Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, and it carries 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 16 | 20% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 10% |
| Structure | 6 | 8% |
| Air bags | 4 | 5% |
| Visibility | 4 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 4% |
| Equipment | 3 | 4% |
| Power train | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THE MITSUBISHI AIRBAG RECALL IS THAT WHEN I CALL THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS, THAT SUPPOSEDLY THE MITSUBISHI COMPANY HAS NOT
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V035000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHSIDE MITSUBISHI IN ORLANDO AND BECAUSE A MECHANIC NAMED BOB WHO'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS SAYS IT'S THE ORIGINAL BUT IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL BOLT THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR THE RECALL I ARG
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THE SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE THE CAR, STRONGER WHEN I OPEN THE BACK REAR LUGGAGE AREA AND REAR OF MONTERO (CLOSEST TO THE GAS FUEL TANK UNDERNEATH). I DO NOT SEE ANY ACTIVE LEAK ON THE FLOOR. MY
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
DRIVING TO STORE I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP SIGN AND CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL. TRIED TO STOMP ON THROTTLE TO GET IT UNSTUCK, BUT IT DID NOT WORK. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT A MILE AND A HALF
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH,THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT CRANK SHAFT PULLEY BOLT DETACHED AND CAUSED THE PULLEY TO WOBBLE. THIS FAILURE WAS ENC
NHTSA complaint: Steering
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BROKE OFF. LOST BELTS, LOST POWER STEERING AND ALTERNATOR POWER . REPAIR SHOP SAYS ENGINE MUST BE REPLACED. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
MINOR PROBLEM WITH SWELLING IN DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, 1998 MITS MONTERO, VIN[XXX]. PURCHASED NEW IN SANTA MARIA CA. THE SWELLING AIRBAG HAS CAUSED CONTINUOUS HORN ACTIVATION. THE HORN HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED. QUESTIONS:
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 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.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Fix: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATI
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE FRONT BRAKE LINES CAN DEVELOP PIN HOLES DUE TO CHAFFING AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE IN THE INNER FENDER.
Risk: BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAK RESULTING IN DETERIORATED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINES FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND ROUTING. IF THE LINES ARE NOT CORRECTLY CENTERED IN THE PASS-THROUGH HOLE, THE LINES WILL BE REPOSITIONED BY BENDING SLIGHTLY TO CORRE
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may abs
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect t
Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 31 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 80 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 16 of them (20%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (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 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.