1996 Mitsubishi Montero — 3.0L

The 1996 Mitsubishi Montero represents a notable inflection point within its generation: complaints dropped sharply to 29 from the alarming 1995 peak of 99, while recalls remained modest at 2 (down from 3 the prior year). However, this apparent improvement was short-lived, as complaints surged again to 98 in 1997 and 80 in 1998, with the latter triggering an NHTSA investigation. The 1996 model also shows a substantial increase in TSBs (54 vs. 36 in 1995), indicating the manufacturer was issuing more technical service guidance—potentially addressing emerging reliability concerns. The top complaint categories were Engine & Engine Cooling (6), Service Brakes/Hydraulic (4), and Steering (3), with no crash or fire complaints recorded. The 1996 model appears to sit in a temporary trough before the late-1990s spike, suggesting it may have benefited from mid-cycle corrections or component updates, though the elevated TSB count warrants scrutiny during pre-purchase inspection. This year is comparatively safer than the 1995 and 1997-1998 models but should still be evaluated with a thorough mechanical review.