2003 Mitsubishi Montero Sport: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 43 complaints
43
Total Complaints
65,300mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
10
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

1,800 25th Percentile
65,300 Median Mileage
122,332 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
ENGINE
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
AIR BAGS
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2
SERVICE BRAKES
2

Severity Assessment

10
Crashes
2
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"VEHICLE WON'T ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE (ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL). ONLY HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD (UNDER 30 DEGREES OUTSIDE). SOMETIMES WILL SLAM INTO GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. VERY DANGEROUS IN OUR OPINION. VEHICLE HAS 146 MILES. DEALER HAD VEHICLE TWICE FOR 2..."
"WHEN IT IS COLD VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE. IT TAKES ABOUT 30 TO 40 SECONDS, AND THEN VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR. *AK"
"VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A RESTAURANT DRIVE THRU LANE. WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING CONSUMER TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28