Most common 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Share of the 33 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Montero Sport complaints by model year
Best Montero Sport years: 2004, 1997, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Remedy: 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 remedy within a…
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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.
Remedy: 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 crankshaft pulley bolt to…
Power train › Automatic transmission
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.
Remedy: 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 describing the proper…
What 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport owners say
Engine & cooling
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 the car was doing exactly what the recall described and I was concerned it would happen again. I explained in detail about the 1st two repairs. My car broke down yesterday, after I left the dealer, and was once again undriveable. It is related to the crankshaft bolt. I sent the dealer a very detailed email about this final situation and to let them know I was filing a complaint. No response from them. The recall is regarding a bolt that secures a pulley. Each time this happened, the symptoms were the same, the car starts making rattling noises then will not steer, then is undriveable. These are the exact symptoms described in the recall as "worst case". …
Tl 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 stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drive to the mechanic. He discovered that the A/C belt was missing. When the mechanic attempted to repair the belt, he noticed that the crankshaft pulley bolt was loose and was unable to be tightened. He also informed the contact that the noise she heard was the A/C belt detaching and striking the engine. Due to the crankshaft pulley's failure, the A/C belt detached. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number 00V311001 (engine and engine cooling:engine). The contact took the vehicle to a dealer and found that the A/C belt detached once again. The current mileage was 123,000 and failure mileage was 115,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
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 tech service bulletin (TSB) on this issue for my vehicle, requiring installation of a larger capacity transmission pan, filter and screen, and a longer fill tube and measuring wand.
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 mileage was 40,473. The current mileage was 88,000.
Brakes
Consumer was involved in an accident because brakes failed to stop vehicle, resulting in an accident. Consumer attempted to stop, there was no pressure behind brake pedal. Attempted to pump brakes ,and that slowed vehicle down, but not in time to prevent an accident. Consumer rear ended another vehicle at approximately 10-15 MPH. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
The air conditioning dispells an odor similar to urine when turned on. The front end of the truck shakes badly when the brakes are applied at 50 MPH or greater. Both of these problems continue even after the repair work. The A/C problem has never gone away . All the dealership does is apply a deoderant but it does not help. The rotors have already been changed once and the brakes were also changed. The tires were even rotated but the vibrating continues.
1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 22 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 20 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport a good car?
Based on 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Montero Sport rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Montero Sport at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
The engine & cooling — 7 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and brakes (5).
How many recalls does the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the most recent from February 5, 2001 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 1997 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001 and 2002. See the full Mitsubishi Montero Sport years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.