AI Damage1995 Mitsubishi Montero: common problems
Owners of the 1995 Mitsubishi Montero filed 86 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 86
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 14% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 3% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 34 complaints (40% of all).
- Steering: 12 complaints (14% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 8 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 7 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 86 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 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 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.
The consumer lost steering control and hit a guard rail. The road condition was dry, the consumer wasn't buckled up, and the air bag wasn't inflated. The vehicle was kicked back to the right, overturned and stopped.
Passenger's seat belt released and caused passenger to be tossed around in vehicle. Passenger suffered major injuries, and was hospitalized. Police report included.
Vehicle was involved in a head-on colosion at 40-45mph, and airbags did not deploy, resulting in injuries. Manufacturer inspected vehicle.
While driving 52 mph, the driver started to hear drilling sounds/vibration from the front of the vehicle. Then without any warning he couldn't control the vehicle because the steering wheel locked up. Tried to put on brakes, nothing happened. The vehicle began to flip and spin and was involved in a crash.
After being stopped at a stop sign the consumer turned a corner (10-20mph) the vehicle fishtailed to the right then to the left and fell to the left. Please describe in detail
Power steering failed, vehicle lost control, resultin gin an accident.
Abs activates during off road traveling , causing accident/injury.
Right rear axle housing weld id cracked where it was welded from the factory. It is leaking gear fluid from the crack. It goes about 3/4 the way aound the axle. I was driving and I felt a strange feeling in the rear of the montero check3d it and fould whwere it is seperatedat the weld, like it was not positioned…
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 3,912 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Montero has 36 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 86, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- 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 199023 sources
- Montero 199118 sources
- Montero 199212 sources
- Montero 199314 sources
- Montero 199431 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 1995 Mitsubishi Montero?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, steering, suspension. Total complaints: 86. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (15%), loss of power / limp mode (7%), seat belts (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1995 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 1995 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 1995 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.