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1997 Mitsubishi Montero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 20.5.

About this comparison →
63Owner complaints

Model-year median: 20.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
31
199486
199527
199663
199774
199840
199951
2000
Compare all Montero years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
17Service Brakes, Hydraulic
14Electrical System
8Suspension
6Air Bags
5
All reported categories
Equipment
5Power Train
4Structure
4Steering
3Visibility
3Seat Belts
2Unknown Or Other
2Back Over Prevention
1Child Seat
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

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: 11 of 63 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 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 reports4 fire reports4 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

14 reports
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110,500 miles · Sep 4, 2004
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

1. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AND ESTIMATED CHARGES FOR REPAIRS TO FRONT BRAKE, INCLUDING NEW ROTOR, WOULD BE $1000. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL FOR 1997 MONTEROS IN REGARD TO BRAKE LINES. *AK 2. SERVICE ENGINE SOON COMES ON AT RANDOM AND ONLY GOES OFF WHEN THE BATTERY…

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1. BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. CAR WAS CHECKED OUT AND ESTIMATED CHARGES FOR REPAIRS TO FRONT BRAKE, INCLUDING NEW ROTOR, WOULD BE $1000. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL FOR 1997 MONTEROS IN REGARD TO BRAKE LINES. *AK 2. SERVICE ENGINE SOON COMES ON AT RANDOM AND ONLY GOES OFF WHEN THE BATTERY IS UNHOOKED AND REHOOKED OR REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10090429

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. REGULAR BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO WORK WHENEVER PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HAD MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED, AND BRAKES BLED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880914

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2000
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND CD CHANGER ON THIS VEHICLE, AS WELL AS NUMBROUS OTHER PROBLEMS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE? *AK

NHTSA ODI #719928

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I'VE HAD SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES TWICE NOW. MY BRAKES PULSATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I'VE HAD MY ROTORS RESURFACED TWICE.(1) AT 34,000 MILES & (2) AT 58840. THE WARRANTY THE DEALER SHIP GIVES ME IS 3 MONTH OR 3000 MILES FOR PULSATING, EVEN IF I WERE TO BUY NEW ROTORS. I' VE HAD TO RECENTLY REPLACE MY RIGHT BACK SHOE BECAUSE IT W…

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I'VE HAD SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES TWICE NOW. MY BRAKES PULSATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I'VE HAD MY ROTORS RESURFACED TWICE.(1) AT 34,000 MILES & (2) AT 58840. THE WARRANTY THE DEALER SHIP GIVES ME IS 3 MONTH OR 3000 MILES FOR PULSATING, EVEN IF I WERE TO BUY NEW ROTORS. I' VE HAD TO RECENTLY REPLACE MY RIGHT BACK SHOE BECAUSE IT WAS RUBBUING METAL ON METAL BUT MY LEFT SIDE WAS PERFECTLY FINE. THEY COULD'NT GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION WHY. I'M TIRED OF PAYING $ 500 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM YEAR AFTER YEAR. MY ANTENNA WAS REPLACED BECAUSE IT BROKE OFF, SO I HAD THE DEALER PUT A NEW ONE IN A YEAR AGO AND NOW THE ANTENNA DOESN'T GO DOWN. MY MOONROOFS COVER (INTERIOR ) POPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING. I SOMEHOW MANAGED TO PUT IT BACK IN. THESE ARE THE COUPLE OF PROBLEMS I'VE ENCOUNTERED. I ESPECIALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS TRUCK WHEN IT STARTS TO PULSATE. I HAVE A 4 MONTH OLD BABY & I'M ALWAYS AFRAID SOMETHING IS GOING TO GO WRONG.

NHTSA ODI #714359

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WARPING DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEA., DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY WHY OVERHEATING OCCURS. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKE LINES LEAKED FLUID, CAUSING VEHICLE TO VIBRATE AND FADE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834426

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I READ IN NOV. IMPORT SERVICE MAGAZINE THAT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL FAIL IF THE VEHICLE IS LIFTED BY THE FRAME. IF THIS IS CORRECT WON'T THE BRAKE HOSE FAIL WHEN THE REAR WHEEL DROP INTO A HOLE IN THE ROAD? I DO NOT OWN SUCH A VEHICLE BUT AM CONCERNED IF THERE REPORT WAS CORRECT THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM. THEY REPORTED THAT T…

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I READ IN NOV. IMPORT SERVICE MAGAZINE THAT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WILL FAIL IF THE VEHICLE IS LIFTED BY THE FRAME. IF THIS IS CORRECT WON'T THE BRAKE HOSE FAIL WHEN THE REAR WHEEL DROP INTO A HOLE IN THE ROAD? I DO NOT OWN SUCH A VEHICLE BUT AM CONCERNED IF THERE REPORT WAS CORRECT THAT THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM. THEY REPORTED THAT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE WAS TOO SHORT AND THE REAR AXLE WILL NEED TO BE TIED UP BEFORE THE TRUCK IS LIFTED BY THE FRAME. PAGE 19 IN TECH. TIPS SECTION.

NHTSA ODI #702793

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR-98-005; VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR WORK ON BRAKES, DEALER FOUND PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE MOTOR, AND WANTS CONSUMER TO PAY $570 FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS BEFORE THE RECALL PROBLEM CAN BE REMEDIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #830031

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS, THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP, AND ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829797

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. VEHICLE SKIDS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #829417

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. UPON STARTING VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY COME ON. DEALER CONTACTED TWO TIMES, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827096

Official recalls

2

98V220000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINES CAN DEVELOP PIN HOLES DUE TO CHAFFING AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE IN THE INNER FENDER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAK RESULTING IN DETERIORATED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND ROUTING. IF THE LINES ARE NOT CORRECTLY CENTERED IN THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE, THE LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED BY BENDING SLIGHTLY TO CORRECT. IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF BRAKE LINE WEAR, THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.

98V205000 · Unknown Or Other

Sep 2, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.

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.