NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Mitsubishi Montero Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Mitsubishi Montero has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 111 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mitsubishi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2002 Mitsubishi Montero owner complaints

Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero, describing incidents dated March 28, 2002 to July 1, 2023.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 68 complaints
Engine 10 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 8 complaints
Air Bags 7 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints
Power Train 5 complaints

Of the 111 complaints on file, 9 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 111 complaints, owners report 8 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11583242 · Filed April 16, 2024
My horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel or hit bumps when driving and when parked and turned off, if its close to freezing it will go off constantly early in the morning before dawn and I have to disconnect the battery or pull the fuse for the horn under the hood fuse panel to stop it. I…
ODI #11455457 · Filed March 6, 2022
I was driving down the highway, without any prior indication the brake light, and break alarm came on and my breaks went out. All at the same.
ODI #11438894 · Filed November 1, 2021
My car has 2 recalls and my local Mitsubishi dealer refused to fix the recalls.

Read all 111 complaints

Owner-reported

2002 Mitsubishi Montero mileage at failure

80 of the 111 complaints on file for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Service Brakes	Median 85,000 miles	Middle half 65,000–120,000 miles	Based on 58 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ06-007: BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR FAILURE
Closed October 12, 2006

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN/FMVSS 208/AIR BAG LABEL

NHTSA #04V428000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported September 1, 2004 · MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN

Potentially affected: 100,432 vehicles

Vehicles built June 1, 1997 – June 30, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer 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. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Notes

THE MANUFACTURER'S PETITION WHICH REQUESTED THAT NHTSA DETERMINE THIS FMVSS NONCOMPLIANCE DOES NOT CREATE AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY WAS PARTIALLY DENIED ON JANUARY 26, 2005. THEREFORE, THIS MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO CONDUCT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

MITSUBISHI/FUEL LEAKAGE

NHTSA #04V319000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage · NHTSA notice

Reported July 6, 2004 · MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 44,214 vehicles

Mitsubishi campaign SR-04-008 · Owners notified August 30, 2004 · Vehicles built April 4, 2001 – May 21, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

MITSUBISHI RECALL NO. SR-04-008.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

MITSUBISHI AMERICA/BRAKE BOOSTER

NHTSA #01V254001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Power Assist — Vacuum · NHTSA notice

Reported August 3, 2001 · MITSUBISHI AMERICA

Potentially affected: 39,020 vehicles

Owners notified October 1, 2001 · Vehicles built December 12, 1999 – June 20, 2001 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer 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 WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

2002 Mitsubishi Montero w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

1 investigation

111 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero.

Air Bags

ODI #11583242

Incident: July 1, 2023 · Filed: April 16, 2024

My horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel or hit bumps when driving and when parked and turned off, if its close to freezing it will go off constantly early in the morning before dawn and I have to disconnect the battery or pull the fuse for the horn under the hood fuse panel to stop it. I can't drive it with a horn fuse in and have tried replacing the steering wheel airbag and it still has the same problem. My neighbor had the same issue on his 04 Jeep and his car was fixed with an airbag actuator recall. No warning lights ever come on. Only my mechanic has looked at the vehicle.

Service Brakes

ODI #11455457

Incident: February 8, 2022 · Filed: March 6, 2022

I was driving down the highway, without any prior indication the brake light, and break alarm came on and my breaks went out. All at the same.

Exterior Lighting; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11438894

Incident: November 1, 2021 · Filed: November 1, 2021

My car has 2 recalls and my local Mitsubishi dealer refused to fix the recalls.

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Engine

ODI #11234612

Incident: February 3, 2008 · Filed: July 24, 2019

WE HAVE THE CAR FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS AND WE ALWASY HAVE A ELECTRICAL, ENGINE AND HEAD LIGHTS PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE THEY CAN FIX IT . WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THEM TO FIX IT

Service Brakes

ODI #11104697

Incident: June 4, 2018 · Filed: June 29, 2018

A/L BRAKE LIGHT GOES OFF EVERYTIME BRAKE PEDALS IS APPLIED ACCOMPANIED WITH AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE DASH. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01V254002 ABOUT A BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR POSSIBLE RECALL FIX BUT GOT DENIED SINCE ITS NOT PART OF THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN. SHOULDNT THIS BE PART OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN SINCE ITS A SAFETY ISSUE? DO I NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE BRAKES FAIL AND GET INTO AN ACCIDENT?

Unknown or Other

ODI #11063563

Incident: November 22, 2017 · Filed: January 18, 2018

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE PROBLEM WITH MY SECURITY ALARM SYSTEM IT GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AND ALSO THE HORN WHEN THE WEATHER DROPS COLD THE HORN GOING OFF CONTINUOUSLY MY MECHANIC CHANGE THE HORN RELAY MORE THAN 3 TIMES BUT THE ISSUE STILL THE SAME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THESE TWO ISSUES ARE CONNECTED OR NOT BUT I NEED HELP.

Service Brakes

ODI #10981628

Incident: October 15, 2016 · Filed: May 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CHIRPING SOUND. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254002 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Power Train

ODI #10939248

Incident: March 19, 2016 · Filed: January 3, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSFER CASE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10928638

Incident: January 21, 2011 · Filed: November 29, 2016

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. LEAKAGE OF PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR, ETC. PLEASE CHECK THE RECALL NOTICE.

Service Brakes

ODI #10918621

Incident: October 18, 2016 · Filed: October 24, 2016

WHILE DRIVING ON CENTRAL STREET IN HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL THE BRAKE LIGHT & ABS LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO AN ALARM SOUNDED. LOSS ALL BRAKES. WE WERE JUST GOING TO GO ON THE HIGHWAY 90. THIS COULD OF ENDED UP DEADLY. UPON INSPECTION BY PEP BOYS, IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER HAS FAILED. THE SUV CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS PART IS REPLACED. I HAVE NEW BRAKES ON THE SUV. *TR

Other Mitsubishi Montero model years

Check your 2002 Mitsubishi Montero VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mitsubishi Montero at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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