The Used Car Index

2003 Mitsubishi Montero problems

NHTSA lists 39 complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero, 4 of them mention a crash and 1 mention a fire. 2 complaints mention an injury, with 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported.

Data build 2026-10-09.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as MITSUBISHI MONTERO.

At a glance

Complaints
39
With crash
4
With fire
1
With injury (complaints)
2
Injuries
4
Deaths
0
Recalls
2
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
100,432
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
49

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Where the complaints are

Top systems
SystemComplaintsShare of this vehicle's complaints
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC717.9%
POWER TRAIN615.4%
SERVICE BRAKES512.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM410.3%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE410.3%
AIR BAGS37.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING37.7%
EQUIPMENT37.7%
SUSPENSION37.7%
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER25.1%
Top subsystems
SystemSubsystemComplaints
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINESTORAGE2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHERDELIVERY2
POWER TRAINAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SEAT BELTSFRONT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMINSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGEXHAUST SYSTEM1
EQUIPMENTELECTRICAL1
POWER TRAINAXLE ASSEMBLY1
SEATSFRONT ASSEMBLY1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1

One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.

Model-generated complaint tags: This model year has not been tagged.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

2 recalls.

04V428000

Date: 2004-09-01. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

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. (excerpt)

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. (excerpt)

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 SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEG (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

04V319000

Date: 2004-07-06. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.

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.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

49 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT16
POWER TRAIN12
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
SUSPENSION4
STRUCTURE3

10240443

Date: 2023-07-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 3rd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

10235608

Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the reduction in load carrying capacity be affixed to vehicles when the total net weight of accessories is more than 1.5 percent of the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or 100 lbs.

10235609

Date: 2023-04-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

This Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for removal of rap-film adhesive residue.

10235606

Date: 2023-04-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has launched the 2nd quarterly technician quiz for 2023.

10211530

Date: 2022-04-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

10169006

Date: 2019-11-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

10163703

Date: 2019-07-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

10145181

Date: 2018-08-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY.

This is a Technical Information Notice sent to dealers, to inform them that MB991855V (12-13 Pin Reprogramming Adapter) is now available for purchase. To reprogram 2002 - 2006 Montero and 2003 - 2006 Outlander vehicles, MB991855 is necessary. This tool was removed from our essential tool kit due to

10130468

Date: 2018-02-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a message sent to dealers, to inform them that an update for MEDIC will be available.

10130469

Date: 2018-02-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
MONTERO39

Same model, other years

All model years | All Mitsubishi models

Other Mitsubishi models, 2003

Sources

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