2000 Mitsubishi Montero Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Montero most often describe front-end vibration, steering wear, and brake concerns, which often build up over months. Electrical problems are also common, including a horn that sounds on its own, lights dropping out when the brakes are applied, and a battery that burst, while a smaller group reports sudden surges or acceleration. Where mileage is stated, complaints range from about 20,000 to 180,000 miles.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Front-end vibration, noise, and steering wear

   • 8 complaints (16%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2003

   Owners describe front-end vibration starting around 35 mph or at highway speed, often felt in the steering wheel, along with knocking, a low grumbling noise, and loose steering. Some report front wheel bearings, tie rods, and ball joints wearing out, uneven tire wear, and a wheel nut breaking while driving. According to complaints, dealers balanced and aligned the wheels and adjusted the front bearings, and some said the tires were separating, but owners say the symptoms continued. Only some complaints give mileage, at about 20,000 and 85,000 miles, and others describe symptoms that persisted over months of dealer visits.

   What to check: Ask for alignment, wheel balancing, and front-end repair records, and check whether the wheel bearings and tie rods were inspected. On a test drive at highway speed, note whether vibration or looseness shows up in the steering wheel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The driver side wheel nut and screw broke while driving. Tie rod adjustment nut and tie rod were no good, had to replace both ball joints and tie rod.”

   NHTSA complaint #10017343, filed 2003-04, 85,000 miles

   “While driving from 35 MPH and up there is vibration coming from the front end. Vehicle has been taken back to the dealership seven times in the last ten months for this problem. Dealership has not been able to correct or figure out what was causing the problem. Please provide any further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #870806, filed 2000-09
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pad wear, sticking calipers, and ABS concerns

   • 8 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 1.2 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners describe brake pads wearing out, brakes that seem to stick, and calipers that stick or let the pads come out. Some report the ABS warning light coming on from time to time with a delayed brake response, and others describe the pedal shaking and the vehicle sliding at very low speed. An owner describes pressing the pedal to the floor without the vehicle stopping in time and striking another vehicle. According to complaints, dealers replaced worn pads, and some owners were told uneven brake wear is normal. Mileage is not stated in these complaints, and a pad and caliper complaint describes repeat failures after about a year and a half to two years.

   What to check: Ask for brake service records, including any pad or caliper replacements and ABS diagnosis. On a test drive in a quiet, open area, check that the pedal feels firm and that the car stops straight.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I got brakes changed on my Montero twice in 3 years happen again while driving brake fail pads came out of caliper brakes keeps going bad after 1.5 to two years did calipers change as well same thing calipers will get stuck and pads will come out they have a recall on 1997 1998 models for brakes issue not 1999 and 2000”

   NHTSA complaint #11075657, filed 2018-03

   “Vehicle was riding sluggish, but braking distance was fine. Dealer replaced brake pads that were worn out. Consumer believed brake were sticking. Currently, vehicle's performance is better. Consumer was advised that uneven brake wear is normal.”

   NHTSA complaint #886734, filed 2001-04
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults: horn, lights, battery, stalling

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 2.1 yrs old
   • filed 2000–2023

   Owners describe a horn that sounds without warning or stays on, and lights, the radio, and wipers that drop out for a few seconds when the brakes are applied. Some report a battery that burst on startup and sprayed acid over the engine, and a vehicle that stalled repeatedly. According to complaints, a dealer replaced a blown fuse that did not stop the stalling, and the lighting problem stayed unresolved after repeated dealer visits. Mileage is stated only for the battery complaint, at about 26,700 miles, and the other electrical complaints do not give mileage.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the horn, interior and exterior lights, radio, and wipers work normally while braking. Ask for repair records for the battery, the stalling, and any fuse or wiring work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Awhile back my horn stopped working as if it was stuck down. I found out this was because of a problem with this cars airbag breaking down that causes this - and that there is a recall because these airbags are dangerous if they go off. I received a letter at one point from Mitsubishi about this. I filled out a form a long time ago when I got that, I also emailed them before, I also have tried calling them a few times. They never get back to me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11561352, filed 2023-12

   “Upon starting car, the battery exploded spewing acid all over the engine and hood and causing several dents on both the inside and outside of the hood. This resulting in a total electrical system failure as well as loss of functionability of the vehicle. Upon reporting this to Mitsubishi roadside assistance, we were informed that was the second call that day for an exploding battery in a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero sport. Our vehicle has approximately 26,700 miles and currently the estimated cost of the damage is unknown.”

   NHTSA complaint #748892, filed 2001-07
4. 4
   Brakes

   Sudden surge or acceleration, including when braking

   • 6 complaints (12%)
   • typically at 0.9 yrs old
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2004

   Owners describe the vehicle surging forward or accelerating unexpectedly when the brakes are applied, sometimes intermittently. A complaint describes the speed control locking at about 60 mph, followed by a swerve and rollover, and another describes the engine surging while in park and again while parking. According to complaints, dealers inspected or repaired the vehicle several times, and some could not duplicate the surge. No mileage is stated, and the engine surge complaint describes episodes several months apart in 2000.

   What to check: Ask whether any surge or speed control complaints were investigated and what the dealer found. On a test drive, confirm that the speed control releases when the brake is pressed and that the throttle responds normally when the pedal is released.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In february, 2000, I had pulled up underneath my home. The car was in park when the motor excelled. I thought something must be wrong with the timing. I turned off the car. I didn't think any more about it until 9-20-2000 when the engine did it again. I was picking my child up from football practice I pulled into a parking place. The spaces are close together and you go into the parking area with your foot on the brake. I had pulled straight up in the space and was getting ready to put it in park when the motor excelled again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #734806, filed 2000-10

   “When depressing the brakes vehicle surged forward. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership for inspection. However, mechanic could not duplicate the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083651, filed 2004-07

Buying note. Prospective buyers can ask for service records covering front-end, brake, and electrical repairs, and check steering, wheel bearings, and brakes on a test drive at highway speed. A pre-purchase inspection that also covers the horn, lights, battery, and speed control can help clarify the vehicle's current condition.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 36 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.