MITSUBISHI MONTERO · model year

1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

106 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1995MITSUBISHIMONTERO carries 106 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 0 fires, 31 injuries, and 3 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 1995 MONTERO is engine and engine cooling:engine with 20 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:belts and associated pulleys (6) and suspension:front (4). 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 1995 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.

106
Complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
31
Injuries
3
Deaths

Total Complaints

106 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS6
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2

Recent Complaints

20190325STRUCTURE:BODY

RIGHT REAR AXLE HOUSING WELD ID CRACKED WHERE IT WAS WELDED FROM THE FACTORY. IT IS LEAKING GEAR FLUID FROM THE CRACK. IT GOES ABOUT 3/4 THE WAY AOUND THE AXLE. I WAS DRIVING AND I FELT A STRANGE FEELING IN THE REAR OF THE MONTERO CHECK3D IT AND FOULD WHWERE IT IS SEPERATEDAT THE WELD, LIKE IT WAS NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY IN THE WELDING JIG.

Mileage: 200,000

20140908ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER FOR THE RECALL WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

Mileage: 192,000

20130813ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A SERIES OF WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER AND LATER TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

Mileage: 154,000

20090831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE. *TR

Mileage: 219,000

20090611ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT ALMOST STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE FOUND THAT A PULLEY FAILED IN THE CRANKSHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE TIMING BELT REPLACED AT SOME POINT, WHICH WOULD HAVE ALSO TAKEN CARE OF THE RECALL. MITSUBISHI REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS WELL WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS TO HAVE HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 215,000. UPDATED 7/9/09 *CN THE BOLT HOLDING THE HARMONIC BALANCER PULLEY ON, FELL OUT WHICH ALLOWED THE PULLEY TO ALSO FALL OFF. UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB

Mileage: 215,000

20080722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PULLEY WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V311001 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 152,000. UPDATED 09/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

Mileage: 152,000

20080522SUSPENSION:REAR

I HAVE A 1995 MONTERO SR AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I SMELLED OIL AND WHEN I STOPPED TO CHECK IT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE CAVED IN AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND WHAT'S LEFT OF IT ANY WAY , THE WELD ON HOUSING THE AXLE ASSEMBLY WAS BROKE ANY HOW I TOW IT HOME AND CHECK IT TO FIND OUT THAT THE TEETHING ON THE AXLE INSIDE IS GONE THE FACT THERE IS NO OIL AND THE SEAL AND THE BEARING INSIDE THE HOUSING IS GONE , SO I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT TO CHANGE THE AXLE ASSEMBLY FOR ABOUT LITTLE OVER 5000 DOLLARS ,WOW THEN I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH TO FIND OUT THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WHICH IS UNCOMMENT TO HAPPEN ON A UTILITY TRUCK IN A NORMAL DRIVING CONDITION THIS TRUCK WAS NEVER DRIVING OFF ROAD , ANY WAY I CALLED MITS COMPANY AND THEY GAVE ME NO ANSWER AND TOLD ME TO GO TO THE DEALER HHH , I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS IS A DEFECT , BY THE WAY MY TRUCK HAS BEN PARKED FOR A YEAR AND HALF I STILL HAVE IT HOPING TO FIND A

Mileage: 109,000

20070426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CRANKSHAFT PULLY FAILED AND IS NOW BEING REPAIRED FOR 3RD TIME IN ONE YEAR. *TR

20070110ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING,CHARGING SYSTEM, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HOT. MY WIFE WAS PUT IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE STEERING LOSS DURING HER COMMUTE FROM WORK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, NHTSA I.D. 00V311001 BUT THE BOLT WAS NEVER REPLACED JUST INSPECTED. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SERVICE REP'S AND WAS INFORMED BY BOTH THAT ,MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE "RECALL WARRANTY" EVEN THOUGH THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE BOLT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 142,103

20061106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BAY, AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD FRACTURED, AND THE BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FRACTURED BOLT BECAUSE A SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED 5 YEARS EARLIER FOR THE RETORQING OF THE BOLT. THE VEHICLE HAD AIR CONDITIONING WORK AND THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT PERFORMED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THAT WORK COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT.

Mileage: 110,000

20061106STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE BAY, AND POWER STEERING WAS LOST. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT HAD FRACTURED, AND THE BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, WHO DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FRACTURED BOLT BECAUSE A SAFETY RECALL WAS PERFORMED 5 YEARS EARLIER FOR THE RETORQING OF THE BOLT. THE VEHICLE HAD AIR CONDITIONING WORK AND THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT PERFORMED ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THAT WORK COULD HAVE AFFECTED THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT.

Mileage: 110,000

20060708SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE DRIVING MY 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SR, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT RECLINING BRACKET BROKE CAUSING ME TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, I WAS FORCED TO SWERVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED THE BRACKET HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE SEAT. *JB

Mileage: 178,100

20060109ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE MECHANIC THE OWNER OF AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, COMPLETED A TUNE UP OF THE 3.0 LITER ENGINE, THAT WAS RUNNING FINE WHEN BROUGHT TO HIM. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THEN THE ENGINE HAD A LOUD GRINDING AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS BLOWING UP. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE SPARK PLUGS OUT AND USED A LIGHT TO DETERMINE THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS CRACKED AND RUINED FROM A LOOSE PIECE OF METAL THE SIZE OF A MANS TOE NAIL. THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY RUINED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC DISPUTES THE FACT HE DID ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE BUT WAS WILLING TO INSTALL ANOTHER ENGINE IF I PURCHASED IT. THIS IS THE THIRD ENGINE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED ON AND THE LAST TIME WAS WHILE I OWNED THE VEHICLE TOO. I HAD THE VEHICLE INTO A REPUTABLE MECHANIC FOR A TUNE UP. THEY DID A TUNE UP FOR $625, WHICH THEY FIRST CALLED AND QUOTED $350 THEN CALLED BACK AND CHANGED IT TO THE $625. THEY COMPLETED THE TUNE UP MOVED THE CAR OUT TO SEE HOW IT RAN. THE VEHICLE RAN FINE BUT ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AFTER IDLING THAT LENGTH OF TIM

Mileage: 175,000

20051229SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FAILURE: ATTACHMENT OF SEAT BACK FRAME TO SEAT BRACKET FOR RECLINING BROKE ON RIGHT SIDE OF SEAT(SIDE NEAR SHIFTER) - LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED IN THE DRIVE WAY WHEN GETTING IN THE CAR. IF IT HAD HAPPENED DURING TRAFFIC OR REAR-END COLLISION COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I AM NOT FAT EITHER 6'2" - 210 POUNDS. CAR NOW UNDRIVABLE DUE TO LACK OF BACK SUPPORT. *JB

Mileage: 147,500

20050921ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT: THE CALLER SAID SMOKE CAME OUT OF TAIL PIPE WHEN VEHICLE FIRST ACCELERATED. HE HAD TO PUT OIL IN THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL. DEALER TOLD HIM VEHICLE IDLED TOO SLOWLY, AND THAT OIL WAS GETTING ON THE VALVES, CAUSING THE SMOKE. HE WAS TOLD THE GUIDES WERE DROPPING TOO LOW, AND THAT WAS LETTING THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE VALVES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP FOR FREE. *AK

Mileage: 88,000

20050921ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DT: THE CALLER SAID SMOKE CAME OUT OF TAIL PIPE WHEN VEHICLE FIRST ACCELERATED. HE HAD TO PUT OIL IN THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN THAN NORMAL. DEALER TOLD HIM VEHICLE IDLED TOO SLOWLY, AND THAT OIL WAS GETTING ON THE VALVES, CAUSING THE SMOKE. HE WAS TOLD THE GUIDES WERE DROPPING TOO LOW, AND THAT WAS LETTING THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE VALVES. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP FOR FREE. *AK

Mileage: 88,000

20050103CrashSTEERING

THE CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. *BF THE ROAD CONDITION WAS DRY, THE CONSUMER WASN'T BUCKLED UP, AND THE AIR BAG WASN'T INFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS KICKED BACK TO THE RIGHT, OVERTURNED AND STOPPED. *SC *JB

20040811SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

WHILE DRIVING A 1995 MITUBISHI MONTERO A POSSIBLY FATAL FAILURE OCCURRED. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DRIVEWAY THE BRACKET OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL IT WAS COMPLETELY HORIZONTAL. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE MONTERO JERKED TO THE RIGHT AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. *JB

Mileage: 119,157

20040712ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE OFF INSIDE THE CRANK SHAFT. PULLEY BEGAN WOBBLING AND SHREDDING THE BELTS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VEHICLE TOWED 130 MILES BACK TO DEALER LOCATION. TOLD BY DEALER THE DEFECTIVE BOLT WAS DUE TO RECENT HEAD GASKET WORK AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THIS BOLT FAILING OR THE SAFETY RECALL THAT HAD BEEN ISSUED. *LA

Mileage: 199,367

20040709ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. VEHICLE VEERED OFF OF THE ROAD ONTO A GRASSY AREA. THE VEHICLE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLES COMING TOWARDS IT. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK

Compare 1995MITSUBISHIMONTERO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO have?
The 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has 106 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 0 fires, 31 injuries, and 3 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO?
The most-complained component for the 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1995 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.