2004 Mitsubishi Montero problems
The Mitsubishi Pajero (三菱・パジェロ, Japanese: ; English: /pəˈhɛroʊ/; Spanish: ) is a full-size SUV (sport utility vehicle) manufactured and marketed globally by Mitsubishi over four generations — introduced in 1981 and discontinued in 2021.
The Pajero nameplate derives from Leopardus pajeros, the Pampas cat. Mitsubishi marketed the SUV as the Montero in North America, Spain, and Latin America (except for Brazil and Jamaica) due to the term "pajero" being derogatory (meaning "wanker") in Spanish. In the United Kingdom, it was known as the Shogun (将軍), named after the Japanese word for "General." The model was discontinued in North America in 2006.
The Pajero, Montero, and Shogun names were used on other, mechanically unrelated models, such as the Pajero Mini kei car, the Pajero Junior and Pajero iO/Pinin mini SUVs, and the Triton-based Pajero/Montero/Shogun Sport mid-size SUVs. The Pajero is one of four models by Mitsubishi (the others being the Triton, Pajero Sport and the Pajero iO) that share Mitsubishi's heavy-duty, off-road-oriented Super-Select four-wheel-drive system as opposed to their light-duty Mitsubishi S-AWC all-wheel-drive system.
The Pajero has generated more than 3.3 million sales in its 40-year run. The name lives with the smaller Pajero Sport, which is based on the Mitsubishi Triton/L200/Strada pickup. Despite the similarity in name, the Pajero Sport shares none of the original Pajero's underpinnings and is smaller in overall size.
Social links
Common 2004 Mitsubishi Montero problems
The Mitsubishi Montero, particularly the 2004 model, has been reported to have several common problems based on complaints from owners. Here are some of the most frequently reported issues:
- Electrical Component Malfunction: The 2001 Montero has several different issues with certain electrical components malfunctioning. In one instance, the horn would honk even when the vehicle is parked. One owner has reported that their horn started blaring in the middle of the night. They said that the only way to stop it was to disconnect the vehicle’s battery or else it would be drained. Two owners have reported that their Montero’s alarm would activate in the middle of the night. Similarly, the alarm would refuse to deactivate until the battery was disconnected. One owner was told by his dealer that the cause of the issue is a worn-out metal ring inside the airbag housing, which acts as a switch when the horn is pressed. Other owners simply removed the horn’s fuse, which robbed the SUV of a horn but at least solved the problem. One owner was charged by his dealership around $1000 to fix the issue, though they didn’t specify the details of the repair.
- ABS/ASC Problems: The 2004 Montero LTD has been reported to have issues with the ABS/ASC system. The ABS/ASC lights come on if the vehicle is accelerated on an incline. The mechanic scanned the car and gave the following error codes: ABS/ASC/ASTC No. 35 - Engine FAIL TCL / HBB No. 35 - Engine FAIL SRS No. 21 - D-AB SQ Trouble 1 No. 22 - D-AB SQ Trouble 2 No. 45 - SRS Diag. Unit MFI. The mechanic cleared the codes, and the owner is thinking of driving the car for another week to see if anything lights up or changes. The owner is wondering if most of the problems are electrical or wiring in nature. For example, the air bag ones seem to be short circuits, and the CEL problem seems to be a cabling problem as well. This might also explain the lack of Cruise Control.
- O2 Sensor and Warm up TWC Failure: The 2004 Montero LTD has been reported to have issues with the O2 sensor and warm up TWC. The error codes P0155 - O2 sensor (Bank 2, S1) and P0421 - Warm up TWC (Bank 1) have been reported. These codes indicate that the O2 sensor and the warm up TWC are not functioning properly, which can cause issues with the vehicle's emissions and fuel efficiency.
- Coolant Thermostat Failure: The 2004 Montero LTD has been reported to have issues with the coolant thermostat. The error code P0128 - Coolant thermostat has been reported, indicating that the coolant thermostat is not functioning properly. This can cause issues with the vehicle's engine temperature and overall performance.
- Intake Manifold Tuning Valve Failure: The 2004 Montero LTD has been reported to have issues with the intake manifold tuning valve. The error code P0660 - Intake Manifold Tuning Valve has been reported, indicating that the intake manifold tuning valve is not functioning properly. This can cause issues with the vehicle's engine performance and fuel efficiency.
- Camshaft Position Sensor Failure: The 2004 Montero LTD has been reported to have issues with the camshaft position sensor. The error code P0340 - Camshaft Position Sensor has been reported, indicating that the camshaft position sensor is not functioning properly. This can cause issues with the vehicle's engine performance and fuel efficiency.
- Knock Sensor Circuit Failure: The 2004 Montero LTD has been reported to have issues with the knock sensor circuit. The error code P0325 - Knock Sensor Circuit has been reported, indicating that the knock sensor circuit is not functioning properly. This can cause issues with the vehicle's engine performance and fuel efficiency.
These issues can be frustrating for Montero owners, but it's important to note that not all vehicles of this model will experience these problems. If you are considering purchasing a Montero, it's a good idea to have any potential issues inspected by a qualified mechanic before making a decision.
Is A Mitsubishi Montero a reliable car?
Is the Mitsubishi Montero Reliable? According to MotorTrend and various forums, the Montero is overall a reliable SUV. However, there are certain model years that run into problems in their transmissions, braking, and engines, which are always certainly expensive to fix. These are the 2001 to 2002 Montero models.
What is the gas mileage on a 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Limited?
Based on data from 6 vehicles, 96 fuel-ups and 21,767 miles of driving, the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero gets a combined Avg MPG of 13.03 with a 0.82 MPG margin of error.
Is Montero Sport fuel efficient?
Fuel economy
During our testing, the midsize SUV was able to return about 7km/L in heavy city traffic and 17.7km/L in real-world highway conditions. In a mixed city and highway driving conditions, the Montero Sport was able to put up a fuel economy figure of 14.4km/L.
How many miles can a Mitsubishi Montero last?
I have a few customers well into the 300k mile range, and a lot of customers in the 200s. Really it all depends on how well the vehicle is maintained, but it is unusual to see any major failures even at this mileage provided the basic maintenance is done on time.
2004 Mitsubishi Montero car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mitsubishi Montero problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Steering problems
- Unknown or other problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2004 Mitsubishi Montero vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2004 Mitsubishi Montero complaints
The NHTSA has received 5 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero.
STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-01-31
- VIN: JA4MW51S54J
- Components: STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Limited: Hydraulic Brake Booster is malfunctioning, making a ("gobble-gobble", squirrel-like chirping sound) almost every time the brake pedal is pressed. Hwy driving, without the use of brakes, the frequent "chirping" sounds still occur. Under medium to heavy braking, the vehicle shudders and shakes. This specific sound is made in all gear selections and even when the car's battery is on/engine off. Upon inspection of the hydraulic brake booster under the hood, the unit shakes when the chirp sound is made. Duration of the sound lasts around one second and it happens frequently (5-10 times per minute).
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2016-02-06
- VIN: JA4MT21RX4J
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: THERE ARE HOLES IN FRAME IN FRONT AREA THE REST OF FRAME FROM CONVER IS OK WANTED TO KNOW WHAT OR HOW GET FIXED THIS WAS LIKE THIS WHEN I PURCHASED IT IF I NEED TO SEND PHOTOS LET ME KNOW SOME HOW IT WAS MISSING THE CALLIC CONVER THAT I NOTICED THE HOLES ON BOTH SIDES IT WAS ALSO BLOWNEN BEAK LIGHTS OUT I PAY & 98 TO HAVE FIX
SERVICE BRAKES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-06-01
- VIN: JA4MW51R81J
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD TO DEPRESS. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE ACTIVATED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE HYDRAULIC BOOSTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REMEDIED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V254001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-10-04
- VIN: JA4NW51S73J
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DIAGNOSES PULLED APPROXIMATELY 20 DIFFERENT CODES. AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 125,000.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-09-13
- VIN: JA4MW51S44J
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE BRAKES HAD LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON THEM BEFORE THEY NEEDED TO BE CHANGED, AND WERE CHANGED IN MAY 2005. CURRENTLY, NEED NEW FRONT BRAKES . THE DEALER AND MITSUBISHI POINTED THE FINGER AT EACH OTHER. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A SQUEAKING/GRINDING NOISE.*AK
2004 Mitsubishi Montero recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 2004 Mitsubishi Montero.
- Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
- Remedy: 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 EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
- Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: IF THE FUEL LEVELING VALVE DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY, FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
- Remedy: 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.
- Manufacturer: MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
- Summary: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE VEHICLE CAPACITY WEIGHTS AS STATED ON THE TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION LABEL ARE IN ERROR.
- Consequence: THIS INFORMATION COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN CONSUMERS LOADING THEIR VEHICLES BEYOND THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR).
- Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE SENT REPLACEMENT LABELS WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO INSTALL THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 14, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
Negative 2004 Mitsubishi Montero car reviews
Positive 2004 Mitsubishi Montero car reviews
-
I came across some reviews that mentioned the Montero lacked power. However, as a senior citizen, I no longer feel the need to drive every vehicle like it's a Porsche. For me, this vehicle has plenty of power. During mountain driving, the 5-speed auto will downshift to lower gears, which can make it feel a bit sluggish. It's worth noting that gas mileage isn't great, but that's to be expected with an SUV. Lastly, the third-row seat is not intended for adults to get in and out of; it's designed for children or very flexible adults.
-
It's as good as an expedition with better gas mileage.
-
This car is so much fun to drive! I absolutely love it. In fact, it's been one of my best cars ever. I used to have a Dodge Caravan that I loved, but now I don't know what I was thinking. I have truly found my perfect car. It's just fantastic!
-
The best 7-passenger off-road capable SUV for the money! The interior is fantastic, and the exterior is good-looking. Plus, it performs well off-road.
-
Great family car. It's very comfortable. I often receive compliments from people when just driving by.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2004 Mitsubishi Montero problems:
Common Problems? - Mitsubishi Forum - Mitsubishi Enthusiast ...
Nov 10, 2008 ... Mitsubishi Montero & Montero Sport - Common Problems? - Hello, I amplanning to purchase a 1996 Montero with about 130k miles.
Q&A: 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Limited - Common Problems
Jan 1, 2016 ... If both check out, plug then both in then back probe the 5v wire on sensor. In this state rotate the crank pulley by hand (do not use the ...
Common Problems with 3rd Gen Montero's - Mitsubishi Forum ...
Jan 14, 2015 ... Ignition Control Module and Throttle Position Sensor are issues I have seen are common, from reading here. I just bought an 02 with 96k miles ...
Mitsubishi Montero Q&A: Common Problems, 2004 Limited Edition ...
Apr 20, 2021 ... This is a pretty common problem on these once they get to this age, where the indicator switches which are on the transfer case, will corrode ...
2004 Mitsubishi Montero Sport Problems and Complaints - 3 Issues
Problem with your 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Sport? Our list of 3 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2004 Mitsubishi Montero Sport.
Sylvester Berge 2024-08-14
The car has a few issues such as underpowered engine, weak exterior, and front bumper damage in a 20 mph crash. Additionally, the power window mechanism tends to freeze up in winter, and the bottom part of the rear doors tends to collect dirt over the rear fender. The SRS slip control system, similar to ABS, prevents good off-road capability, especially on snow. However, the car has a great interior with all instruments in the right location. The third-row seat is a bit small, suitable for children only.
Alf Brakus 2024-06-17
Love it! This is the best off-road vehicle I've owned in 42 years.