Model year guide

2002 Mitsubishi Montero

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 15 on record.

2002 Mitsubishi Montero — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2002 Mitsubishi Montero at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints174
Combined14–15 mpg
Typical price$2,660

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

2002 Mitsubishi Montero recalls 3

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum NHTSA Campaign #01V254001 · 03/08/2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACCUMULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

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…

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage NHTSA Campaign #04V319000 · 06/07/2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FACING FORWARD ON AN UPWARD SLOPE, THE FUEL TANK LEVELING VALVE MAY NOT MAINTAIN PROPER SEALING IN THE EVENT THE FUEL EXPANDS FROM A RISE IN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEVELING VALVE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

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.

2002 Mitsubishi Montero common problems

Owners have filed 174 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

2002 Mitsubishi Montero MPG & running costs

Combined14–15 mpg
City14 mpg
Highway17 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$5,675

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero worth?

Low
$1,300
Typical price
$2,660
High
$3,800

From 15 comparable 2002 Mitsubishi Montero listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$28,375
Fuel only$28,375
Per mile$0.38

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.

2002 Mitsubishi Montero trims & engines on record

Trims
Limited · XLS
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl

2002 Mitsubishi Montero vehicles on record

2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R52J032749 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R12J054280 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R22J046642 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R52J046697 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R22J071122 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R82J052008 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R02J031931 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R32J011611 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R32J010961 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R02J033355 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51RX2J040586 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero XLSJA4MW31RX2J007107 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R32J002357 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero LimitedJA4MW51R02J058627 2002 Mitsubishi Montero 2002 Mitsubishi Montero XLSJA4MW31R22J022491

Other Mitsubishi Montero model years

2006 2005 2004 2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

2002 Mitsubishi Montero — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2002 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 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?

Owners have filed 174 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, fuel/propulsion system, exterior lighting.

What gas mileage does the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero get?

The 2002 Mitsubishi Montero has U.S. EPA estimates of 14–15 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

How much is a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero worth?

Comparable 2002 Mitsubishi Montero listings run roughly $1,300–$3,800, typically around $2,660 (from 15 vehicles).

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