IllustrationHIGHW SPEED OF40MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED WITH HEAVY WHEEL VIBRATION VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLED AND REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT TO THE FACTORY. WHEN MAKIN A TURN IF THERE WAS A CRACK OR POT HOLE IN THE STREET THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO SHIFT OFF THE WHEELS LEANING TO LEFT. IF IT RAINS THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE TO THE LEFT. *AK
1999 Mitsubishi Montero
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 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: 6 of 40 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.
- Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. 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.
4 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports
Suspension complaints
11 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE VIBRATES AT 55-65 MPH. YH
VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY ONE OF PURCHASE, UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND BEARINGS IN FRONT SUSUPENSION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSE TO ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTED, TOLD ME TO FIND PROBLEM, THEY WOULD THEN DEAL WITH THE VEHICLE. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE ON MY VEHICLE THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE JUST LIKE MINE. SOMEONE…
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VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY ONE OF PURCHASE, UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND BEARINGS IN FRONT SUSUPENSION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSE TO ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTED, TOLD ME TO FIND PROBLEM, THEY WOULD THEN DEAL WITH THE VEHICLE. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE ON MY VEHICLE THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE JUST LIKE MINE. SOMEONE WILL BE HURT EVENTUALLY IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING BAD CHOP WEARING ON OUTSIDE AND IN THE MIDDLE, FRONT END SLANTED INWARD I BELIEVE CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR BADLY ALSO BAD VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END AS WELL TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES STILL NOT CORRECTED THEY SAY TIRES ARE BAD I REPLACED TIRES AT 18,700 MILES STILL DOING SAME THING NOTHTHIN…
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PROBLEMS WITH TIRES WEARING BAD CHOP WEARING ON OUTSIDE AND IN THE MIDDLE, FRONT END SLANTED INWARD I BELIEVE CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR BADLY ALSO BAD VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END AS WELL TAKEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES STILL NOT CORRECTED THEY SAY TIRES ARE BAD I REPLACED TIRES AT 18,700 MILES STILL DOING SAME THING NOTHTHING HAS CHANGED CAR IS STILL AT DEALER FOR REPAIR. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AT A COLD START SEEMS LIKE IT DOES NOT TO GO HAS TROUBLE SHIFTING AND VERY HIGH RPMS AT 35 MPH TAKEN TO DREALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE ON THIS THEY SAY IT IS NORMAL FOR THE MONTERO SPORT. FRONT END FEELS LO0SE WHEN DRIVING ON ROUGH TERRAIN FEELS LIKE BOTTOM IS GOING TO FALL OUT. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK WHEN APPLIED QUIKLY. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R15 )
VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY ONE OF PURCHASE, UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND BEARINGS IN FRONT SUSUPENSION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSE TO ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTED, TOLD ME TO FIND PROBLEM, THEY WOULD THEN DEAL WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR STORE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. IF THE PART IS DE…
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VEHICLE HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DAY ONE OF PURCHASE, UPPER CONTROL ARMS ARE BAD AND BEARINGS IN FRONT SUSUPENSION. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSE TO ADMIT A PROBLEM EXISTED, TOLD ME TO FIND PROBLEM, THEY WOULD THEN DEAL WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A GOODYEAR STORE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. IF THE PART IS DEFECTIVE ON MY VEHICLE THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE JUST LIKE MINE. SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY BE HURT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
VEHCLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VIBRATION IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 65 MPH. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TIRES WERE CHANGED, A NEW DRIVESHAFT INSTALLED AND MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. CONSUMER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATIO…
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VEHCLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VIBRATION IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER 65 MPH. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TIRES WERE CHANGED, A NEW DRIVESHAFT INSTALLED AND MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED. CONSUMER CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE VIBRATION PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED IN MAY 1999, I WAS TOLD I WILL EXPERIENCE VIBRATIONS IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE (SUV). THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTENTLY GOTTEN WORSE. I WAS THEN TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES AND A BALANCE WOULD CORRECT THE VIBRATIONS. I HAVE HAD THE WHEELS BALANCE TWICE AND THE VIBRATIONS STILL EXIST. NOW I'M BEING TO…
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WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST REPORTED IN MAY 1999, I WAS TOLD I WILL EXPERIENCE VIBRATIONS IN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE (SUV). THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTENTLY GOTTEN WORSE. I WAS THEN TOLD IT WAS THE TIRES AND A BALANCE WOULD CORRECT THE VIBRATIONS. I HAVE HAD THE WHEELS BALANCE TWICE AND THE VIBRATIONS STILL EXIST. NOW I'M BEING TOLD THE CHASIS BEARING HAVE SAGGED.. SHOULD THIS TYPE OF DEFECT BE HAPPENING ON A 5 MONTH OLD VEHICLE?
FRONT END HAS ALOT OF NOISE COMING FROM IT, AND JERKS THE STEERING WHEEL FROM RIGHT TO LEFT WHEN HITTING BUMPS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3 TIMES, AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. *AK
Official recalls
220V035000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 23, 2020
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-001.
04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 1, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.