1994 Mitsubishi Montero: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 31 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (42% of complaints); the 1992 and 1993 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2000
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“A 12 year old boy was killed when his cargo seat in a mitsubishi montero detached and catapulted him out the side window in a rollover accident. He was wearing his seat belt, but with this particular seat design the belts are all attached to the seat, rather than the floor, giving the occupant no restraint when the seat comes detached from the floor. *tr”Owner report · Seats · Feb 2009
“While driving my 1994 mitsubishi 3.0l montero at 55mph on a four-lane highway, the power steering suddenly failed. I was able to make it to the side of the road without hitting any other vehicles.when the vehicle was taken to my dealer's service department, they determined that the crankshaft pulley bolt had broken off inside the engine. Their recommendation was to install a rebuilt engine (if they could find one) for $6200. They did not acknowledge that a safety recall existed for this problem.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 2004
“I spent $ 6000 last year on a new half block engine. Last month my mitsubishi montero stalled. I was able to get it to the dealers, and they found that the plenum needed to get checked. They did that, but now they found that the butterfly valves on the plenum broke off ( which were plastic) and went in to the engine. This damaged both heads and they need to be replaced for a cost of $ 4700. My problem is, mitsubishi knows this is a problem (which is apparent because they have made a replacement part to fix it), but because the replacement plenum is so expensive they never did a recall to fix it. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2004
Show 7 more owner reports
“The crankshaft pulley bolt broke on the 94 montero sr and I lost power steering assist. Thus, the car was extremely hard to steer and a life threatening condition was encountered. The recall sr-01-002 does not cover this model engine even though the part used is the same throughout those years.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Dec 2003
“A defective right brake hose lose all brake fluid and the montero run out of brake . The mitsubishi engineers in pr. Said that the recall for the defective hose was made for the lower hose not for this one. I think that 72331 miles are no the reason to justified the failure of this hose. I have the hose if you want to check this hose.*ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Apr 2002
“While driving bolt that holds steering rod to tire fell out. This caused left front tire to wobble. If on the highway there would have been a serious accident. Please provide any further information.*ak”Owner report · Steering · Dec 2001
“Power steering suddenly failed while my wife was exiting the freeway almost causing a serious accident. A mechanic determined that the crankshaft pulley fell off. There is a recall (campaign id # 00v311001) but mitsubishi states that my montero is not included in the recall for some unknown reason, even though my vehicle experienced the same problem as the recall states.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2001
“The harmonic balancer has came apart twice. The mechanic that I was has stated that this is due to the crankshaft bolt coming loose. This particular bolt has been recalled on the 3.5 l montero engines, but not the 3.5 l engines. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2001
“Brake hose was reported as replaced by dealer in jan. 97 under recall. In june 2000 hose failed during very hard braking conditions. Accident narrowly avoided. *ak”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jun 2000
“Front left flexible brake hose split, causing brake fluid to leak while consumer was trying to make an emergency stop. Recall 96v143001 for same defect was performed in january 3,1997, but same defect has reoccurred.*ak brake hose failed with one inch long axial split resulting in total loss of front brakes. *yh”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jun 2000
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACCESSORY CARGO MATS IN THE THIRD-SEAT AND CARGO AREA. THIS CARGO MAT INTERFERES WITH THE LATCHING INTEGRITY OF THE FOLDING THIRD SEATS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE THIRD-SEAT LATCH AND STRIKER. A RECTANGLE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CARGO MAT AROUND EACH STRIKER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRIKER CLEARANCE AND PROPER LATCHING.
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.
Remedy: 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.
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FRONT LOWER BRAKE HOSES CAN DEVELOP A CRACK, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT LOWER BRAKE HOSES.
UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.
How other years compare
Check your exact Montero by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?
NHTSA has 31 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (42% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1994 Mitsubishi Montero problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 185,000 miles or less.
Does the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning unknown or other. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.