Model year guide

1999 Mitsubishi Montero

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 Mitsubishi Montero is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 3 on record.

1999 Mitsubishi Montero — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1999 Mitsubishi Montero at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints40
Combined15–16 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1999 Mitsubishi Montero recalls 2

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #04V428000 · 01/09/2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Fix: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EX…

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V035000 · 23/01/2020

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is recalling certain 1998-2000 Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Fix: MMNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2021. Owners may contact MMNA customer service at 1-888-648-7820. MMNA's number for this recall is SR-20-001.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1999 Mitsubishi Montero common problems

Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1999 Mitsubishi Montero MPG & running costs

Combined15–16 mpg
City14 mpg
Highway18 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,283
EPA size classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$9,417 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1999 Mitsubishi Montero costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$21,415
Fuel only$21,415
Per mile$0.29

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1999 Mitsubishi Montero trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
3.5L · 3.0L

1999 Mitsubishi Montero vehicles on record

1999 Mitsubishi Montero 1999 Mitsubishi Montero BaseJA4MR51R0XJ001181 1999 Mitsubishi Montero BaseJA4MR51R2XJ005944 1999 Mitsubishi MonteroJA4LS31H5XP018504

Other Mitsubishi Montero model years

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1998 1997

1999 Mitsubishi Montero — frequently asked questions

Does the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero?

Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, steering, engine and engine cooling.

What gas mileage does the 1999 Mitsubishi Montero get?

The 1999 Mitsubishi Montero has U.S. EPA estimates of 15–16 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.