Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Mitsubishi Montero, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 33 | 33% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 7% |
| Steering | 6 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 6% |
| Suspension | 5 | 5% |
| Power train | 4 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 4% |
| Seats | 3 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 3% |
| Tires | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 T
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A STRANGE NOISE AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT A
NHTSA complaint: Engine
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT , I DRIVE FROM MY JOB TO MY HOME AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BROKE MANY PARTS ON THIS AREA. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT BROKE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE CONTACT ALMOST STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, HE FOUND THAT A PULLEY FAILED IN THE CRAN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PULLEY WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I HAVE A 1995 MONTERO SR AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I SMELLED OIL AND WHEN I STOPPED TO CHECK IT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE CAVED IN AND OIL WAS ALL OVER THE GROUND WHAT'S LEFT OF IT ANY WAY , THE WELD ON HOU
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1995 Mitsubishi Montero. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
Risk: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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 CRANKSHA
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 33 of them (33%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.