EN ES

Mitsubishi Montero VIN Number Check

Decode a Mitsubishi Montero VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.

VIN prefixJA4

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Mitsubishi Montero

About the Mitsubishi Montero

Mitsubishi sold the Montero in the US for model years 1990–2006. Across those years NHTSA lists 16 vehicle recall campaigns and 1,111 owner complaints. The 2001 has the most complaints of any model year (229). EPA rates it at 14–21 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2006
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle
NHTSA recall campaigns16
Owner complaints1,111 at NHTSA
Mitsubishi Montero photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Mitsubishi Montero at a glance

One generation in the data, 1990–2006: 16 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,111 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Montero
1990–2006Sport Utility Vehicle
1990199520002005
1990–2006

Mitsubishi Montero

EPA classSport Utility Vehicle
EPA combined mpg14–21
NHTSA recalls16

Engines (EPA)

  • 2.6 L 4-cyl · 1990
  • 3.0 L 6-cyl · 1990–2003
  • 3.5 L 6-cyl · 1994–2004
  • 2.4 L 4-cyl · 1997–1999
  • 3.8 L 6-cyl · 2003–2006

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • manual (1990–2000), automatic (1990–2006)

Known issues to check

Brakes (295)Engine and cooling (225)Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (107)2 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 1,111 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · MonteroJA4MW51R?1J······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero, built in Nagoya, Japan
Check a Montero VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Montero model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 16 campaigns on file for Montero model years 1990–2006; no single year stands out (5 at most). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2001
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recall
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Transport Canada recalls for these model years were checked against this list; each one matches an NHTSA campaign shown here. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Mitsubishi Montero owners report

NHTSA data

Between them, the 2001 and 2002 hold 394 of the 1,111 complaints, or 35%. Tap any bar or generation.

1,111NHTSA complaints, 1990–2006
124mention a crash
27mention a fire
132injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearMontero: 1,111 complaints · most for the 2001 (229)

Top complaint areas · Montero

Mentions in 1,111 complaints, 1990–2006.

Brakes295
Engine and cooling225
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)107
Electrical system105
Suspension95
Air bags91
Crashes 124Fires 27Injuries 132

1990–2006

NHTSA data summary

The 2001 is the outlier. On its own it has 229 of the ’s 1,111 complaints (21%), more than any other Montero model year, and owners across the generation name brakes most often (295 mentions), then engine and cooling (225).

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

Montero complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Montero version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

1,111complaints, 1990–2006
124mention a crash
27mention a fire
132injuries reported
8complaints report a death
Most complaints: 2001 (229), 2002 (165), 2000 (147)
’90’95147’00229’01165’02’05

2001 · 229 complaints

Crashes 23 · fires 5 · injuries 22

Service brakes91
Electrical system33
Engine and engine cooling27
Air bags21
Power train21

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Montero CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 76 Montero versions for model years 1990–2006. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 423 g/mi (1998). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Montero1990–2006

14–21 mpg · CO₂ 423–635 g/mi

2006
15combined MPG
592CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$5,500EPA yearly fuel cost
1/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
not ratedGreenhouse gas rating
BIN 9Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2006: Montero · Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.8 L — 15 MPG · 592 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
35045055065075019901995200020051990 · Gas: 5551991 · Gas: 5921992 · Gas: 5921993 · Gas: 5921994 · Gas: 5921995 · Gas: 5921996 · Gas: 5921997 · Gas: 4231998 · Gas: 4231999 · Gas: 4442000 · Gas: 5232001 · Gas: 4942002 · Gas: 4942003 · Gas: 4942004 · Gas: 5232005 · Gas: 5922006 · Gas: 592
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Montero vs Ford Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 1990–2006. NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the Montero, against 42 for the Ford Explorer and 44 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Pick a range to compare.

Mitsubishi Montero

Model years 1990–2006

NHTSA recall campaigns
16
NHTSA owner complaints
1,111
EPA combined mpg
14–21
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.4, 2.6 L · 6-cyl 3.0, 3.5, 3.8 L
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Brakes 295
  2. Engine and cooling 225
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 107

Ford Explorer

Model years 1990–2006

NHTSA recall campaigns
42
NHTSA owner complaints
20,210
EPA combined mpg
14–18
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 4.0 L · 8-cyl 4.6, 5.0 L · Electric
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 4,152
  2. Tires 4,070
  3. Structure and body 2,294

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Model years 1990–2006

NHTSA recall campaigns
44
NHTSA owner complaints
15,620
EPA combined mpg
12–17
Engines (EPA)
6-cyl 3.7, 4.0 L · 8-cyl 4.7–6.1 L
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 2,919
  2. Brakes 2,861
  3. Electrical system 2,570

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Mitsubishi Montero VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Montero

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Green Mitsubishi Montero (third generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Montero was discontinued for the US market after 2006. Its body-on-frame construction places the VIN at the dashboard plate, the door jamb sticker, and a frame rail stamp near the front axle. Engine bay stamp is also present.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Mitsubishi Montero VIN questions

Which Mitsubishi Montero model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2001 leads with 229, ahead of the 2002 (165) and 2000 (147). Those first two alone make up 35% of the 1,111 Montero complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Mitsubishi Montero had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 16 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2006, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Mitsubishi Montero recalls are high risk?

20V-035 covers air bag inflators that can rupture. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 04V-319. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Mitsubishi Montero get?

It varies. EPA rates the 1990–2006 Montero at 14–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Mitsubishi Montero compare with the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee on recalls?

For 1990–2006 models the Montero has 16 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Ford Explorer has 42, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 44. Complaints run 1,111, 20,210 and 15,620 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

Other Mitsubishi models

Check another Mitsubishi model

OutlanderEclipse CrossGalantLancerMirageEndeavor
Related reading

Guides & alerts for used car buyers