Complaints
132
Crashes
11
Fires
1
Injuries
11
Fatalities
2
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#121 complaints
Brakes
Avg mileage:123,567 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:1
#217 complaints
Hydraulic Brakes
Avg mileage:89,516 mi
#315 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
Avg mileage:73,444 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 21 | 2 | 1 | 123,567 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 17 | — | — | 89,516 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 15 | 1 | — | 73,444 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | — | 92,717 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 | 1 | — | 65,664 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 50,800 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Latches / Locks | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — |
Brakes
21
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
123,567
Hydraulic Brakes
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
89,516
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,444
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
92,717
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,664
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
50,800
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine Problems
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches / Locks
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive)
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Mitsubishi Montero Years
2002 Mitsubishi Montero — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 2002 Mitsubishi Montero has 132 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 21 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?
Top reported problems: Brakes (21 complaints, avg 123,567 mi); Hydraulic Brakes (17 complaints, avg 89,516 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum (15 complaints, avg 73,444 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 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 91,765 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero include 11 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 2 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 2002 Mitsubishi Montero have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 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 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (brakes) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
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 2002 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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