Most common 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Share of the 31 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 →
What 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport owners say
Engine & cooling
Pin in the harmonic balancer broke causing vehicle to sling A/C belt and drive belt causing harmonic balancer to seize up. Pin was replaced. Months later the check engine light began to come on showing a code of misfire. As well as harmonic balancer coming loose...**5/5/15**..... Belts come off on high way doing about 70 MPH. Harmonic balancer loose again. Crank bolt stuck and un removable.belts came off and got caught in fan...updated 07/30/15 updated 9/29/2015
I was pulling in a sheets station and going into a parking space when my accelerator pedal stuck to the floor and when I left go the brake pedal vehicle kept moving and crashed into a red post which stopped the vehicle then I noticed the gas pedal coming back up and was able to ,put in reverse and cruise back in same parking space did damage to motor and radiator and front body my wife claims this has done it to her as well. I was scared.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. While driving over 30 MPH, the vehicle would jerk backwards and hesitate. Whether the vehicle was idling or in park, the contact smelled a strong odor of burning oil. The dealer stated that the failure May be minor and could not assist because the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The contact intends to take the vehicle in for service soon. The failure and current mileages were less than 96,000.
2nd timeinto daeler for transmission problems. Will have problems shifting then the check engine light comes on. First time dealer unsure of the cause or how to fix had vehicle in shop almost 2 weeks. 2nd time, dealer has had vehicle over 2 weeks and still not fixed ,said could be 1 of 3 things. They have replaced 2 of the 3 so still have 1 to go and I guess I will be out of the vehicle another week for a total of 3 weeks if this fixes the problem.first incident was around 3000 miles second incident at 16000 miles.
Electrical system
"Takata recall" when a oil leek accor in due time it automatically drips directly on one of the spark plugs.also the emissions control system doesn't function a reading electronic diagnostic when finding issue
Tl contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. The contact stated that the horn worked sporadically. In addition, the horn would continue to sound unless the fuse was disconnected. The contact replaced the fuse; however, the failure continued to occur. As of January 3, 2008, the dealer or manufacturer had not inspected the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 66,280.
2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport a good car?
Based on 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Montero Sport rates average: 26% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Montero Sport at the same age. It is one of the best Montero Sport years by this measure. 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 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and electrical system (5).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 48% 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.