1998 Mitsubishi Montero Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero, and owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 1998 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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Inflator module (air bags)
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to…
Remedy: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is…
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Labels (equipment)
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.
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…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The front brake lines can develop pin holes due to chaffing against the edge of the pass-through hole in the inner fender.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front brake lines for signs of wear and routing. If the lines are not correctly centered in the pass-through hole, the lines will be repositioned by bending slightly to correct. If there is…
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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.
74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash. Reports cite 12 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 84,695 miles. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 30 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“At the moment the only situation that i have had with the mitsubishi AIRBAG recall is that when i call the customer relations department they say they do not have the parts, that supposedly the mitsub”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 6, 2021 · Air bags
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 mitsubishi montero. The contact discovered that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 20v035000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailabl”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2020 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 15–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 14–15 / 17–18 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD |
| 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 1998 Mitsubishi Montero
How do I know if my 1998 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1998 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 04V428000).
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.