2004 Mitsubishi Montero: common problems

Owners of the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 5

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 80% of all complaints
2 Steering 20% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 4 complaints (80% of all).
Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
automatic, 5-speed

Drive: RWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

brake failure1 · 20%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 20%
headlights and tail lights1 · 20%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 20%
vibration1 · 20%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Service brakes	4	0	0
Steering	1	0	0
Other	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.

Under medium to heavy braking, the vehicle shudders and shakes. This specific sound is made in all gear selections and even when the car's battery is on/engine off. Upon inspection of the hydraulic brake booster under the hood, the unit shakes when the chirp sound is made.
Service brakes · 2022-06-23 · NHTSA complaint #11470732
In addition, there was a complete loss of brake power. The contact stated that he would have to pump the brake pedal. The dealer stated that the diagnoses pulled approximately 20 different codes. As of october 9, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The current and failure mileage were 125,000.
Service brakes · 2007-10-09 · NHTSA complaint #10205257
Dt: the contact states the brakes had less than 8,000 miles on them before they needed to be changed, and were changed in may 2005. Currently, need new front brakes . The dealer and mitsubishi pointed the finger at each other. The brakes were making a squeaking/grinding noise.
Service brakes · 2005-09-20 · NHTSA complaint #10137114

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20051
20071
20141
20171
20221

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Montero has 36 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, steering. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (20%), jerking, harsh shifts (20%), headlights and tail lights (20%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.