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2002 Mitsubishi Montero reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source ↗
NHTSA complaints
132
4 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
SERVICE BRAKES
21 complaints
Recalls on record
0
none on record
Reported harm
11 reported crashes · 11 injuries · 2 deaths · 1 fire

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#3,500

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Mitsubishi median

-43

median 175 across 37 Mitsubishi records

Vs 2000-2004

-121

median 253 complaints in 771 records

Top component share

29%

Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 38 complaints

What owners report fails — 2002 Mitsubishi Montero

  • SERVICE BRAKES 21
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 17
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM 15
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP 6

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2002 Mitsubishi Montero units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero reliable?

NHTSA has 132 consumer complaints on record for the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (21 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2002 Mitsubishi Montero units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?

Owners most often report problems with: service brakes (21), service brakes, hydraulic (17), service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum (15), electrical system (7). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 2002 Mitsubishi Montero?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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