Mitsubishi Montero engine failure problems

Filed Jul 10, 2018 · Engine, Steering · 225,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 mitsubishi montero. While driving 35 MPH, the battery and brake indicators illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to turn. The failure occurred two times on different occasions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft guide pin fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic to be repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.

Filed Apr 16, 2011 · Engine · 270,000 miles · VA

1997 mitsubish montero 3.5 liter automatic- crank shaft bolt has come out on 5 separate occasions and has cost over $3000 to have it replaced. The inside of the crankshaft where the bolt goes is completely stripped to the point I now have to replace the engine. This is not an isolated issue as this appears to be an inherent problem with all years of monteros. There should be a recall for this and mitsubishi should cover the cost for there negligence.

Filed Jul 21, 2008 · Engine · 155,000 miles · OR

I own a 1992 mitsubishi montero. This vehicle is under recall, detailed below: the federal safety agency campaign id number : 00v311001 exactly what is stated in the recall, happened to my vehicle. Except when it happened, instead of completely falling out, when the crankshaft pulley bolt became loose it came partly out and broke off leaving half of the bolt seized inside the crankshaft. I was unaware of the recall on the part at that time. But after contacting mitsubishi for a different reason (to order a spare key for the vehicle) I was informed of the recall on my vehicle. Surprised, I informed the mitsubishi representative of what happened. She instructed me to take the vehicle to the nearest mitsubishi dealership and told me that all the repairs necessary would be done at no cost to me. So I towed the car to the dealership to be repaired. The next day the service manager at the dealership called me and told me that mitsubishi instructed her not to repair the vehicle because they found that the timing belt had been replaced, and this negated mitsubishi's repair responsibilities. The vehicle had about 155,000 miles on it at the time of breakdown. Replacing the timing belt on a car with that many miles on it is considered routine maintenance. I informed the mitsubishi representative of the mileage, so they were well aware of the mileage on the vehicle. Apparently the reason for the denial of repair was that the crankshaft pulley bolt has to be removed and put back in to replace the timing belt. I have not been able to find any information on the federal safety agency web site stating that other non-related repairs can negate the liability on a safety recall. So I believe that mitsubishi is wrong in their denial of repair. My car falls under the recall and meets all the requirements stated by the federal safety agency. So please let me know what I can do to remedy this situation, and if I am entitled to any legal recourse.

Filed Mar 12, 2008 · Engine · 72,100 miles · CO

I was driving my 2002 mitsubishi montero limited through town when out of the blue, the loudest noise started coming from the front of the engine. You could hear the noise from blocks down the road. Took it to a local mechanic who discovered a technical service bulletin that states, "some vehicles may experience a dieseling-type noise when the engine is idling. This may be due to the piston pins contacting the cylinders. Inspect the cylinders walls for evidence of scuffing." if this is the case, I'm looking at a new engine of upwards of $5,000 - plus the cost of towing it to the nearest dealer a five hour one-way drive from where I live. I bought the car at 59,500. It only has 72,000 miles now. I feel like I was sold a lemon! The car is inoperable right now. I still owe $13,000 on it. I'm so screwed!!!

Filed Jan 10, 2008 · Engine · CA

Our 2002 mitsubishi montero engine blew up while my wife was driving the vehicle on a local highway (rt. 680(n)). There was no indication that there was something wrong with the vehicle prior to that day (the "check engine" warning light had never lit up). At the time this instance occurred, my wife was driving the vehicle on the freeway as it went up in smoke, essentially endangering her life along with the surrounding motorists, should this really happen to a vehicle that is only 5 years old.

Filed Mar 5, 2007 · Engine · 16,000 miles · PA

I was driving my 2003 mitsubishi to work on february 5,2007, at 6:30 a.m. When, all at once I heard a groaning noise and the oil pressure light came on and the "engine failure" light also came on. The steering wheel became stiffened and just luckily I was close enough to an auto repair station/wrecker service to coast into. I called my boyfriend to come and take me to work,and he then called the mitsubishi "roadside service" number to tow it to the closest dealership to have it looked at and repaired. Later that day he called to see what the problem was and for the next couple days,they tried to blame us for 1. Low oil 2.oil not changed often enough 3. "bad" oil. When we were able to prove that none of these were true-we even threatened to send the oil to have it "tested"(we use mobil 1) they said that they didn't have the oil anymore. A couple days after they changed the oil,they somehow found the oil and said that although the oil had carbon and metal shavings in it, there was not anything wrong with the oil. Each day we called to see what was going on,the service manager "a.j." would give us a run around and would say they were running the vehicle to see how it was working. They then said , after 17 days,the vehicle was ready to leave and to run it for 1,000 miles and see if the noise goes away!

Filed Jan 9, 2006 · Engine · 175,000 miles · WA

The mechanic the owner of an independent shop, completed a tune up of the 3.0 liter engine, that was running fine when brought to him. The engine was running and then the engine had a loud grinding and sounded like it was blowing up. The mechanic took the spark plugs out and used a light to determine the cylinder head was cracked and ruined from a loose piece of metal the size of a mans toe nail. The engine is completely ruined and must be replaced. The mechanic disputes the fact he did anything to cause the damage but was willing to install another engine if I purchased it. This is the third engine that this has occurred on and the last time was while I owned the vehicle too. I had the vehicle into a reputable mechanic for a tune up. They did a tune up for $625, which they first called and quoted $350 then called back and changed it to the $625. They completed the tune up moved the car out to see how it ran. The vehicle ran fine but about five minutes after idling that length of time a piece of metal the size of a spark plug electrode was loose in a cylinder and ruined the engine. The shop did not want to replace the engine because they insist the failure is not their fault, but since it happened under their care they actually found a wrecked montero with a60,000 mile engine and installed it for the price of the tune up. The car was out of commission for three weeks and we were not reimbursed for time and expense but the shop did a pretty good job of replacing. The engine block of the old engine was sitting on the floor of the shop when I picked up the car. The cylinder that was ruined was scratched and scoured completely over the whole thing. Should I find and install an engine it will be number four, the original owner had to replace an engine when he owned it.

Filed Sep 10, 2004 · Engine · 72,000 miles · MD

Engine replacement at 79k miles. February 04 I noticed a knocking sound coming from under the hood of the car. The mitsubishi mechanic said it was coming from the engine but that he would just change the oil to see if that helped. The sales ticket said, no problem found. August 04 the knocking came back. On a trip the oil light came on but there was oil in the vehicle. We had the vehicle towed to mitsubishi. The mechanic then confirmed that it was the engine. The pickup tube was clocked but the engine walls were clean. The result was to replace the engine. Mitsubishi would not cover the charges because it was pass the warranty mileage. No one can determine how the pickup tube was clogged with so much crud. However, mitsubishi says that it does not matter if it was a defect in the pickup tube it was past the warranty.

Filed Sep 1, 2004 · Engine · 70,000 miles · AL

Consumer stated that she had 70,000 miles on vehicle and the engine blew out. When driving the air would blow, then when stopping the air would stop. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer, and was told that it looked as if the plastic tee in the heater line was busted. Then, she was told that it may the thermostat that was sticking. The next day while driving the vehicle just stopped. Had vehicle towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that motor blew out. She had no warning, because the indicator never showed that the vehicle was running hot.

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 !