IllustrationTHE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE HORN CONNECTOR TO STOP THE HORN FROM OPERATING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *JB *TC
1989 Mitsubishi Montero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Montero years →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
Limited mileage data: 1 of 10 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.
- Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 1 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsFIRST TIRE BLOWOUT JUST AFTER LEAVING PARING LOT AT WORK. SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THIRD TIRE REPLACED IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHEN IT STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHOWED DAMAGE INDICATING A PLY SEPARATION WAS IMMINENT. FOURTH TIRE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BENSON, AZ, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK( DOT N…
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FIRST TIRE BLOWOUT JUST AFTER LEAVING PARING LOT AT WORK. SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THIRD TIRE REPLACED IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHEN IT STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHOWED DAMAGE INDICATING A PLY SEPARATION WAS IMMINENT. FOURTH TIRE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BENSON, AZ, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ELBNCJL495 TIRE SIZE: P235/75 R1 )
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST YEAR. OUR MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE PARTS INVOLVED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE WON'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. HE HAS TOLD US TO SELL THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE HE CAN GIVE US …
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WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST YEAR. OUR MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE PARTS INVOLVED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE WON'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. HE HAS TOLD US TO SELL THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE HE CAN GIVE US A "WRITTEN GAURANTEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE HAVE SPENT AROUND $900.00 SO FAR ON THIS PROBLEM, AND THE ESTIMATE TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN IS $1400.00. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR COST.
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT:PULLEY BOLTS BROKE.
THE TIE ROD BROKE INSIDE THE ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE.
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
VEHICLE NOT DESIGNED TO TURN CORNERS AS OTHER 2 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SD
WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. TT
PLASTIC PRESS RELEASE BUTTON BROKE OFF MAKING SEAT BELT BUCKLE INOPERABLE. OWNER HAS BROKEN PART. TT
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MODEL #524 DOES NOT LATCH MOST OF THE TIME. TT
Official recalls
295V103004 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
89V030000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Mar 3, 1989
THE ENGINES ARE SUBJECT TO THROTTLE VALVE ICING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE THE THROTTLE VALVE TO STICK AND NOT ALLOWTHE ENGINE RPM TO RETURN TO IDLE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL A HEATED ADAPTER PLATE.
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
2EA95004 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 1, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
PE89131 · Fuel Hose
Opened Jun 19, 1989 · Closed Sep 6, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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