Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, and it carries 3 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 | 6 | 15% |
| Equipment | 5 | 13% |
| Power train | 4 | 10% |
| Suspension | 3 | 8% |
| Structure | 3 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY CAR HAS BROKEN DOWN 3 TIMES THIS YEAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE, THEN FOUND OUT IT HAD AN OPEN RECALL FROM 2000. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER YESTERDAY, FELT THEY DISMISSED MY SITUATION AS I TOLD THEM
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TIRES PURCHASE NEW, MAINTAINED WELL WITH APPROX 25K MILES OF WEAR. WITH NO NOTICE, HAD A TREAD SEPARATION ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE. TOOK TO DEALER AND IT WAS REPLACED WITH ONLY A PARTIAL CREDIT FOR WARRANTY. OTHER TIRES WERE
NHTSA complaint: Tires
ON SAT. 2/6/2010 WHILE DRIVING, I EXPERIENCED LOSS OF STEERING WHICH SCARED ME FOR A MOMENT. AFTER PULLING OVER, I INVESTIGATED WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM, AND FOUND THAT MY HARMONIC BALANCER HAD COME LOOSE. I GOT MY VEHICL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT CAME ON TO INDICATE OVERHEAT OR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE (SAFETY CONCERN) TO ALLOW TRANS TO COOL DOWN. I NOW DISCOVER MITSUBISHI HAS A
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A TAPPING SOUND. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE, APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, AND HEARD THREE THUMPS FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISH MONTERO SPORT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY AND OVERHEATED ON LONG TRIPS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MIL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE VEHICLE FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND ONE OF THE LEFT REAR LEAF SPRINGS WAS FOUND TO BE CRACKED. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
VEHICLE LOST USE OF POWER STEERING DURING A 90 DEGREE TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF IT. I PROCEEDED TO PULL INTO PARKING LOT OF NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE AND CHECKED UNDER THE H
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1999 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: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.5L ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 106, "BRAKE HOSES." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH NONCOMPLIANT BRAKE VACUUM HOSES.
Risk: THESE HOSES COULD BURST CAUSING FLUID LEAKAGE, INCREASING THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VACUUM HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE R
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: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD BE VENTED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF UNANTICIPATED HEAT GENERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION.
Risk: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD RESULT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT TO LIMIT VEHICLE SPEED TO BELOW APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE, AN ADDITIONAL LABEL DE
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 63 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 6 of them (15%). There are 3 recalls 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 1999 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 75/100. 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.