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2000 Mitsubishi Montero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2000 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

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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

Limited mileage data: 5 of 51 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

51 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP.

NHTSA ODI #730101

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2000
Tires

TIRES REQUIRE ROTATIONS EVERY 4000 MI. TO AVOID IRREGULAR WEAR.( DOT NUMBER: EL3FJNM379 TIRE SIZE: P255-70R16 )

NHTSA ODI #730097

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

ON 7/13/00, WHILE TRAVELLING ON CITY STREET @ 25-30 MPH & MAINTAINING ADEQUATE DISTANCE ( AT LEAST 2 CAR LENGTHS )FROM VEHICLE IN FRONT, DRIVER OF SAID VEHICLE STOPPED IN LANE ( AT A GREEN LIGHT )TO AVOID HITTING CARS IN FRONT OF HIM THAT HAD STOPPED, I PRESSED DOWN ON MY BRAKES & IT FAILED TO STOP MY VEHICLE. I PRESSED THE PEDA…

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ON 7/13/00, WHILE TRAVELLING ON CITY STREET @ 25-30 MPH & MAINTAINING ADEQUATE DISTANCE ( AT LEAST 2 CAR LENGTHS )FROM VEHICLE IN FRONT, DRIVER OF SAID VEHICLE STOPPED IN LANE ( AT A GREEN LIGHT )TO AVOID HITTING CARS IN FRONT OF HIM THAT HAD STOPPED, I PRESSED DOWN ON MY BRAKES & IT FAILED TO STOP MY VEHICLE. I PRESSED THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR (WHILE BRUISING 3 TOES ON MY RIGHT FOOT);WAS UNABLE TO STOP, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL INTO THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHILCE. BRAKES DEFINITELY FAILED. WAS RECORDED BY POLICE OFFICER IN HIS REPORT AND I WAS CITED FOR THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE REPORTED THE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT TO THE DEALER AND TO THE NATIONAL 800 # CUSTOMER SERVICE RE: FAILING BRAKES & POSSIBLE CONCEALED DEFECT BY MITSUBISHI CAUSED MY ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO VARIOUS ARTICLES IN PRINT AND ON TV, MITSUBISHI HAS CONCEALED DEFECTS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS & ITS OWN GOVERNMENT (JAPAN) IS INVESTIGATING. WHEN I DISCUSSED THE DEFECT ARTICLES & RECALL #'S TO THE MITSU REP. SHE CLAIMED THAT THOSE FIGURES WERE INCORRECT & DID NOT APPLY TO VEHICLES EXPORTED TO THE US, EVEN THOUGH THE AP WIRE REPORTS STATED THAT MORE THAN 45,000 DEFECTED VEHICLES WERE SOLD IN THE US?!?!?! I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 36 YEARS, ACCIDENT-FREE, NEVER EVEN COMING CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT, AND THEN MY BRAND-NEW MITSU HAS BRAKE FAILURE UNDER EMERGENCY CONDITIONS & I HAVE THIS ACCIDENT THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. I DO NOT DRIVE RECKLESSLY, NOR TOO CLOSE, ALWAYS DEFENSIVELY & APPARENTLY TRUSTING TOO MUCH IN THE QUALITY & INTEGRITY OF MY VEHICLE AND THE SAFETY FEATURES THAT I PAID FOR & PRESUMED WOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN TIMES OF CRISIS. NOT THE CASE! IF THE EXECUTIVES/MANAGEMENT OF MITSUBISHI HAVE CONCEALED DEFECTS IN THEIR VEHICLES FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, WHAT'S TO SAY THAT THE 2000 MONTERO SPORTS AREN'T HIDING SOMETHING! I NEED SOME ANSWERS! I AM CONTESTING THE CITATION WITH A HEARING BEFORE THE TRAFFIC COURT NEXT MONTH FOR IT WAS NOT MY FAULT! PLEASE CONTACT ME CONFIRMING YOUR RECEIPT & RESOLUTION. THANK YOU!!!

NHTSA ODI #729535

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2000
Tires

ADVISED BY DEALER TO ROTATE TIRES EVERY 4000 MI. TO AVOID FAILURES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )

NHTSA ODI #729382

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ROTORS WILL SQUEAK /SCRATCH AND WILL FEEL A PULSATION. DEALER WILL ONLY RESURFACE ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #868131

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
SteeringSuspension

APPROACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VIBRATION OCCURS AT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, MOST NOTICEABLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. MOREOVER, A LOOSENESS IS NOTICEABLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN EXHIBITING "PLAY" IN THE STEERING. VEHICLES TENDS TO SHIMMY ON DOWNSLOPING ROADS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70SR16 )

NHTSA ODI #728333

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Structure

THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES AROUND 60MPH. THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN BALANCED TWICE NOW, AND AN ALIGNMENT PERORMED. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I VISIT A MONTERO SPORT OWNER'S BULLETIN BOARD OFTEN (WWW.MONTERO-SPORT.COM), AND MANY OTHERS ON THE BOARD COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE …

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THE ENTIRE VEHICLE VIBRATES AROUND 60MPH. THE WHEELS HAVE BEEN BALANCED TWICE NOW, AND AN ALIGNMENT PERORMED. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. I VISIT A MONTERO SPORT OWNER'S BULLETIN BOARD OFTEN (WWW.MONTERO-SPORT.COM), AND MANY OTHERS ON THE BOARD COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MONTERO SPORTS THAT RANGE IN YEAR FROM 1997 TO 2000. MITSUBISHI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER REPAIR TECHS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MOST OTHERS WITH THE PROBLEM HAVE HAD THE SAME WORK PERFORMED THAT I HAVE, WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. ONE PERSON JUST COMPLETED A BUY BACK WITH MITSUBISHI. A LAWYER THAT VISITS THE BOARD GATHERED A LIST OF NAMES AND SENT AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT LETTER TO MMCA (MITSUBISHI). I'M COMPLAINING TO THE NHSTA IN THE HOPE THAT A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY CAN GET SOMETHING DONE. THIS VIBRATION PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #728002

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED/INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864970

Mileage unknown · Feb 29, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS GO OUT FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. ALSO, SAME THING HAPPENS WITH THE RADIO AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE 3 TIMES, AND STILL THER IS NO SOLUTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857643

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Structure

WHILE BACKING UP THERE WAS A SLIGHT IMPACT TO THE REAR BUMPER AT LESS THAN 10 MPH, AND THE REAR BUMPER BROKE LIKE IT WAS A PIECE OF GLASS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856448

Official recalls

2

20V035000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.