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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 And Engine Cooling complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    65,600 miles · Nov 15, 2006
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT 3.5 L V6 ENGINE. 1. NO PRECEDING EVENT, CAR STARTED IDLING ROUGH WHEN FIRST STARTED. IDLE SMOOTHES AFTER A SHORT TIME. 2. RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYL #2 AT 30K MILES, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING COOLANT INTO C…

    Read full complaint

    HEAD GASKET FAILURES ON 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT 3.5 L V6 ENGINE. 1. NO PRECEDING EVENT, CAR STARTED IDLING ROUGH WHEN FIRST STARTED. IDLE SMOOTHES AFTER A SHORT TIME. 2. RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYL #2 AT 30K MILES, REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET STARTED LEAKING COOLANT INTO CYL #1 AT 65,600 MILES. REPLACEMENT DENIED BY MANUFACTURER, EVEN THOUGHT IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. 3. NOT YET REPLACED DUE TO COST. *NM

    NHTSA ODI #10173592

    40,140 miles · Feb 3, 2005
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    I HAVE A BRAND NEW 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT WITH A 3.0 ENGINE. THE CAM SHAFT CAME APART AND THE MITSUBISHI REP REFUSE TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE NEW CAR WARRANTY. NOTHING WAS DONE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. THE SUV NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. WHAT HAPPEN TO CUSTOMER SERVICE? *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10108503

    Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2003
    Engine And Engine Cooling

    WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB

    NHTSA ODI #10038594

    900 miles · Jul 30, 2003
    Engine And Engine CoolingCrash

    VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A RESTAURANT DRIVE THRU LANE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT.

    NHTSA ODI #10031534

    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.