The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·20V035000·Announced 2020-01-23

Mitsubishi Recalls 1998-2000 Montero Vehicles for Air Bag Inflator Defect

Mitsubishi is recalling 1998-2000 Montero vehicles because air bag inflators may rupture or underinflate in a crash, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the defect increases the risk of serious injury or death due to potential metal fragments from inflator rupture, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating involving significant injury reports or structural safety defects.

Plain-English summary

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. is recalling certain 1998-2000 Mitsubishi Montero vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) that do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, these inflators may absorb moisture, which can cause the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. Additionally, an underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant. These scenarios increase the risk of serious injury or death.

Mitsubishi Motors North America will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag inflator free of charge. The recall began on February 25, 2021. Owners may contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Mitsubishi's number for this recall is SR-20-001. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
MITSUBISHI MONTERO
Brand
MITSUBISHI
Manufacturer
Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
18,123

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • MONTERO

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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