MITSUBISHI MONTERO · model year

1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

91 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998MITSUBISHIMONTERO carries 91 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 0 fires, 22 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 1998 MONTERO is suspension:front with 8 filings, followed by suspension (6) and unknown or other (5). 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 1998 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.

91
Complaints
13
Crashes
0
Fires
22
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

91 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION:FRONT8
SUSPENSION6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE4
AIR BAGS4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
STRUCTURE2
WHEELS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)2
TIRES2
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2

Recent Complaints

20210506AIR BAGS

AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE MITSUBISHI AIRBAG RECALL IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS NOT YET SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS.....I HAVE TO CALL WITHIN 2 MONTHS TO SEE IF THE PARTS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REPAIR SHOPS.

20210506UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE MITSUBISHI AIRBAG RECALL IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS NOT YET SENT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS.....I HAVE TO CALL WITHIN 2 MONTHS TO SEE IF THE PARTS HAVE ARRIVED AT THE REPAIR SHOPS.

20201005AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V035000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20200822ENGINE

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHSIDE MITSUBISHI IN ORLANDO AND BECAUSE A MECHANIC NAMED BOB WHO'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS SAYS IT'S THE ORIGINAL BUT IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL BOLT THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR THE RECALL I ARGUED WITH THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.. THE ORIGINAL BOLT IS ME203072, AND THE MONTERO HAS THE SAME BOLT AS THE PAJERO . THIS VEHICLE WITH VIN [XXX] HAD THE BOLT SNAP OFF..IF IT WAS ALREADY FIXED LIKE SOUTHSIDE MITSUBISHI SAID IT SHOULDN'T HAVE SNAPPED. THEY REPEATEDLY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE A STRAIGHT ANSWER AND KEEP TRANSFERRING THE PHONE AROUND. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 155,000

20200326FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR, STRONGER WHEN I OPEN THE BACK REAR LUGGAGE AREA AND REAR OF MONTERO (CLOSEST TO THE GAS FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH). I DO NOT SEE ANY ACTIVE LEAK ON THE FLOOR. MY CAR HAS NO DAMAGE, SUCH AS BEING REAR ENDED OR BUMPER DAMAGE AT ALL. THE TANK MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR VAPORIZING INTO INTERIOR OF CAR.

20080617VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING TO STORE I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. TRIED TO STOMP ON THROTTLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF AND SPEEDS PAST 80 MILES PER HOUR THROTTLE RELEASED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY SAFETY RECALLS ON THIS VERY SCARY MALFUNCTION AND MAKER SAYS TAKE IT TO A DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20070405STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH,THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO WOBBLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ENCOMPASSED IN RECALL # 00V311000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STRONGLY BELIEVED OTHERWISE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 94,000.*AK

Mileage: 94,000

20070405ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH,THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO WOBBLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ENCOMPASSED IN RECALL # 00V311000. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STRONGLY BELIEVED OTHERWISE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 94,000.*AK

Mileage: 94,000

20060816ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE OFF. LOST BELTS, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR POWER . REPAIR SHOP SAYS ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *NM

20050911AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

MINOR PROBLEM WITH SWELLING IN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, 1998 MITS MONTERO, VIN[XXX]. PURCHASED NEW IN SANTA MARIA CA. THE SWELLING AIRBAG HAS CAUSED CONTINUOUS HORN ACTIVATION. THE HORN HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. QUESTIONS: DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER INCIDENTS THAT INDICATE A TREND WHERE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG HAS AFFECTED THE HORN? IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE? THE DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO SAYS THE AIRBAG STILL WORKS BUT CAN'T BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THE VEHICLE HAS OVER 100,000 MILES ON IT. REPLACEMENT PART QUOTED IS MR390111, MODULE AIR BAG, D-BROWN, PYRO TYPE FOR $688.33. *NM UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 106,000

20041110CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE PILE UP. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MAJOR HEAD INJURIES, AND PASSENGER BROKE HIS SHOULDER. *AK

Mileage: 85,000

20040505ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRANKSHAFT BOLT BROKE, CAUSING TIMING BELT PULLEY/SPROCKET TO FALL OFF. THIS IS AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE AND COULD HAD CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THE MONTERO 3.0 ENGINE FOR SAME PROBLEM..WHY NOT THE 3.5? INTEND TO CONTACT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION. VERY POOR DESIGN.*AK

20030911SUSPENSION

WHEN VEHICLE EXCEEDS SPEEDS OF 60 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. CAUSE OF VIBRATION IS UNDETERMINED. *AK

Mileage: 68,000

20030828VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 60 MPH GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO ABOVE 80 MPH. PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS OF NO USE, BUT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 4,800

20030129EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

CRUISE WIL NOT DISENGAGE DUE TO STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE

Mileage: 49,761

20030129VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CRUISE WIL NOT DISENGAGE DUE TO STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE

Mileage: 49,761

20020923SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

CONSUMER STATES HAD VEHICLE CHECKED BY A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF "CLICKING" NOISE. DEALER FINALLY DETERMINED THAT VHEICLE HAD A BROKEN LEAF SPRING WHICH COULD CAUSE TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL, WHILE TURNING AND FLIP OVER.*JB

20020809CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

IN A FRONTAL HEAD ON COLLISION VEHICLE IMPACTEED ON A TREE, AND IT PUSHED RADIATOR INTO ENGINE, AND FRAME BENT BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD NO BUMPER. NOT SURE IF IT CAME FROM MAUFACTURER WITHOUT IT OR IT WAS REMOVED.*AK

20020724SUSPENSION

STEERING WHEEL "SHIMMIES". TECH CHECKED IT OUT AND COULD FIND NOTHING!*AK

20020308VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

AT 55MPH A SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING WAS SMELLED, THAN A LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD AND LOOKED BACK AND THE WHOLE BACK HATCH GLASS WAS SHATTERED. I THINK THE THINK THE DEFROSTER OVERHEATED. IT LEFTED A ORANGE LOOKING SPOT ON THE GLASS WHERE THE DEFROSTER CONNECTED TO THE GLASS.

Compare 1998MITSUBISHIMONTERO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO have?
The 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has 91 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 0 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO?
The most-complained component for the 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1998 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.