AI Damage1999 Mitsubishi Montero: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero filed 40 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 40
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 28% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 6 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 5% of all complaints
- 8 Child seat 3% of all complaints
- Suspension: 11 complaints (28% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (20% of all).
- Air bags: 5 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (10% of all).
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (10% 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 cyl
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 40 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 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 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.
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.
While trying to avoid wet area (ice) consumer lost control of vehicle causing it to rollover due to poor structural design. Consumer sustain minor injuries. Nlm
Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration causing the vehicle to hit the enbankment. Nlm
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
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.
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…
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…
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 5,948 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Montero has 36 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 40, about average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
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 199586 sources
- Montero 199627 sources
- Montero 199763 sources
- Montero 199874 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 1999 Mitsubishi Montero?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, powertrain, air bags. Total complaints: 40. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (13%), jerking, harsh shifts (5%), smoke, burning smell, fire (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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.