Most common 2002 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Share of the 111 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 →
2002 Mitsubishi Montero recalls (3)
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
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.
Remedy: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
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.
Remedy: 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 receive the free remedy…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero:
Brake booster accumulator failure
In October 2001, Mitsubishi notified the agency that it would conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 01v-254) to remedy a defect condition that could result in a leak of pressurized nitrogen gas from the hydraulic brake booster accumulator in approximately 39,000 model years (my) 2001-2002 Mitsubishi montero vehicles produced from December 12, 1999 through June 20, 2001.
What 2002 Mitsubishi Montero owners say
Brakes all 68 →
The power brake master cylinder power booster accumulator is defective as outlined ion your recall 01-v254-001. I made an appointment at bergstrom automotive appleton wi to repair the problem. They informed me that it is not included in the recall due to the time my vehicle was built and indicted that they did not have the part. Please be known that my vehicle has the recall problem as stated in the NHTSA notification. They claimed my vehicle does not qualify for the recall due to the production date of my vehicle but I did not care we just needed to get the car fixed. An appointment was made on 7/20/15 to have the repair made. Bergstrom confirmed on 7/14/15 that the parts arrived. An appointment was made for 7/24/15 to fix the accumulator. We drove 2 hours to the bergstrom's for this appointment, waited 2 1/2 hours in their show room for them to make the repair, and drove 2 hours home. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero. The contact was driving approximately 40 MPH and heard a loud squeaking noise when depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection of the failure. On one occasion while approaching a traffic stop, the contact applied the brakes but the brakes did not respond. As a result, the contact was involved in a crash. On another occasion, the contact crashed into a fire hydrant as a result of the brakes failing to engage. The contact was not injured in either crash. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic advised that the ABS module pump needed to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 01V254001 (service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum) and contacted the manufacturer. The manufacturer advised that the vehicle was not included in the recall. …
Engine & cooling
I was driving home from work and notice my truck had died while slowing to make a right turn at a light..noticed the brake and battery light came on...I restarted the car then tried to make a quick left on my street and couldn't steer my car...I had to use all my strength to turn the steering wheel...had to make a hard turn because on coming traffic was coming and I couldn't speed up or really brake...luckily I made the turn coasted a bit heard a loud clacking under my hood coasted to side of road where I wouldn't be in middle of road...I lost all power steering...tried to crank it wouldn't start...looked up under hood didn't see anything...called my stepdad and mom we tried to give it a boost with cables didn't work...so looked under the car where the trap is noticed a fairly large bolt sheared in half and what I found out later to be the harmonic balancer and belt to it...pulled all …
I was driving my 2002 Mitsubishi Montero limited through town when out of the blue, the loudest noise started coming from the front of the engine. You could hear the noise from blocks down the road. Took it to a local mechanic who discovered a technical service bulletin that states, "some vehicles May experience a dieseling-type noise when the engine is idling. This May be due to the piston pins contacting the cylinders. Inspect the cylinders walls for evidence of scuffing." if this is the case, I'm looking at a new engine of upwards of $5,000 - plus the cost of towing it to the nearest dealer a five hour one-way drive from where I live. I bought the car at 59,500. It only has 72,000 miles now. I feel like I was sold a lemon! The car is inoperable right now. I still owe $13,000 on it. I'm so screwed!!!
Fuel & propulsion system
The cluster was repaired in the Montero but it only works once in awhile. The panel will tell me every now and then if I have fuel or not. Also, we had to pay to have an issue resolved that shouldn't have cost us anything because it was shown here as a defect for our make and model. Our car was leaking gas, and Mitsubishi refused to fix it, at their expense, even though it was listed here and there were very many complaints filed. We had to tow the car in because of the leak, and the fire department was called. Amazing that so little care was shown by Mitsubishi for something that could have caused a serious accident. This was the complaint and the recall (NHTSA recall id 01V254001) about the car being parked at an upward slope, the fuel tank leveling valve not maintaining proper sealing in the even that the fuel expands from the rise in ambient temp. …
NHTSA recall id: 04V319000 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 (02) Mitsubishi recall campaign no.: sr-04-009 component: fuel system, gasoline:storage recall date (y/m):2004/07 defect: on certain sport utility vehicles, when the fuel tank is full and the vehicle is parked forward on an upward slope, the fuel tank leveling valve May not maintain proper sealing in the event the fuel expands from the rise in ambient temperature. NHTSA recall id: 01V254001 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 (02) Mitsubishi recall campaign no.: component: service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum recall date (y/m):2001/08 defect: 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.
2002 Mitsubishi Montero engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero a good car?
Based on 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Montero rates use caution: 1.6× 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 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?
The brakes — 68 complaints, 61% of all complaints for this model year, most often about power assist › vacuum. Next are the engine & cooling (10) and fuel & propulsion system (8).
How many recalls does the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero, the most recent from September 1, 2004 (labels). 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 2002 Mitsubishi Montero problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 19% 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.