1999 Mitsubishi Nativa recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
3 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Engine
What's wrong, in plain English: Engine problems range from stalling to fire. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
What could happen: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 NATIVA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mitsubishi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 00V311002.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence: THE CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW, IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT ON THE OLDER ENGINES. ON NEW ENGINES WHICH ALREADY HAVE THE IMPROVED BOLT, THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATION. ON THE MONTERO MODELS, DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT TO THE CORRECT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS. IF THE BOLT IS DAMAGED, IT WILL BE REPLACED.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE BEGINS JANUARY 5, 2001. THE MIRAGE VEHICLE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED FROM JANUARY 5 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2, 2001. THE NATIVA OWNERS FROM FEBRUARY 6 THROUGH FEBRUARY 12, 2001. THE MONTERO OWNERS FROM FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 12, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
2. Equipment
What's wrong, in plain English: A part or accessory supplied with the vehicle. 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.
What could happen: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The fix: 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 DURI…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 NATIVA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mitsubishi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 04V428000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-787-251-8715.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: 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.
Notes: THE MANUFACTURER'S PETITION WHICH REQUESTED THAT NHTSA DETERMINE THIS FMVSS NONCOMPLIANCE DOES NOT CREATE AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY WAS PARTIALLY DENIED ON JANUARY 26, 2005. THEREFORE, THIS MANUFACTURER IS OBLIGATED TO CONDUCT AN OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN.
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.
3. Transmission / drivetrain
What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD BE VENTED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF UNANTICIPATED HEAT GENERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION.
What could happen: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD RESULT.
The fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT TO LIMIT VEHICLE SPEED TO BELOW APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE, AN ADDITIONAL LABEL DESCRIBING THE PROPER USE OF FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE WILL BE PROVIDED, AND WILL RELOCATE THE TRANSMISSION BREATHER VEN…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1999 NATIVA.
- Book a repair at any authorized Mitsubishi dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 99V041001.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD BE VENTED ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF UNANTICIPATED HEAT GENERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION.
Consequence: THE VENTED TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IGNITION OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT TO LIMIT VEHICLE SPEED TO BELOW APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE, AN ADDITIONAL LABEL DESCRIBING THE PROPER USE OF FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE WILL BE PROVIDED, AND WILL RELOCATE THE TRANSMISSION BREATHER VENT. IN ADDITION, THE OWNER'S MANUAL WILL BE CORRECTED WITH THE PROPER INFORMATION TO REFLECT THE CHANGE TO THE SPEED LIMITATIONS IN THE FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE.
Notes: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 9, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Engine (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (1)
11/03/2003 · Engine
NHTSA RECALL 00V31100 CONCERNING PASSENGERS VEHICLES: MIRAGE MODEL EQUIPPED WITH 1.5L ENGINE ; MONTERO SPORT MODEL EQUIPPED WITH 3.0L ENGINE AND MONTERO MODEL EQUIPPED WITH 3.O1L ENGINE. THE BOLT SECURING THE CRANKSHAFT PULLEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AND THE PULLEY COULD FALL OFF THE VEHICLE. ON THE MIRAGE VEHICLES DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW/ IMPROVED CRANKSHAFT…