2003 Mitsubishi Montero Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 8%of 39 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 37,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero, 8% of the 39 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 37,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10184274, filed 2007-03, 16,000 miles“The contact owns a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated when the vehicle was purchased from the dealer. The contact stated that the vehicle had a strong hesitation as the failure progressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10881447, filed 2016-06, 130,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10170074Aug 28, 2015This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170071Jul 22, 2015This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170086Nov 1, 2012This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10013734Sep 1, 2004Updated miller tool information.
- 10014398Oct 1, 2002Engine stalling hesitation.
Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | 8% |
| 2002 | 8 | 7% |
| 2001 | 21 | 13% |
| 2000 | 5 | 10% |
| 1999 | 4 | 10% |
| 1998 | 9 | 12% |
| 1997 | 17 | 27% |
| 1996 | 10 | 37% |
| 1995 | 34 | 40% |
| 1994 | 13 | 42% |
| 1993 | 8 | 57% |
| 1992 | 6 | 50% |
| 1991 | 7 | 39% |
| 1990 | 7 | 30% |
| 1989 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
11 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
6 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsTires
2 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
2 complaintsWheels
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology