1998 Mitsubishi Montero Problems

Above Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero.

19971999
Complaints
91
Crashes
13
Fires
0
Injuries
22
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#18 complaints

Suspension:Front

Crash-related:1
#26 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:68,000 mi
#34 complaints

Airbags

Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero.

Suspension:Front
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
68,000
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
4
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Bumpers
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
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
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 1998 Mitsubishi Montero

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~18,123 vehicles.

20V035000Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
~18,123 affected

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. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Other Mitsubishi Montero Years

198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006

1998 Mitsubishi Montero — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 1998 Mitsubishi Montero has 91 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Suspension:Front with 8 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero?
Top reported problems: Suspension:Front (8 complaints); Suspension Failures (6 complaints, avg 68,000 mi); Airbags (4 complaints). 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 1998 Mitsubishi Montero?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 68,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero include 13 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 22 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 1998 Mitsubishi Montero have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 18,123 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 1998 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.

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