Complaints
85
Crashes
7
Fires
6
Injuries
12
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
#25 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:139,052 mi
#35 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Avg mileage:213,000 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 5 | — | — | 139,052 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 213,000 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
139,052
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
213,000
Air Bags:Frontal
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Back Over Prevention:Warnings:External/Pedestrian Alert
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Child Seat
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mitsubishi Montero Years
1997 Mitsubishi Montero — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1997 Mitsubishi Montero has 85 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero?
Top reported problems: Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (7 complaints); Engine & Cooling (5 complaints, avg 139,052 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (5 complaints, avg 213,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 176,026 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero include 7 crash-related reports, 6 fire reports, 12 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Montero?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mitsubishi Montero reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1997 Mitsubishi Montero
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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