AI Damage1990 Mitsubishi Montero: common problems
Owners of the 1990 Mitsubishi Montero filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 30% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 26% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 4% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (30% of all).
- Seat belts: 6 complaints (26% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (9% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (9% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (9% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Sudden acceleration after engaging vehicle into gear, resulted in crash. There was property damage, and vehicle was totaled by insurance company. Dealer/manufacturer notified.
While driving the throttle stuck, causing the vehicle to increase speed, owner put vehicle into neutral, hit brake and vehicle spun out of control, resulting in a vehicle rollover.
1990 mitusbishi montero started to smoke. Consumer pulled over to shoulder and vehicle became engulfed in flames. *njohio traffic crash report # 10-0206-89.
While driving 65 mph consumer heard a loud knocking noise coming from the front of the vehicle. Suddenly consumer lost power steering. However, consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and pulled over.
The transmission in this vehicle has been hard to shift for a couple of years, and I want to know if this is a common problem, and if there is a recall on the transmissions. I have done some research, and this may be a recall number that may help (m[phone]).
Engine crankshaft pulley bolt broke, causing loss of power steering and all other belt-driven components.
Then when is put back on ground could have brake failure due to extension on brake hose.
Firestone wilderness ii tires experienced tread separation, consumer replaced tires after having only 20000 miles on them, consumer is requesting reimbursement.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,735 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Montero has 36 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 23, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Montero 19864 sources
- Montero 19873 sources
- Montero 198910 sources
- Montero 199118 sources
- Montero 199212 sources
- Montero 199314 sources
- Montero 199431 sources
- Montero 199586 sources
- Montero 199627 sources
- Montero 199763 sources
- Montero 199874 sources
- Montero 199940 sources
- Montero 200051 sources
- Montero 2001166 sources
- Montero 2002111 sources
- Montero 200339 sources
- Montero 20045 sources
- Montero 20064 sources
- Montero 99993 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Mitsubishi Montero?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, seat belts, powertrain. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (17%), loss of power / limp mode (13%), steering or power steering problems (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 Mitsubishi Montero?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1990 Mitsubishi Montero from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1990 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.