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1994 Mitsubishi Montero problems

The most common problem on the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero is engine and cooling, typically around 159,000 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical Montero model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
31
Recalls
5
Service bulletins
33
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
14-15mpg

The worst 1994 Mitsubishi Montero problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    13
  • Brakes
    6
  • Lights
    3
  • Suspension
    3
  • Body
    2

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    13
  • Brakes
    6
  • Lights
    3
  • Suspension
    3
  • Body
    2
  • Steering
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Seats
    1

Recalls 5

Engine and engine cooling: engineReported October 2, 2000 · 210,000 vehicles affected
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

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported August 15, 2000 · 344 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The front lower brake hoses can develop a crack, causing a loss of brake fluid.
Risk
This could result in impaired braking ability and a possible crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right lower brake hoses.

Recall number 00V226001 · Recall details

Unknown or otherReported September 2, 1998 · 60,243 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
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.

Recall number 98V205000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported August 12, 1996 · 10,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Under conditions of full lock steering and full suspension travel, the left or right front wheel-side brake hose can crack, resulting in brake fluid leakage.
Risk
Brake fluid leakage will cause illumination of the brake warning lamp and reduction in braking effectiveness increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right front wheel-side brake hoses with revised hose assemblies.

Recall number 96V143002 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsReported July 25, 1996 · 93,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Under conditions of full lock steering and full suspension travel, the left or right front wheel-side brake hose can crack, resulting in brake fluid leakage.
Risk
Brake fluid leakage will cause illumination of the brake warning lamp and reduction in braking efficiency increasing the risk of a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right front wheel-side brake hoses with revised hose assemblies.

Recall number 96V143001 · Recall details

See all 5 recalls for the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero

Technical service bulletins for the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero 33

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 33 bulletins for the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero

1994 Mitsubishi Montero fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
3.0L 6‑cyl4WD141715
3.5L 6‑cyl4WD131614

What 1994 Mitsubishi Montero owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 11, 2011 · Airbags · 230,000 miles · CO · crash · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owned a 1994 mitsubishi montero. The contact stated that when she stopped at a red light a vehicle crashed into the rear end her vehicle. The crash caused her to crash into a vehicle in front of her. The vehicle was destroyed. The air bags did not deploy. The contact hit her head but was unable to give specific details regarding the head injury. The contact was taken to the hospital for a broken ankle, head trauma and was also placed in intensive care due to the head trauma. The police stated that if the air bag would have deploy the contact could have avoided a serious injury. The contact called the manufacturer and explained what happened with the air bag; however, they have not responded. The manufacturer should responsible for the air bags not deploying. The failure mileage was 230,000. Updated 03/08/11 *bf updated 12/14/11 *cn added picture updated 12/18/13 *bf updated 12/18/13

Filed Jun 22, 2009 · Seat belts, Seats · WA · crash · 1 injury

A 12 year old boy was killed when his cargo seat in a mitsubishi montero detached and catapulted him out the side window in a rollover accident. He was wearing his seat belt, but with this particular seat design the belts are all attached to the seat, rather than the floor, giving the occupant no restraint when the seat comes detached from the floor.

Filed Sep 3, 2008 · Engine · 240,000 miles · VA

1994 mitsubishi montero bolt securing crankshaft pulley came loose resulting in loss of power steering. Accident averted, thank god. As stated in other complaints, mitsubishi dealership and mitsubishi america absolutely refuse to repair my truck because my VIN is not a match for the recall on this same exact problem. My guess is that when someone does have an accident because of this malfunction they'll pay dearly in lawsuit losses when they could simply acknowledge the problem and keep their consumers safe! I will begin a writing campaign in regard to this issue because it's clear that mitsubishi doesn't care until someone dies. Nice way to run your company. By the way, there are no fires/deaths/damage or police reports because thus far, everyone experiencing this problem has been lucky!

Filed Dec 31, 2004 · Engine · 159,000 miles · FL

While driving my 1994 mitsubishi 3.0l montero at 55mph on a four-lane highway, the power steering suddenly failed. I was able to make it to the side of the road without hitting any other vehicles.when the vehicle was taken to my dealer's service department, they determined that the crankshaft pulley bolt had broken off inside the engine. Their recommendation was to install a rebuilt engine (if they could find one) for $6200. They did not acknowledge that a safety recall existed for this problem.

Filed Sep 9, 2004 · Engine · CT

I spent $ 6000 last year on a new half block engine. Last month my mitsubishi montero stalled. I was able to get it to the dealers, and they found that the plenum needed to get checked. They did that, but now they found that the butterfly valves on the plenum broke off ( which were plastic) and went in to the engine. This damaged both heads and they need to be replaced for a cost of $ 4700. My problem is, mitsubishi knows this is a problem (which is apparent because they have made a replacement part to fix it), but because the replacement plenum is so expensive they never did a recall to fix it.

Filed Jun 4, 2004 · Engine · 155,000 miles · WA

I was driving my mitsubishi montero 3.5l dohc while trying to join freeway on ramp while accelerating to reach 60 miles an hour to keep in pace with highway traffic. Then all of a sudden the vehicle speedometer started to decline despite me stepping on the gas. At the same time I lost power steering and I nearly died due to a possible high speed accident while trying to correct the situation and get off the road at once. I managed to drive the car at very low speed to the nearest mechanic, and it died right in his front yard. Upon examining it he told me the crank shaft bolt broke and thats why I lost control of the vehicle. I also checked out in the internet at this specific site: www.mitsubishisucks.com/cars/complaints/USA/models/montero/1994.html. *ak I discovered that mitsubishi montero ranging from the late 80s to as late as 2002 all have this common defect and not all of them are covered by manufacturers warranty due to VIN of the vehicle. I would like to put it to mitsubishi that if they cannot put safe cars on the road then they better wind up and let toyota run the show . If you go to every dealer it is the same song :we cannot duplicate the problem do they think Im lying in the first place? My experience has taught me after going through 2 monteros that they are the most dangerous and unsafe cars on the road and any other driver should watch out just incase one goes nuts and loses steering capability. I have begun keeping an eye on them especially at high speed cruising. This is the last of montero that I will ever buy in my life time since I dont wonna die quick due to structural failures. My family who are montero fans have put them up for sale and ove on to other better models at least with minimum engine failures coz the cost of putting my montero back on the road is like $5000 and I bought it at $10,000. Looking at the math it makes sense to invest on a new car for that amount. Arrrgh. Drive a montero at your own risk&fore warned is for armed !

Filed May 5, 2004 · Engine · 211,000 miles · TX

I was driving along, when my airconditioning and power steering went out. Believing it was a belt, I looked under the hood to find out that my crankshaft bolt had broken causing my keyway and harmonic balancer to fall off. I called the local mitsubishi dealer to locate the parts, and they notified me that the crankshaft bolt was defective and a the federal safety agency recall was in place on it. They then told me that the bolt would be replaced as well as any subsequent damage caused by the breaking of the bolt. The dealer has now called me back, and said that they were having trouble removing the broken bolt from the crankshaft and had already spent to much time and money, and so therefore would not continue any work. If I wanted the vehicle fixed, it would be on my dime, they were not going to honor the safety recall. No work has been done on the vehicle since.

Filed Dec 16, 2003 · Engine · 104,000 miles · CA

The crankshaft pulley bolt broke on the 94 montero sr and I lost power steering assist. Thus, the car was extremely hard to steer and a life threatening condition was encountered. The recall sr-01-002 does not cover this model engine even though the part used is the same throughout those years.

Filed Sep 6, 2002 · Engine · GA

The harmonic balancer has came apart twice. The mechanic that I was has stated that this is due to the crankshaft bolt coming loose. This particular bolt has been recalled on the 3.5 l montero engines, but not the 3.5 l engines.

Filed Apr 30, 2002 · Brakes · PR

A defective right brake hose lose all brake fluid and the montero run out of brake . The mitsubishi engineers in pr. Said that the recall for the defective hose was made for the lower hose not for this one. I think that 72331 miles are no the reason to justified the failure of this hose. I have the hose if you want to check this hose.

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Questions about the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero

Is the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?

Owners have filed 31 complaints about the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero, fewer than a typical Montero model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero?

Engine and cooling, with 13 complaints, typically around 159,000 miles. Next is brakes (6).

How many recalls does the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero have?

5 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic and unknown or other.

Was there a recall on the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero engine?

Yes, 1 recall: 00V311001. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Mitsubishi Montero have bad engine?

The Mitsubishi Montero model years with the most engine complaints are 1995 (36 complaints), 2001 (24 complaints) and 1997 (17 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero get?

Official estimates for the 1994 Mitsubishi Montero range from 14 to 15 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, 4WD) gets 14 city and 17 highway.

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