WOULD CHECK THAT DID NOT CHECK SEATBELT STILL DOES NOT WORK. I CALL MITSUBISHI AND THEY SAID THAT THE SEATBELTS WERE OUT OF THEIR TIME FRAME FOR REPLACEMENT AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME. ALL BACK SEAT SEATBELT DO NOT WORK IN MANNER THEY ARE TO AND WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE. CAR IS A MITSUBISHI 2000 MONTERO LIMITED SPORT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10204671
122,000 miles · May 22, 2007
Power Train
THE 2000 MONTERO SPORT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 1995-1999 MODEL. THE CRANKSHAFT HAS COME OFF THE VEHICLE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ,INCLUDING $1400.00 ON THE LAST VISIT TO MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THE CRANKSHAFT ITSELF HAS TO BE REPLACE AND…
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THE 2000 MONTERO SPORT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 1995-1999 MODEL. THE CRANKSHAFT HAS COME OFF THE VEHICLE ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. HAD TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ,INCLUDING $1400.00 ON THE LAST VISIT TO MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP. NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THE CRANKSHAFT ITSELF HAS TO BE REPLACE AND WHILE THEY ARE DOING THAT , THEY MIGHT AS WELL REPLACED THE PISTON TO,WHICH WILL CAUSE THOUSANDS MORE DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. MITISI NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THERE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND HONOR THESE REPAIRS. WHY WILL A DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TELL A CUSTOMER THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10191404
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2007
Structure
FOR MANY YEARS NOW, LIFT GATE OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT OPEN, AFTER OPENING ONLY A SHORT TIME BEFORE. FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD LOAD GROCERIES IN THE BACK, GET HOME AND BE UNABLE TO GET THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN TO GET THE GROCERIES OUT. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT ANY ASSOCIATED REASON FOR THIS. RECENTLY, (FEB. '07) GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE AT THE …
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FOR MANY YEARS NOW, LIFT GATE OCCASIONALLY WOULD NOT OPEN, AFTER OPENING ONLY A SHORT TIME BEFORE. FOR EXAMPLE, I WOULD LOAD GROCERIES IN THE BACK, GET HOME AND BE UNABLE TO GET THE LIFTGATE TO OPEN TO GET THE GROCERIES OUT. I COULD NOT FIGURE OUT ANY ASSOCIATED REASON FOR THIS. RECENTLY, (FEB. '07) GATE WOULD NOT CLOSE AT THE STORE, ON ARRIVING HOME, GATE WOULD NOT OPEN AND HAS REMAINED THAT WAY SINCE. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO USE THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE SINCE THEN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10184312
60,000 miles · Dec 20, 2006
Power Train
JULY, 2005 A/TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ERRATIC, SLIPPING, CREATING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A/T FLUSH AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WAS CLEARED. ON FIRST ROAD TRIP AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE NEUTRAL SHIFT INDICATOR, "N", BEGAN TO FLASH AFTER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FOR 45 MINUT…
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JULY, 2005 A/TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ERRATIC, SLIPPING, CREATING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A/T FLUSH AND ERRATIC BEHAVIOR WAS CLEARED. ON FIRST ROAD TRIP AFTER THIS REPAIR, THE NEUTRAL SHIFT INDICATOR, "N", BEGAN TO FLASH AFTER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FOR 45 MINUTES. ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, THIS INDICATES THE A/T IS OVERHEATING AND VEHICLE SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO A STOP TO AVOID DAMAGE AND/OR INJURY. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION AS THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINT. ON MY LAST VISIT OF 12/19/06, THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS I UPGRADE THE A/T OIL PAN TO A LARGER ONE PER TSB 00-23-008 AT MY COST. THIS POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD IS NOT DUE TO A DAMAGE OR A PART THAT HAS WORN OUT. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DESIGN DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN RESOLVING THIS SITUATION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10176631
134,595 miles · Oct 6, 2006
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
MY SON FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING. HE VEERED INTO THE MEDIAN AND FLIPPED 5 TO 6 TIMES. ON FIRST IMPACT HIS SEAT BELT RELEASED, THEREFORE HE WAS THROWN UP AND DOWN EACH TIME HE FLIPPED. ON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT BELT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE RECEIVER PART OF THE SEAT BELT. MY SON MISSED FIVE …
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MY SON FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING. HE VEERED INTO THE MEDIAN AND FLIPPED 5 TO 6 TIMES. ON FIRST IMPACT HIS SEAT BELT RELEASED, THEREFORE HE WAS THROWN UP AND DOWN EACH TIME HE FLIPPED. ON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT BELT, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON WAS RIPPED OUT OF THE RECEIVER PART OF THE SEAT BELT. MY SON MISSED FIVE DAYS OF WORK BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. IF HIS SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE HELD UP HE MIGHT HAVE MISSED ONLY ONE DAY OF WORK. THE ONLY LINGERING INJURY THAT HE SUSTAINED WAS AN INJURED TAIL BONE THAT STILL BOTHERS HIM. I CONTACTED MITSUBISHI THE DAY AFTER THE WRECK AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED. THE WRECK HAPPENED ON APRIL 25, AND IT TOOK MITSUBISHI UNTIL SEPTEMBER 13TH TO RENDER A DECISION. THEY DECIDED THAT EXTERNAL FORCES WERE APPLIED BY SOME UNDETERMINED OBJECT IN THE VEHICLE TO THE RED RELEASE BUTTON AT THE TOP OF THE BUCKLE. THERE WAS NO WAY ANYTHING HIT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON, BECAUSE ON INITIAL IMPACT MY SON WAS THROWN TO THE TOP OF THE CAR. I DO STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS TARPED SO NOTHING COULD HAPPEN TO IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I NEED TO KEEP IT OR SELL IT FOR PARTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10170062
117,700 miles · Aug 23, 2006
Power Train
MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT, YEAR 2000 - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING ~ 200 MILES AT 70 MPH. STOPPED AFTER DRIVING 20 MORE MILES. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR TRANSMISSION. APPEARS TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VENTING AND HITTING HOT ENGINE. ALLOWED CAR TO COOL DOWN, AS RECOMMENDED I…
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MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT, YEAR 2000 - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING ~ 200 MILES AT 70 MPH. STOPPED AFTER DRIVING 20 MORE MILES. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR TRANSMISSION. APPEARS TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VENTING AND HITTING HOT ENGINE. ALLOWED CAR TO COOL DOWN, AS RECOMMENDED IN OWNERS MANUAL. THEN PROCEEDED TO AUTO MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 2 & 3RD GEAR AND WAS NOT LOCKING IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER AFTER GOING INTO OVERDRIVE. VEHICLE HAS ~ 118,000 MILES AT THE TIME. SAME THING OCCURRED BACK WHEN VEHICLE ONLY HAD ~ 30,000 MILES AND DEALER DID SOMETHING AT THAT TIME. I NOTICE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. SUGGEST MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166305