2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

53

Owner Complaints

6 Crashes 1 Fire

2

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

7

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

The 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has received a total of 53 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS. 7 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 (5 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulic (5 complaints), and Air Bags (3 complaints).

Recalls for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO, potentially affecting up to 144,646 vehicles.

Recall 04V319000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

| 44,214 vehicles affected

Defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.

Consequence: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

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Recall 04V428000 — EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

| 100,432 vehicles affected

Defect: 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: 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...

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Owner Complaints for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

53 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG HESITATION AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
#10724898 | STRUCTURE:BODY | | 162,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN PUT THE VEHICLE ON THE LIFT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN WHAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
#10715411 | SERVICE BRAKES | | 187,000 miles
A SIREN SOUND CAME ON. MY HUSBAND PROCEEDED TO GET OF THE ROAD. IN HIS ATTEMPT, THE BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. HE THE PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A AUTO SHOP. AFTER A THOROUGH CHECK, THE OWNER (MASTER MECHANIC) DISASSEMBLE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO CHECK IF THE BOOSTER HAD FAILED, HE STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A BOOSTER. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON FRIDAY, MAY 7 AROUND 4:00PM. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE, THE SIREN NOISE CAME BACK ON. WE ARE AWAITING TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN ON MONDAY. *TR
#10662222 | AIR BAGS | | 177,000 miles
THE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF THE PADS WHERE STUCK AND IT COST $1000 TO REPAIR SINCE IT NEEDS TO REMOVE THE STEERING AIRBAG,THIS SHOULD BE ON A RECALL.THIS HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WHO HAS SAME MODEL ON MITSUBISHI FORUMS FOUND HERE HTTP://MITSUBISHIFORUM.COM/FORUM/MITSUBISHI-MONTERO-MONTERO-SPORT-14/HORN-ACTIVATE-ITSELF-01-MONTERO-LTD-28034/. *TR
#10662222 | STEERING | | 177,000 miles
THE HORN GOES OFF BY ITSELF THE PADS WHERE STUCK AND IT COST $1000 TO REPAIR SINCE IT NEEDS TO REMOVE THE STEERING AIRBAG,THIS SHOULD BE ON A RECALL.THIS HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WHO HAS SAME MODEL ON MITSUBISHI FORUMS FOUND HERE HTTP://MITSUBISHIFORUM.COM/FORUM/MITSUBISHI-MONTERO-MONTERO-SPORT-14/HORN-ACTIVATE-ITSELF-01-MONTERO-LTD-28034/. *TR

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Safety Rating for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

06012004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RV METER READING INCORRECT. *EH

0435001 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE 61 - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TT

0313008 — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLESHOOTING INSTRUCTIONS IN SERVICE MANUAL FOR MFI DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0638 THROTTLE ACTUATOR CONTROL MOTOR CIRCUIT RANGE/PERFORMANCE PROBLEM ARE INCORRECT. THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS CORRECTED TROUBLESHOOTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P0638. *TT

0326001 — POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

NEW FRONT HUB NUTS - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TT

35C — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT

ACTIVE SKID & TRACTION CONTROL (ASTC) LIGHT ON AT PDI OR DURING SERVICING. GROUP 35C ASTC SYSTEM. MITSUBISHI MOTORS TECH TALK. VOL. 88. NOV. 2002. *TT

0200002 — EQUIPMENT

FRONT LICENSE PLATE TOOL KIT. *TT

0200001 — EQUIPMENT

FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND ACTIVE SKID AND TRACTION CONTROL (ASTC) LIGHT DURING PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION. *TT

NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the MITSUBISHI MONTERO

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Other MITSUBISHI Models

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