1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 14 of 34 complaints (41%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 29 in 1997 to 34 in 1998.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | vs. 1998 Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,950–3,650 | 2,950–3,650 | 3,100–3,900 | 3,650–4,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 17–21 | 17–21 | 16–20 | 15–17 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15–20 / 19–23 | 15–20 / 19–23 | 15–19 / 18–22 | 14–16 / 17–19 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 423–523 | 423–523 | 444–555 | 523–592 | |
| Complaints filed | 29 | 34 | 33 | 97 | |
| Recalls issued | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 2 | 5 | 4 | 17 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
Engine: 14 of 34 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport get?
EPA rates it 17–21 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
EPA estimates $2,950–$3,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.4L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 21 mpg (high) | $2,950 (low) | 423 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 17 mpg (low) | $3,650 (high) | 523 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · Campaign 00V311001 · Oct 24, 2000
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 BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.