The 1996 Mitsubishi Montero has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 270,243 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING00V3110012000-10-02210,000 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
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 THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY…
UNKNOWN OR OTHER98V2050001998-09-0260,243 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT OF THE THIRD SEAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND COULD BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE.
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.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
2
CHILD SEAT
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
Total complaints40
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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 illuminated. She also stated that the steering wheel locked up. The manufacturer advised her to…”
“While driving steering failed. The crankshaft bolt that held it disengaged. Recall 00v311001 was issued. *ak”
“While driving steering failed. The crankshaft bolt that held it disengaged. Recall 00v311001 was issued. *ak”
“While driving between 40-45 mph metal that kept the driver side seat back up right broke on the right side. When this occurred driver's side seat back declined backwards on the right side. This reduced the driver's visibility. Driver had to pull off the road. The entire seat needed to be replaced.…”
“The butterfly valve in the intake plenum in the 3.5l dohc comes loose and drops into the motor which can cause it to stop suddenly, this problem is known by the manufacturer, which is apparent because they have made a replacement part to fix it; however, it is expensive and they do not help with…”
“Nhtsa recall 00-v-311-001:montero models equipped with 3.0l engines. Bolt securing the crankshaft pulley can become loose and the pulley could fall off the vehicle. Dealer won't honor this recall in puerto rico. *ak”
“Nhtsa recall 00-v-311-001 concerning 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. Recall repairs…”
“While driving the engine and battery lights had come on, the consumer was unable to steer the vehicle (loss of power). The engine was still running, but vehicle would not move. Contacted dealer. The crankshaft pulley bolt had broken. There is a recall, 00v311001, but this vehicle is not included…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Mitsubishi Montero as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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