2003 Mitsubishi Montero
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 11 of 39 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 111 in 2002 to 39 in 2003.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | vs. 2003 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 5,550 | 5,150–5,550 | 5,150 | 5,150 | 5,150 | |
| Combined MPG | 14 | 14–15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 12–13 / 16 | 13–14 / 17 | 13–14 / 18 | 13 / 18 | 13 / 17 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 635 | 592–635 | 592 | 592 | 592 | |
| Complaints filed | 166 | 111 | 39 | 5 | 1 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 15 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 14 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
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 2003 Mitsubishi Montero have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns 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 2003 Mitsubishi Montero?
Brakes: 11 of 39 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero get?
EPA rates it 15 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero?
EPA estimates $5,150 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 6 | 3.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 14 mpg (high) | 18 mpg | 15 mpg | $5,150 | 592 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S5) | 6 | 3.8L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 13 mpg (low) | 18 mpg | 15 mpg | $5,150 | 592 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 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 (2)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 04V428000 · Sep 3, 2004
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 DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE · Campaign 04V319000 · Jul 7, 2004
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
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.