1996 Mitsubishi Montero Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero, and owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
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…
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Unknown or other
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.
27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 135,500 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi montero. The contact stated that the bolts of the crank shaft pulley have fallen. She heard a strange noise while driving and all of the instrument panel lights i”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 23, 2007 · Engine and engine cooling
“While driving steering failed. The crankshaft bolt that held it disengaged. Recall 00v311001 was issued. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 29, 2004 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 14–15 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 13–14 / 17 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3/3.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Mitsubishi Montero model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mitsubishi Montero model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 Mitsubishi Montero | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 Mitsubishi Montero | 1 | 4 |
| 1987 Mitsubishi Montero | 1 | 3 |
| 1988 Mitsubishi Montero | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 10 |
| 1990 Mitsubishi Montero | 1 | 23 |
| 1991 Mitsubishi Montero | 1 | 18 |
| 1992 Mitsubishi Montero | 3 | 12 |
| 1993 Mitsubishi Montero | 3 | 14 |
| 1994 Mitsubishi Montero | 5 | 31 |
| 1995 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 86 |
| 1996 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 27 |
| 1997 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 63 |
| 1998 Mitsubishi Montero | 4 | 74 |
| 1999 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 40 |
| 2000 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 51 |
| 2001 Mitsubishi Montero | 4 | 166 |
| 2002 Mitsubishi Montero | 3 | 111 |
| 2003 Mitsubishi Montero | 2 | 39 |
| 2004 Mitsubishi Montero | 3 | 5 |
| 2005 Mitsubishi Montero | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 Mitsubishi Montero | 0 | 4 |
Checking a specific 1996 Mitsubishi Montero
How do I know if my 1996 Mitsubishi Montero has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mitsubishi dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V311001).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mitsubishi models
- Eclipse2,135 complaints
- Galant1,788 complaints
- Outlander1,322 complaints
- Lancer865 complaints
- Mirage702 complaints
- Diamante505 complaints
- Outlander Sport476 complaints
- 3000GT461 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.