MITSUBISHI MONTERO · model year

1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO

47 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999MITSUBISHIMONTERO carries 47 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1999 MONTERO is power train:automatic transmission with 6 filings, followed by suspension:front (6) and air bags (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 1999 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.

47
Complaints
4
Crashes
3
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

47 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
SUSPENSION:FRONT6
AIR BAGS5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SUSPENSION2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
STEERING2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
CHILD SEAT1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1

Recent Complaints

20210330AIR BAGS

IN THE DEALER , I MAKES THE APPOINTMEMT TO 7AM, AND THE DEALER NIMAY MITSUBISHI, AVE. KENNEDY 1011 SAN JUAN, PR NO WORK WITH THE CAR AT THE 200PM. NO WORK WITH THE HOURS APPOINMENT. THE WORK IS HORRIBLE

20210330UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IN THE DEALER , I MAKES THE APPOINTMEMT TO 7AM, AND THE DEALER NIMAY MITSUBISHI, AVE. KENNEDY 1011 SAN JUAN, PR NO WORK WITH THE CAR AT THE 200PM. NO WORK WITH THE HOURS APPOINMENT. THE WORK IS HORRIBLE

20201210AIR BAGS

IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE THIS RECALL WAS ISSUED AND STILL THERE IS NO REMEDY. I FEEL THAT THIS IS VERY UNREASONABLE CONSIDERING THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. PLEASE PURSUE THIS AND HELP US COME TO A SOLUTION FOR THIS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

20201130AIR BAGS

I WENT TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE'S NO PART TO DO OR FIX THE RECALL

Mileage: 230,000

20200331CrashFatalAIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER MOTHER, THE DRIVER OF A 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN AT A UNKNOWN SPEED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER PASSED AWAY UPON IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE POLICE DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V035000 (AIR BAGS) 3 YEARS AFTER THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *DT*JB*DT*JB

20180926STEERING

TAKATA RECALL # OOV-311 002 CRANSHAFT PULLER BOLT , FUI A LA CAMPAA DEALER MITSUBISHI PARR AUTO EN MAYAGUEZ PUERTO RICO, PARA CAMBIAR EL TORNILLO DEL DAMPER , EL VEHICULO EN MOVIMIENTO EN CARRETERA ME HA BOTADO EL TORNILLO YA 3 VECES Y HA CONSECUENSIAS ME HA HECHO AVERIAS EN EL MOTOR ,ME ROMPIO EL RADIADOR POLEAS DAMPER CUA Y OTROS Y EL ALTO RIESGO DE TENER UN ACCIDENTE ME PREOCUPA ,EL 6/20/2012 EL SUPERVISOR DE LOS TECNICOS MARIO ANDRADES Y CESAR EN SAN JUAN DE AUTO STOP / MITSUBISHI EN AGUADA, PUERTO RICO YA TIENEN CONOCIMIENTO DEL RECALL Y LOS TECNICOS DE AUTO STOP INSPECIONARON EL VEHICULO A SABIENDAS DE DICHA CAMPAA , ME DIERON POR ESCRITO QUE QUE POR HABER REPARADO EL VEHICULO EN MC/AUTO SERVICE UN MECANICO CERTIFICADO , Y PIDO EL REEMBOLSO DEL DINERO Y ME PIDIERON TODAS LAS FACTURAS DE LAS PIEZAS Y LA LABOR LA CUAL SE LAS ENVIE Y LO HIBAN A EVALUAR COSA QUE NUNCA ME ENVIARON CONTESTACION Y LO LLAMABA EN MUCHAS OCACIONES Y NADA , LUEGO EL 14 DE AGOSTO 2018 EL VEHICULO EN MOVIMI

20180825STEERING

ALTO RIESGO EN EL TORNILLO DE DAMPER Y CUA , MITSUBISHI MONTERO 199 3,0 LITROS YA A VOTADO YA 4 VECES EL TORNILLO DEL DAMPER Y HA HECHO AVERIAS AL MOTOR Y ME SIENTO INISEGURO EN EL VEHICULO , LA MITSUBISHIEN PR TENEN CONOCIMIENTO DEL RECALL Y LAS VECES QUE HA ROTO LA MONTERO Y NO QUIERE HACERSE RESPONSABLES NECESITO AYUDA , POR FAVOR YA HA SIDO MUCHAS VECES Y ESTO ES UN ALTO RIESGO , SEGUN SUS NORMAS

Mileage: 174,598

20180825UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALTO RIESGO EN EL TORNILLO DE DAMPER Y CUA , MITSUBISHI MONTERO 199 3,0 LITROS YA A VOTADO YA 4 VECES EL TORNILLO DEL DAMPER Y HA HECHO AVERIAS AL MOTOR Y ME SIENTO INISEGURO EN EL VEHICULO , LA MITSUBISHIEN PR TENEN CONOCIMIENTO DEL RECALL Y LAS VECES QUE HA ROTO LA MONTERO Y NO QUIERE HACERSE RESPONSABLES NECESITO AYUDA , POR FAVOR YA HA SIDO MUCHAS VECES Y ESTO ES UN ALTO RIESGO , SEGUN SUS NORMAS

Mileage: 174,598

20081204FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL LEAKING FROM THE LOWER PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AND UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE AUTHORIZED DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,000. UPDATED 12/30/08 *CN UPDATED 01/02/09. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

20050202AIR BAGS

NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RECALL#D17 CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING. MASSEY YARDLEY, 772-546-1800. *AK

Mileage: 80,000

20040615FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

1999 MONTERO BLEW UP AND CAUGHT FIRE CAUSING 2ND DEGREE BURNS MITSH REFUSES TO RELAEASE RECALL OR SPECIFICATINS TO ME WONT CALL ME BACK OR RESPOND TO LETTERS IT HAS BEEN 4 MONTHS SINCE 1ST CONTACT THEY DID OPEN A CASE FILE BUT THEN REFUSES TO CONTACT ME. *AK

Mileage: 64,000

20040405FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO BLEW UP ON ME FOR NO REASON MITSH REFUSES TO RELEASE ANY RECALL/SPEC/SAFETY RECORDS TO ME THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL RIGHT OFF DID CAUSE SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO MYSELF..FIRE DEPT SAID MAGNESIUM SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH RATE OF LOST AND BURN FACTOR. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

20040405FireEQUIPMENT

1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO BLEW UP ON ME FOR NO REASON MITSH REFUSES TO RELEASE ANY RECALL/SPEC/SAFETY RECORDS TO ME THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL RIGHT OFF DID CAUSE SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO MYSELF..FIRE DEPT SAID MAGNESIUM SOMEWHERE IN THE VEHICLE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HIGH RATE OF LOST AND BURN FACTOR. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

20030702POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED 5 TO 15MPH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

20030319ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ALARM SYSTEM WENT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. *JB

20021228SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS WARP UNDER NORMAL USE

20010910CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT

HIGHW SPEED OF40MPH VEHICLE SHIFTED WITH HEAVY WHEEL VIBRATION VEHICLE WAS UNSTABLED AND REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT TO THE FACTORY. WHEN MAKIN A TURN IF THERE WAS A CRACK OR POT HOLE IN THE STREET THE VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO SHIFT OFF THE WHEELS LEANING TO LEFT. IF IT RAINS THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE TO THE LEFT. *AK

20010530ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE RECALLED (00V-311) FAULTY CRANKSHAFT BOLT BECAUSE IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE CRACKED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE BOLT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THAT THE DEALER SHOULD NOT WAIT UNTIL THE COMPONENT FAILS. NLM

20010410POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. *AK *JB

20010410POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES. *AK *JB

Compare 1999MITSUBISHIMONTERO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO have?
The 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO has 47 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO?
The most-complained component for the 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1999 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.