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2002 Mitsubishi Montero Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero, and owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
111
owner complaints to NHTSA
9 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
14–15
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 04V428000 Reported 100,432 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN

    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…

  2. Storage (fuel system)

    NHTSA 04V319000 Reported 44,214 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    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.

    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.

  3. Vacuum (service brakes)

    NHTSA 01V254001 Reported 39,020 vehicles potentially affected MITSUBISHI AMERICA

    Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The accumulator that is installed on the hydraulic brake booster may have been improperly manufactured. Over a period of time, this could result in leakage of the pressurized nitrogen gas from inside the accumulator.

    Remedy: Dealers will install an improved accumulator. Owner notification mailing began october 1, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…

111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 85,416 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 13 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“My horn goes off when I turn the steering wheel or hit bumps when driving and when parked and turned off, if its close to freezing it will go off constantly early in the morning before dawn and I have”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 16, 2024 · Air bags

“I was driving down the highway, without any prior indication the brake light, and break alarm came on and my breaks went out. All at the same.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 6, 2022 · Service brakes

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero. Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined14–15 mpg
City / Highway13–14 / 17
FuelPremium
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6 cyl, 3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S5); Automatic 4-spd

Compare Mitsubishi Montero model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mitsubishi Montero model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1984 Mitsubishi Montero10
1986 Mitsubishi Montero14
1987 Mitsubishi Montero13
1988 Mitsubishi Montero11
1989 Mitsubishi Montero210
1990 Mitsubishi Montero123
1991 Mitsubishi Montero118
1992 Mitsubishi Montero312
1993 Mitsubishi Montero314
1994 Mitsubishi Montero531
1995 Mitsubishi Montero286
1996 Mitsubishi Montero227
1997 Mitsubishi Montero263
1998 Mitsubishi Montero474
1999 Mitsubishi Montero240
2000 Mitsubishi Montero251
2001 Mitsubishi Montero4166
2002 Mitsubishi Montero3111
2003 Mitsubishi Montero239
2004 Mitsubishi Montero35
2005 Mitsubishi Montero01
2006 Mitsubishi Montero04

Checking a specific 2002 Mitsubishi Montero

How do I know if my 2002 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 2002 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 01V254001).

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

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.