IllustrationSUDDEN ACCELERATION AFTER ENGAGING VEHICLE INTO GEAR, RESULTED IN CRASH. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
1990 Mitsubishi Montero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 Mitsubishi Montero do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.
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: 2 of 23 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 2 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 reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
23 reportsTHE CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT RESTRAINT BELT IN THE MIDDLE REAR SEAT. THE RESTRAINT BUCKLE IS TOO LOOSE AND THE BELT IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO RESTRAIN CHILD SAFETY SEATS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED, OWNER PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, HIT BRAKE AND VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE ROLLOVER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH, SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, STICK WHICH CONNECTS WITH CLUTCH PLATE BELOW RUBBER GAURD BROKE OFF BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, CLUTCH NEVER ENGAGED IN 3RD GEAR, DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH, WHICH STICKS INTERMITTENTLY BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR ONLY. *AK
STEERING SHAFT THAT GOES INTO STEERING GEAR GETS PITTEDAND ERODES DUE TO ROAD GRIME AND SALT, THIS ROUGH SHAFT TEARS SEALAND LUBRICATION IS DEPLETED, VEHICLE HARD TO STEER/DOES NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT WITHOUT MANUAL ASSIST. *AK
DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT RECALL ON THREE OCCASIONS, REPLY--- NO PARTS. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE BROKE DOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
OUTER REARVIEW MIRRORS SCREWS STRIPPED, CANNOT BE TIGHTEND; MIRRORS SWAY BACK AND FORTH; DRIVER CANNOT ADJUST TO VIEW TRAFFIC; CAUSES HAZARDOUS DRIVING. *AK
SEAT BELT LATCH RELEASE BUTTON DETERIORATED/BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TAB TO JAM/NOT PROPERLY CATCH IN THE BUCKLE. *SD
THE ELECTRICAL WIRING GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS BURNED OUT AND MELTED PART OF THE FUEL PUMP. TT
Official recalls
195V103004 · 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.
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
PE90034 · Steering Coupling Bolt
Opened Jan 22, 1990 · Closed Mar 15, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available