1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT

1 recalls — 44 complaints — 102 TSBs

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINES; MONTERO SPORT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES; AND MONTERO MODELS EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.

Consequence

THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE... Read more

210,000 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI AMERICA

Complaint Statistics

44 total complaints 7 crashes 1 fires 8 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	5
AIR BAGS	4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY	2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR	2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS	2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR	1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS	1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR	1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT	1

Incident date: Aug 31, 2021

On Tuesday August 31st I pulled up to Alexandra tire shop to get a tire. I got out of the truck to inquire if the tire that I needed was available. The mechanic informed me that they had the tire I needed. My wife sat in the car on the passenger side as I inquired with the mechanic. Once he informed... Read more

Incident date: Jun 6, 2012

I TURNED MY AC ON AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT AS WELL AS MY AT LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY RADIO, AC,DOME LIGHT AND MOON ROOF WONT CLOSE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED 400$ JUST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE FIXING IT I TOOK IT... Read more

Fire

Incident date: Mar 4, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. SUDDENLY, WITHIN THIRTY SECONDS THE STEERING WHEEL UNSEIZED ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN... Read more

Incident date: Jun 9, 2011

WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUTE 632, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, ENTERED AND STOPPED IN THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 632 & ROUTE 645 IN NEW JERSEY; CAUSING MY SUV TO BROAD SIDED THEIR PICK-UP TRUCK. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO FATALITIES. HOWEVER, NEITHER THE MITSUBISHI DRIVER OR PASSENGER S... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: May 7, 2011

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, I-78, AND OTHER HIGHWAYS, THE MITSUBISHI ALTERNATOR INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER ELECTRICALLY CONTROL FUNCTIONS. WHAT MAKES THIS NOTABLY IS THAT IT WAS THE 5TH ALTERNATOR THAT FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1-1/2 Y... Read more

Incident date: Feb 5, 2011

I WAS DRIVING ALONG I-17 NEAR PHOENIX, AZ MERGING ONTO I-10 WEST - WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. ALL WHILE GOING 65 MPH. IT TOOK EVERY BIT OF MY STRENGTH TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I HAD IT TOWED TO MARK MITSUBISHI IN AVONDALE, AZ FOR ... Read more

Incident date: Apr 29, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND NOTICED VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVING BELTS WERE DISLODGED AND THE CRANKSHAFT BOLT WAS HANGING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE ... Read more

Incident date: Jul 18, 2009

I PURCHASED A USED TIRE AT BJ TIRE SHOP IN BRYAN, TX ON JULY 16, 2009. THE TIRE PURCHASED (BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONG TRAIL T/A 265 70R) TURNED OUT TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE, CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER CAUSING $9000 IN DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE. WE WERE VERY F... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Jan 28, 2009

I BOUGHT A 1998 MITSUBITSHI MONTERO SPORT LS APPROX. 9 MONTHS AGO AND WHILE IT RAN GREAT ABOUT A MONTH AGO I STARTED NOTICING WHEN I WOULD GO TO START IT UP IT WOULD ACT LIKE THE BATTERY WAS GOING DEAD. SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. THEN ABOUT 4 DAYS AFTER THAT OUT OF NO WHE... Read more

Incident date: Mar 29, 2008

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR JUST BEGIN TO ACCELERATE THE MORE I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE FASTER THE CAR RAN. *TR

Incident date: Dec 31, 2007

WE EXPERIENCED A SMALL SLEET/FREEZING RAIN EVENT. I TURNED ON THE FRONT WIPERS FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND BECAUSE I REALIZED THE BLADES WERE FROZEN. I PROCEEDED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD AND WARM UP THE VEHICLE. AFTER WARMING UP THE VEHICLE THE WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK; THE 15 AMP FUSE HAD NOT BLOWN; AND... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 1901

1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT RECALLS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY WOULD LIKE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON THEIR VEHICLE. *KB

Incident date: Mar 23, 2007

I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 MONTERO SPORT AND LOST POWER STEERING IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY. MY BELTS BROKE WHICH I HAD TO GET A WRECKER TO TOW MY VEHICLE GET IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE CALLS BACK WITH YOU HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE REASON THE BELTS JUMPED OFF WAS THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY CAME LOOSE AND ... Read more

Incident date: Jan 23, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO MOVE AND THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PULLEY WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE CONCERNING THE BOLTS IN THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY. THERE WAS ALSO A RECALL FOR THE... Read more

Incident date: Aug 30, 2005

MANUFACTURER DEFECT...EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WORE A HOLE IN VEHICLE'S GAS TANK. BOTH BRAKE CABLE AND GAS TANK WERE IN THE POSITION AS MANUFACTURED. *NM

Incident date: Aug 30, 2005

MANUFACTURER DEFECT...EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WORE A HOLE IN VEHICLE'S GAS TANK. BOTH BRAKE CABLE AND GAS TANK WERE IN THE POSITION AS MANUFACTURED. *NM

Incident date: May 29, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR QUIT WORKING ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THEN STARTED UP AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, NO OTHER TROUBLE UNTIL NOW, HAS QUIT COMPLETELY. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 120K MILES ON IT NOW...WAS LESS THAN 100K LAST YEAR WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME.

Incident date: Jan 21, 2005

RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V311001/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT. THE DEALER CHARGED THE CONSUMER FOR REPLACING THE CRANKSHAFT BOLTS.*AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 2005

WHEN CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, CONSUMER REAR ENDED A CAR. WHEN IMPACTING, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN PRIOR ACCIDENT AND HAD... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 8, 2004

DURING MY DRIVE TO WORK AT ESM MARKETING, I WAS DRIVING ON I95 IN BROWARD COUNTY FLORIDA, AND GOT OFF ON CYPRESS CREEK ROAD AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AND WHEN I TURNED MY STEERING WHEEL, THE WHEELS DID NOT MOVE. THE FRONT END OF THE STEERING LEFT ME UNBLE TO CONTROL OR MANIPULAT... Read more

Crash

Incident date: May 19, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH CRANK SHAFT BOLT SNAPPED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Incident date: Mar 15, 2004

ON JULY 2002, AT 65,378 MILES DEALER REPLACED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. 2 YEAR LATER, DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH HARMONIC BALANCE ASSEMBLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. *AK

Incident date: Oct 20, 2003

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH LEFT FRONT WHEEL WOULD LOCK. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT ROTORS/PADS P AND CALIPERS NEEDED REPLACING. HAD PADS/CALIPERS AND ROTOR REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED.*AK

Incident date: Oct 20, 2003

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE DOOR MADE A LOUD ROARING NOISE AS IF THE DOOR WAS SLIGHTLY OPEN. *JB

Incident date: Apr 18, 2003

MAKE: MITSUBISHI MODEL: MONTERO SPORT XLS YEAR: 1998 SUV WAS TOTAL LOSS DUE TO OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. *N LM

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Apr 18, 2003

MAKE: MITSUBISHI MODEL: MONTERO SPORT XLS YEAR: 1998 SUV WAS TOTAL LOSS DUE TO OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. *N LM

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Apr 18, 2003

MAKE: MITSUBISHI MODEL: MONTERO SPORT XLS YEAR: 1998 SUV WAS TOTAL LOSS DUE TO OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. *N LM

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Jun 7, 2001

BATTERY EXPLODED WHEN CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, BATTERY ACID SCATTERED OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND THE IMPACT OF THE EXPLODING BATTERY CELLS DENTED THE HOOD CRACKING THE EXTERIOR PAINT, BATTERY WAS A 60 MO MITSUBISHI DIAMOND CARE, SERIAL NO A993FB1X02, 525 CCA GRP 24, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSE... Read more

Incident date: Jul 22, 2001

00 V 311 001/CRANKSHAFT PULLEY: RECALL REPAIRS FAILURE FROM SCHAEFER, STROHMINGER DODGE; FALLSTON, MD; PHONE # 410/893-6343. REPAIRS MADE ON FEBRUARY 22, 2001, AND ON ABOVE INCIDENT DATE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING DUE TO PULLEY FAILURE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROV... Read more

Incident date: Jul 22, 2001

SINCE THE STEREO IS LOCATED BELOW THE CUP HOLDER INSERT, IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO ADJUST SAFELY. THE 2000 MODEL TAKES CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER 1990 VEHICLES ARE UNABLE TO GET THIS ITEM REPLACED. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THIS OPTION TO REVISE FOR CUSTOMER'S WANTING THE... Read more

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Jan 11, 2001

WHILE ON FREEWAY HEARD A BANG THEN CAR STARTED RUNNING ROUGH, LOSING POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE DIED. MECHANIC SAID THAT CRANKSHAFT/ PULLEY FELL OFF , BOLT HAD SHEARED IN HALF. *AK

RECALL 00V311001- CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER CONCERNING CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAD NO TOOLS TO CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE WARNING CONCERNING THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY IS INCORRECT. THE BOLT ON MY VEHICLE WAS TIGHTENED TO SPEC ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCATIONS. FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE IS ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ALIGNMENT OF THE CRANKSHAFT. IF SAFETY IS YOUR TRUE CONCERN, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE STU... Read more

THERE HAS NOT YET ACTUALLY BEEN A FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED TWO YEARS AGO (5 MONTHS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT) FOR THE PROBLEM. WE NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL AND ONLY FOUND OUT ABOUT IT TWO DAYS AGO FROM THE MSN WEB SITE. I AM IN THE AIR FORCE AND WAS SENT TO ITALY 3 MONTHS AGO... Read more

WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Jun 1, 1998

BATTERY WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES, 2 TIMES ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED & THERE WERE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER HAD BEEN SAYING THAT PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY WAS WEATHER RELATED. THEY SEEMED NOT TO REALLY KNOW WHAT THE REMEDY WAS. *AK

Incident date: Jun 1, 1998

Technical Service Bulletins — 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT

102 manufacturer communications from 75 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	8
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER	6
070000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE	6
350000 EQUIPMENT	6
100000 POWER TRAIN	5
162000 STRUCTURE:BODY	4
357100 EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER	4
020000 SUSPENSION	3

120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER

350000 EQUIPMENT