The problem
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.
The risk
The condition can result in a loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
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 the correct torque specification. On the montero models, dealers will tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to the correct torque specifications. If the bolt is damaged, it will be replaced.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 00V311001 (00V311001) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. |
| Component | Engine and engine cooling › Engine |
| Report date | October 2, 2000 |
| Owners notified | October 31, 2000 |
| Vehicles affected | 210,000 |
| Initiated by | NHTSA investigation |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the engine & cooling
- 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage engine problems 18
- 1998 Mitsubishi Mirage engine problems 6
- 1999 Mitsubishi Mirage engine problems 13
- 1995 Mitsubishi Montero engine problems 36
- 1996 Mitsubishi Montero engine problems 10
- 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engine problems 16
- 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engine problems 14
- 1999 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engine problems 7
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 00V311001 repair free?
Yes. Mitsubishi dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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 the correct torque specification.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 210,000 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.