Model year record

2003 Mitsubishi Montero

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 53 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V428000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN
Vehicles affected
100,432
Reported to NHTSA
2004-09-01

Defect description

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Safety risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Recall campaignNHTSA 04V319000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Manufacturer
MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Vehicles affected
44,214
Reported to NHTSA
2004-07-06
Owners notified
2004-08-30

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.

Safety risk

IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Service brakes5145,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic5107,800 mi
Air bags3100,000 mi
Electrical system350,000 mi
Power train373,945 mi
Engine and engine cooling216,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline226,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage2
Power train: automatic transmission237,500 mi
Suspension285,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel157,500 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)1114,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1130,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.150,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery126,000 mi
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings112,025 mi
Fuel/propulsion system167,000 mi
Interior lighting150,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages150,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly111,000 mi
Seat belts: front12,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor116,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: recliner116,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light193,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads119,000 mi
Steering1177,000 mi
Structure: body1162,000 mi
Suspension: rear111,000 mi
Tires116,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt14,379 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer12,500 mi
Wheels185,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs183,000 mi

The 2002 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2004 model has 8 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.