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 174 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 51 | 29% |
| Service brakes | 23 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 15 | 9% |
| Air bags | 14 | 8% |
| Power train | 9 | 5% |
| Structure | 9 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 3% |
| Tires | 5 | 3% |
| Steering | 4 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel or hit bumps when driving and when parked and turned off, if its close to freezing it will go off constantly early in the morning before dawn and I have to disconnect the b
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I checked and there's several recalls on the vehicle and I purchase it last year from the dealership and I never received anything about the recalls and now my vehicle doesn't want to start it lock me out.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I was driving down the highway, without any prior indication the brake light, and break alarm came on and my breaks went out. All at the same.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
My car has 2 recalls and my local Mitsubishi dealer refused to fix the recalls.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
I have a 2002 Mitsibishi Montero Sport.I was driving home from work, and all the sudden i couldn't steer. I had no steering, Lost power to vehicle and battery light came on. Wasnt sure what happened, looked under the hoo
NHTSA complaint: Engine
WE HAVE THE CAR FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS AND WE ALWASY HAVE A ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE THEY CAN FIX IT . WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THEM TO FIX IT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
A/L BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF EVERYTIME BRAKE PEDALS IS APPLIED ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE DASH. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01V254002 ABOUT A BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR PO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TAKATA RECALL I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM IT GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AND ALSO THE HORN WHEN THE WEATHER DROPS COLD THE HORN GOING OFF CONTINUOUSLY MY MECHANIC CHANGE THE HORN RELAY MORE THAN 3 TIMES BU
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2002 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: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.
Risk: THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACCUMULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEI
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
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.
Risk: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 68 | good |
| Depreciation | 63 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 27 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 174 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 51 of them (29%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 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.