Tl* the contact owns a 1997 mitsubishi montero sport. While driving between 55 and 65 MPH, the front end of the vehicle shook violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the ball joints, wheel bearings, transmission mount, universal bolt, and tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 00v311001 (engine and engine cooling), but the VIN was excluded. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The worst 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine16
- Steering4
- Brakes2
- Electrical2
- Transmission2
- Airbags1
- Body1
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Recalls 1
Engine and engine cooling: engine
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 00V311001 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 70
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew...
- This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers
- This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio...
- This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012.
- This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the...
- Obd-ii drive cycle
- Air conditioner refrigerant quantity - service manual revision
- A pulsating or rattle noise heard when the air conditioner is on
- New and revised information relating to readiness test status descriptions and procedures
1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | RWD | 20 | 23 | 21 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17 | 20 | 18 |
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 15-16 | 19 | 17 |
What 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Vehicle lost power steering and stalled. Crankshaft pulley bolt fell out and harmonic balancer fell off.causing loss of control and life threatening situation.
Common problem with these, crank shaft pulley bolt defective should have recalled all of them.
Crankshaft pulley bolt came loose causing loss of steering. Had to steer very hard manually to park car. Dangerous situation.
Steering terminal came off making the vehicle go in danger.
Tl*the contact owned a 1997 mitsubishi montero sport. The contact started the vehicle so it could warm up before driving and went back into the house. While in the house, she heard a loud boom similar to an explosion. She found the vehicle completely engulfed in flames. The police and fire departments were called to extinguish the fire and a report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and the insurance company towed the vehicle to the salvage yard. The side of the contact's residence sustained property damage. In july of 2008, the contact smelled something burning when she activated the headlights. The headlights caught fire and melted. The dealer stated that due to a short on the connector wire, the air bag connector wire was replaced. The failure and current mileages were 116,000. Updated 02/24/09. *lj updated 02/24/09.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mitsubishi montero sport. The contact stated that the nut and bolt pulled out from the crankshaft pulley. While attempting to make a left turn at a stop sign, the vehicle failed to pull to the left. The dealer stated that nothing could be done to repair the vehicle unless the manufacturer approved the repairs. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number 00v311001 (engine and engine cooling:engine). The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 126,000.
I own a 1997 mitsubishi montero sport ls. There was a recall for a crankshaft pulley bolt, the federal safety agency recall id: 00v311001. I took my vehicle to the mitsubishi dealer and they replaced the bolt. This was back in 2000. In february of 2008 I was driving, getting ready to get on the highway when I heard a grinding and then a loud noise from the engine, I lost power steering and quickly pulled over. Popped the hood of my vehicle and noticed that the crankshaft pulley had broken off. I towed it to my mechanic who stated that the crankshaft pulley bolt had broken. He gave me an estimate of $2400 to have the crankshaft replaced, or $3100 to put in a rebuilt engine. I called mitsubihsi and talked to s lady who was very rude, she would hardly let me say anything. She stated that there was nothing that they could do and to contact the dealership that had replaced the bolt. That dealership is no longer there, went out of business. Looking online I have found numerous complaints about this happening to people who own both the 97 and 98 models of montero sports, even after bringing their vehicles in for the recall. If this had occurred while I was traveling on the highway I could have been seriously injured as I lost all power steering. I feel that this is a serious safety issue, I know that mitsubishi issued a recall to fix this but their fix did not resolve the problem. I also feel that mitsubishi should pay for fixing my vehicle as it is related to the bolt breaking.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mitsubishi montero sport. Her vehicle was repaired according to recall #00v311001 affecting the engine and engine cooling:engine the mechanic tightened the crankshaft pulley bolt. After six months driving approximately 10 MPH the engine, oil, and brake light illuminated on the instrument panel. The steering column also began to tighten up. After inspecting the vehicle she noticed that the crankshaft pulley fell out of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer since her vehicle was previously repaired per the recall. The dealer stated that the contact is responsible for the cost of repairs. The crankshaft pulley was replaced. Two months later the engine made a loud shutter then the pulley fell out of the vehicle again. The manufacturer did not provide her with any assistance. She has pictures of the failed component. The failure and current mileages were 149,000. Updated 02-11-08 *bf the consumer stated she had to pay out of pocket for repairs $1,300.00 and received a discount of $200 from the dealer. The consumer further stated the dealer also found another defect in the vehicle in which the consumer also had to pay out of pocket. The consumer also stated there was a 2nd incident with the brake recall. Updated 02/11/08
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mitsubishi montero sport. The contact stated that the bolt in the vehicle's crankshaft pulley backed out. The failure caused the pulley to become loose and sheer the pin on the end of the crankshaft. While driving 35 MPH, the power steering, brakes, and engine failed. The vehicle had to be towed. The engine size was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 109,000.
Compare the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
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Questions about the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport
Is the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport reliable?
Owners have filed 29 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, close to a typical Montero Sport model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
Engine and cooling, with 16 complaints, typically around 125,200 miles. Next is steering (4).
How many recalls does the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport have?
1 recall, covering engine and engine cooling.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 00V311001. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mitsubishi Montero Sport have bad engine?
The Mitsubishi Montero Sport model years with the most engine complaints are 1997 (16 complaints), 1998 (14 complaints) and 2000 (11 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Mitsubishi Montero Sport range from 17 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, RWD) gets 20 city and 23 highway.
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