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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

Power Train complaints

5 reports
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96,000 miles · Dec 8, 2008
Power TrainFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACKWARDS AND HESITATE. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR IN PARK, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE MINOR AND COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING OVER 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BACKWARDS AND HESITATE. WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR IN PARK, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF BURNING OIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE MINOR AND COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT INTENDS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE SOON. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10251065

1 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Power TrainStructure

I BOUGHT THE TRUCK ON A CLOUDY DAY. WHEN THE SUN HIT IT, IT HAD SWIRL MARKS BURNT INTO IT FROM WHERE IT WAS BUFFED AT THE FACTORY. WHEN TURNED IN THEY BUFFED IT AGAIN. NOW THAT IT RAINED IT STILL SHOWS ALL. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS SEVERE LAG AND SOMETIMES WON'T SHIFT AT ALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10055022

16,559 miles · Sep 28, 2003
Power Train

2ND TIMEINTO DAELER FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WILL HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. FIRST TIME DEALER UNSURE OF THE CAUSE OR HOW TO FIX HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP ALMOST 2 WEEKS. 2ND TIME, DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE OVER 2 WEEKS AND STILL NOT FIXED ,SAID COULD BE 1 OF 3 THINGS. THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 OF THE 3 SO …

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2ND TIMEINTO DAELER FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WILL HAVE PROBLEMS SHIFTING THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. FIRST TIME DEALER UNSURE OF THE CAUSE OR HOW TO FIX HAD VEHICLE IN SHOP ALMOST 2 WEEKS. 2ND TIME, DEALER HAS HAD VEHICLE OVER 2 WEEKS AND STILL NOT FIXED ,SAID COULD BE 1 OF 3 THINGS. THEY HAVE REPLACED 2 OF THE 3 SO STILL HAVE 1 TO GO AND I GUESS I WILL BE OUT OF THE VEHICLE ANOTHER WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF 3 WEEKS IF THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM.FIRST INCIDENT WAS AROUND 3000 MILES SECOND INCIDENT AT 16000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10040866

Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2003
Power Train

WHEN IT IS COLD VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. IT TAKES ABOUT 30 TO 40 SECONDS, AND THEN VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10022566

25 miles · Apr 7, 2003
Power Train

VEHICLE WON'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE (ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL). ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD (UNDER 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE). SOMETIMES WILL SLAM INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS IN OUR OPINION. VEHICLE HAS 146 MILES. DEALER HAD VEHICLE TWICE FOR 2 DAYS EACH AND SAY THEY CAN'T …

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VEHICLE WON'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE (ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL). ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD (UNDER 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE). SOMETIMES WILL SLAM INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS IN OUR OPINION. VEHICLE HAS 146 MILES. DEALER HAD VEHICLE TWICE FOR 2 DAYS EACH AND SAY THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10014081

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.