The 1998 Mitsubishi Montero has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 240,598 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS20V0350002020-01-2318,123 affected
Defect
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,…
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.
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 SR-20-001.
EQUIPMENT04V4280002004-09-01100,432 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE 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 RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC98V2200001998-09-0961,800 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAK RESULTING IN DETERIORATED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE INDICATOR LAMP.
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 EVIDENCE OF BRAKE LINE WEAR, THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED.
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
SUSPENSION:FRONT
8
1crashes
SUSPENSION
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
AIR BAGS
4
2crashes6injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
4
3crashes7injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
Total complaints91
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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 mitsubishi company has not yet sent the replacement parts.....I have to call within 2 months to see if…”
“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 mitsubishi company has not yet sent the replacement parts.....I have to call within 2 months to see if…”
“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 unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact…”
“The vehicle was taken to southside mitsubishi in orlando and because a mechanic named bob who's been there for over 20 years says it's the original but it's not the original bolt they don't want to honor the recall I argued with them multiple times.. The original bolt is me203072, and the montero…”
“I had been experiencing the smell of gasoline inside the car, stronger when I open the back rear luggage area and rear of montero (closest to the gas fuel tank underneath). I do not see any active leak on the floor. My car has no damage, such as being rear ended or bumper damage at all. The tank…”
“Driving to store I accelerated from a stop sign and car continued to accelerate after taking foot off gas pedal. Tried to stomp on throttle to get it unstuck, but it did not work. Finally after about a mile and a half and speeds past 80 miles per hour throttle released on its own. I have not found…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi montero. While driving 40 mph,the power steering failed. The mechanic stated that the front crank shaft pulley bolt detached and caused the pulley to wobble. This failure was encompassed in recall # 00v311000. The dealer stated that this vehicle was excluded…”
“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi montero. While driving 40 mph,the power steering failed. The mechanic stated that the front crank shaft pulley bolt detached and caused the pulley to wobble. This failure was encompassed in recall # 00v311000. The dealer stated that this vehicle was excluded…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE98042 Opened 1998-07-31 · closed 1998-09-03
REAR FOLDING SEAT DISENGAGEMENT
A POLICE REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI ALLEGED THAT DISENGAGEMENT OF THE RIGHT REAR FOLDING SEAT DURING A SINGLE VEHICLE ROLLOVER INCIDENT PERMITTED ITS OCCUPANT TO BE EJECTED
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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