1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
85
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
17
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
The 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has received a total of 85 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. 17 technical service bulletins have been issued by Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (7 complaints), Engine And Engine Cooling (5 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingengine (5 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO, potentially affecting up to 122,043 vehicles.
Recall 98V220000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 61,800 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 98V205000 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
| 60,243 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
85 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
ON 5/31/14, MY 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A LARGE BURN IN THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. AFTER CALLING MITSUBISHI, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME SINCE IT WAS STILL SMOLDERING AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER MANY FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO MITSUBISHI, THEY BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR SINCE THE CAR WAS 17 YEARS OLD. ALL OF THE COST TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS ON ME AS THE OWNER. *TR
ON 5/31/14, MY 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A LARGE BURN IN THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. AFTER CALLING MITSUBISHI, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME SINCE IT WAS STILL SMOLDERING AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THEY BELIEVED IT TO BE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AFTER MANY FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO MITSUBISHI, THEY BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR SINCE THE CAR WAS 17 YEARS OLD. ALL OF THE COST TO FIX THE ISSUE WAS ON ME AS THE OWNER. *TR
1997 MITSUBISH MONTERO 3.5 LITER AUTOMATIC- CRANK SHAFT BOLT HAS COME OUT ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND HAS COST OVER $3000 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE INSIDE OF THE CRANKSHAFT WHERE THE BOLT GOES IS COMPLETELY STRIPPED TO THE POINT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE AS THIS APPEARS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH ALL YEARS OF MONTEROS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD COVER THE COST FOR THERE NEGLIGENCE. *TR
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY PIN/BOLT GETS SHEARED OFF. DASH LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AS THE PUMP IS NOT TURNING BECAUSE THE PROBLEM AFFECT THE ENTIRE PULLEY SYSTEM. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE TIMING GEAR/BELT/HARMONIC BALANCER. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN AS MANY YEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS IS THE 2ND MECHANIC WHO HAS TOLD ME THAT IT'S AN ENGINE DEFECT BECAUSE THE PIN/BOLT IS TOO SHORT. THERE IS NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. IT OCCURS UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS AT LOW OR NO SPEED. *TR
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLING. I WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT WHEN A FIRE BROKE OUT AND THE FLAMES CAUSED ME SEVERE BURNS TO MY BODY. I WAS NEARLY ASPHYXIATED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
View all Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. has issued 17 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
9827003 — SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
INFORMATION ABOUT A CHANGE TO THE REAR ROTOR FOR THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM ( ABS ). *YC 1. 1997 MONTERO BUILT AFTER JUNE 2,1997. 2. 1997 MONTERO SPORT BUILT AFTER JUNE 2,1997.
98020131001 — TIRES
COMPLAINTS OF VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE NOTICEABLY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. *YC
97110151003 — STRUCTURE:BODY
ACCESSORY INSTALLATION FOR THE FRONT FENDER FLARE AND MUDGUARD. *YC
97110155003 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C EVAPORATOR REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ARE INCORRECTLY SHOWN IN THE AFFECTED SERVICE MANUAL PAGES. *YC
97090122001 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE DELETION OF THE OIL GUIDE FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR 1997 MODELS. *YC
TSB9726003 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRONT ABS SPEED SENSOR ROTOR MODIFICATIONS - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW
TSB9711013 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UPPER OIL PAN INSTALLATION PROCEDURES (MONTERO SPORT) - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW
TSB9711010 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CYLINDER HEAD BOLT INSTALLATION - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW
TSB9711008 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CYLINDER HEAD AND VALVE REMOVAL, INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION CORRECTIONS - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW
TSB9711004 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CRANKSHAFT BEARING SELECTION PROCEDURE - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW
Showing 10 of 17 technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the MITSUBISHI MONTERO
- 1992 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 18 complaints
- 1993 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 17 complaints
- 1994 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 35 complaints
- 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 106 complaints
- 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 40 complaints
- 1997 MITSUBISHI MONTERO (current)
- 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 91 complaints
- 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 47 complaints
- 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 68 complaints
- 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 213 complaints
- 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — 132 complaints
Other MITSUBISHI Models
- MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE — 2,784 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI GALANT — 2,429 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER — 1,776 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI LANCER — 1,136 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI MIRAGE — 940 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT — 708 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE — 657 total complaints
- MITSUBISHI 3000GT — 535 total complaints