The Montero is a full-size SUV that’s been made by Mitsubishi since 1981 and was introduced in the US in 1989. The Montero name is only used in the US and in Spain, while it’s called the Pajero in Asia and the Shogun in the UK. Its boxy styling and the six-cylinder engine seemed to take cues from the Jeep Wrangler. At the time of its introduction, the Montero didn’t exactly sell well. Compact sedans were still the most popular vehicles then, and roomy SUVs were perceived as luxury vehicles. While not initially a sales success, the Montero still had a solid following, thanks to its reliability. The old Montero continues to work and bring joy to its owners through its distinct ‘90s styling and V6 engine.
In this article, we’ll talk about the Mitsubishi Montero’s common problems and give you an impression of its overall reliability.
According to MotorTrend and various forums, the Montero is overall a reliable SUV. However, there are certain model years that run into problems in their transmissions, braking, and engines, which are always certainly expensive to fix. These are the 2001 to 2002 Montero models. Typically, RepairPal is able to give an overall score for a vehicle’s reliability, but there isn’t sufficient data to give a score to the Montero. However, it has approximated that Montero owners spend an average of $440 annually on repairs, which is low. Mitsubishi is one of the most reliable brands according to the site’s data, and it gave Mitsubishi an overall reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0, placing it 6th among 32 car brands.
The Montero may have a low approximate annual repair cost, but certain year models may be prone to more expensive repairs because of some common issues that persist.
This is the most common issue with the Montero according to RepairPal, with 70 reported instances. The crankshaft pulley is the pulley that spins several belts that transfer engine power to other components like air-conditioning and power steering. The crankshaft pulley bolt is the bolt that secures it into the crankshaft, and it tends to break off or come loose. This prevents the crankshaft pulley from doing its job, effectively causing systems, like air-conditioning and power-steering, to fail.
Mitsubishi seems to have a recall to fix the issue, however, it’s only for the 1996 Montero. This issue has been reported to occur in Montero models made from 1990 all the way to 2006. Owners report that fixing the issue involves replacing the pulley bolt, however, some owners said that the problem has a tendency to recur even after a replacement.
Owners of the 2001 Montero have reported a loud noise in the front of their vehicle. Some owners experienced brake failure when this sound occurred, while others only had their ABS light turn on. Upon investigation, the dealer found that the brake’s hydraulic brake booster had failed. The booster is a component of the vehicle’s braking system that increases the force to be applied to the brake master cylinder.
A YouTuber was able to identify the root of the problem, which is a motor that wears out inside the hydraulic brake booster. When the motor wears out, it can cease to function and effectively make the brakes unusable. Mitsubishi issued a voluntary recall for the issue even though the NHTSA wasn’t able to find any particular safety defect.
Owners have reported having trouble with the 2001 Montero’s transmission, but the symptoms and tendencies remain inconsistent among different owners. One owner reported that, while moving, their Montero would switch into its neutral position and then refuse to go back into gear. One user in CarComplaints explained that their engine would surge in between shifts, which is a sign that the transmission slips.
Generally, the transmission just shifts incredibly slowly, and some might even say that the shifts are delayed. There is even one owner who has reported that upon pressing on the accelerator, it would first go into reverse before moving forward.
While fixes for this issue aren’t very well documented, the reason for these issues could be leaking transmission fluid, which can cause the transmission to malfunction. Overall, it seems that the Montero community simply accepted that the transmission isn’t the Montero’s best-functioning component.
The 2001 Montero has several different issues with certain electrical components malfunctioning. In one instance, the horn would honk even when the vehicle is parked. One owner has reported that their horn started blaring in the middle of the night. They said that the only way to stop it was to disconnect the vehicle’s battery or else it would be drained.
Two owners have reported that their Montero’s alarm would activate in the middle of the night. Similarly, the alarm would refuse to deactivate until the battery was disconnected.
One owner was told by his dealer that the cause of the issue is a worn-out metal ring inside the airbag housing, which acts as a switch when the horn is pressed. Other owners simply removed the horn’s fuse, which robbed the SUV of a horn but at least solved the problem. One owner was charged by his dealership around $1000 to fix the issue, though they didn’t specify the details of the repair.
Even though the Montero is known to be reliable, certain models like the ones made in 2001 and 2002 may not be worth it given the issues around their engines and transmissions. That said, other model years are certainly better.
The experience of owners is invaluable in helping you decide whether a car is worth buying or not. If you were unsure about getting a Mitsubishi Montero, we hope this article helped you know about its common issues so you can make an informed decision.
As reliable as the Montero is as a vehicle, some parts will need to be repaired or replaced over time. Luckily, shopping for quality aftermarket parts is easy thanks to CarParts.com.
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