Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and it carries 1 recall. 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 | 12 | 34% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 11% |
| Air bags | 3 | 9% |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 6% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
On Tuesday August 31st I pulled up to Alexandra tire shop to get a tire. I got out of the truck to inquire if the tire that I needed was available. The mechanic informed me that they had the tire I needed. My wife sat in
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I TURNED MY AC ON AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND MY CAR BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT AS WELL AS MY AT LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY RADIO, AC,DOME LIGHT AND MOON ROOF WONT CLOSE I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTE
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. SUDDENLY, WITHIN THIRTY SECONDS THE STEERING W
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, I-78, AND OTHER HIGHWAYS, THE MITSUBISHI ALTERNATOR INTERMITTENTLY FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER ELECTRICALLY CONTROL FUNCTIONS. WHAT MAKES THIS NOTABLY IS
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE TRAVELING ON ROUTE 632, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, ENTERED AND STOPPED IN THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 632 & ROUTE 645 IN NEW JERSEY; CAUSING MY SUV TO BROAD SIDED THEIR PICK-UP TRUCK. LUCKILY
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS DRIVING ALONG I-17 NEAR PHOENIX, AZ MERGING ONTO I-10 WEST - WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I COULDN'T STEER THE VEHICLE. ALL WHILE GOING 65 MPH. IT TOOK EVERY BIT OF MY STRENGTH TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE HIGH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE TURNING TO THE RIGHT AND NOTICED VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE DRIVIN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I PURCHASED A USED TIRE AT BJ TIRE SHOP IN BRYAN, TX ON JULY 16, 2009. THE TIRE PURCHASED (BF GOODRICH RADIAL LONG TRAIL T/A 265 70R) TURNED OUT TO BE DEFECTIVE WITH THE TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE, CAUSIN
NHTSA complaint: Tires
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. 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
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 12 of them (34%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (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 82/100, 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 74/100. 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.