Total Complaints
10 filings
MITSUBISHI MONTERO · model year
1989 MITSUBISHI MONTERO
10 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989MITSUBISHIMONTERO carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 MONTERO is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 2 filings, followed by steering (1) and suspension:front (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1989 MONTERO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
10
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20041029AIR BAGS
THE HORN WAS INOPERATIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DISCONNECT THE HORN CONNECTOR TO STOP THE HORN FROM OPERATING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *JB *TC
Mileage: 194,000
20000918TIRES
FIRST TIRE BLOWOUT JUST AFTER LEAVING PARING LOT AT WORK. SECOND TIRE BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THIRD TIRE REPLACED IN PARKING LOT AT WORK WHEN IT STARTED TO VIBRATE AND SHOWED DAMAGE INDICATING A PLY SEPARATION WAS IMMINENT. FOURTH TIRE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE 10 NEAR BENSON, AZ, WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK( DOT NUMBER: ELBNCJL495 TIRE SIZE: P235/75 R1 )
20000905UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN THE PAST YEAR. OUR MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT IT IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE PARTS INVOLVED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT HE WON'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE VEHICLE IN THE FUTURE. HE HAS TOLD US TO SELL THE CAR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE HE CAN GIVE US A "WRITTEN GAURANTEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE HAVE SPENT AROUND $900.00 SO FAR ON THIS PROBLEM, AND THE ESTIMATE TO GET IT FIXED AGAIN IS $1400.00. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIR COST.
19980512ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CRANKSHAFT:PULLEY BOLTS BROKE.
19970325STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THE TIE ROD BROKE INSIDE THE ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE.
19960131VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
19960125CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE NOT DESIGNED TO TURN CORNERS AS OTHER 2 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SD
19950925CrashSTEERING
WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. TT
19950222SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC PRESS RELEASE BUTTON BROKE OFF MAKING SEAT BELT BUCKLE INOPERABLE. OWNER HAS BROKEN PART. TT
19950221SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MODEL #524 DOES NOT LATCH MOST OF THE TIME. TT
Compare 1989MITSUBISHIMONTERO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 MITSUBISHI MONTERO have?▼
The 1989 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has 10 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 MITSUBISHI MONTERO?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 MITSUBISHI MONTERO is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1989 MITSUBISHI MONTERO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.