Most common 1998 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Share of the 74 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Montero complaints by model year
Best Montero years: 2004, 1996, 2003. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 1998, 1995. Compare all years →
1998 Mitsubishi Montero recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
Remedy: Mitsubishi caribbean will mail a customer notification letter containing a written description and a graphic of the bi-lingual dashboard air bag warning label.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The front brake lines can develop pin holes due to chaffing against the edge of the pass-through hole in the inner fender.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front brake lines for signs of wear and routing. If the lines are not correctly centered in the pass-through hole, the lines will be repositioned by bending slightly to correct.
Unknown or other
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with accessory cargo mats in the third-seat and cargo area. This cargo mat interferes with the latching integrity of the folding third seats.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the third-seat latch and striker. A rectangle will be removed from the cargo mat around each striker to provide adequate striker clearance and proper latching.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero:
Rear folding seat disengagement
A police report received by odi alleged that disengagement of the right rear folding seat during a single vehicle rollover incident permitted its occupant to be ejected
What 1998 Mitsubishi Montero owners say
Suspension
I was in an accident six weeks after I purchased my Montero. Stuart Lincoln-Mercury, who is an authorized dealer, repaired my Montero. My front end was supposed to be aligned. At 6400 miles, I had my tires rotated, and I saw that the tires on the passanger side were wearing as if they were out of alignment. I took my Montero back to the shop to have it checked. I was told they aligned my front end while my vehicle was being repaired for the accident. I was told that mitisubishi uses cheap tires, and that is normal wear. I aso had tire kingdom, (a certified yokohama representitive) evaluate my tires. They said the front end must be out of alignment. Again, I went back to Mitsubishi, and again, I was told that there was nothing wrong with my alignment. I'm afraid, if this is true, I will have to be replacing my tires every 6400 to 10,000 miles. …
Due to non -tightening/missing of the lower ball joint nut by the manufacturer. While driving the vehicle the right wheel almost came off, causing loss of vehicle control, resulting in the consumer hitting a guardrail. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Please provide any further details.
Brakes
Whenever brakes are applied, vehicle would slide or skid. Intermittent problem. Took to dealer & informed brakes are sticking. Would have odors/fumes coming inside vehicle. Also, some squeaking coming from front end.
When driving at any speed and applying the brakes pedal is bouncing, and the rotors went out. Problem happened twice, and repaired at two different times.
Engine & cooling
The vehicle was taken to southside Mitsubishi in orlando and because a mechanic named bob who's been there for over 20 years says it's the original but it's not the original bolt they don't want to honor the recall I argued with them multiple times.. The original bolt is me203072, and the Montero has the same bolt as the pajero . This vehicle with VIN [redacted] had the bolt snap off..if it was already fixed like southside Mitsubishi said it shouldn't have snapped. They repeatedly do not want to give a straight answer and keep transferring the phone around.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Mitsubishi Montero. While driving 40 MPH,the power steering failed. The mechanic stated that the front crank shaft pulley bolt detached and caused the pulley to wobble. This failure was encompassed in recall # 00V311000. The dealer stated that this vehicle was excluded from the recall. However, the contact strongly believed otherwise. The current and failure mileage were 94,000.
1998 Mitsubishi Montero engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 18 / 16 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero a good car?
Based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Montero rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Montero at the same age. It is one of the Montero years we suggest avoiding. 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 1998 Mitsubishi Montero?
The suspension — 18 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the brakes (10) and engine & cooling (10).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, the most recent from January 23, 2020 (inflator module). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 1996 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 1998 and 1995. See the full Mitsubishi Montero years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Mitsubishi Montero problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 94,000 miles; 25% 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.