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2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 33.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
31Owner complaints

Model-year median: 33

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 31 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Air Bags: 5 reports
  • Electrical System: 5 reports
  • Engine: 5 reports
  • Power Train: 5 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    97
    2000    63
    2001    54
    2002    31
    2003    5
    2004
    Compare all Montero Sport years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Air Bags
    5    Electrical System
    5    Engine
    5    Power Train
    5    Engine And Engine Cooling
    4
    All reported categories
    Fuel/propulsion System
    3    Suspension
    3    Vehicle Speed Control
    3    Service Brakes
    2    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    2    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Steering
    1    Structure
    1    Wheels
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    25 reports with mileage · 6 unknown

    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.

    • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    6 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

    Engine complaints

    5 reports
    Clear category filter
    100 miles · Jun 1, 2017
    Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

    "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 ODI #10992777

    170,161 miles · Jun 15, 2015
    Engine

    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. H…

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    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*JS

    NHTSA ODI #10725193

    150,000 miles · May 1, 2014
    Engine

    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 ODI #10585857

    124,000 miles · Dec 4, 2013
    EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash

    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 …

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    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. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10554835

    117,329 miles · Aug 30, 2012
    EngineService Brakes

    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 …

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    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? *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10473099

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.