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2001 Mitsubishi Montero

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Montero years

Owner complaints for the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero are substantially higher than the model-year median of 20.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

109 reports with mileage · 57 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

22 reports
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150,000 miles · Oct 26, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN SOUNDED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISABLED TO STOP THE HORN FROM SOUNDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN SOUNDED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISABLED TO STOP THE HORN FROM SOUNDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI #10918999

352,478 miles · Sep 3, 2015
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HORN SOUNDED LOUDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN FAILED AND THE HORN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE HORN SOUNDED LOUDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN FAILED AND THE HORN MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 352,478. MA 10/15/2015

NHTSA ODI #10761375

100,000 miles · Oct 24, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE HORN QUIT WORKING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THE AIRBAG HAS A METAL RING INSIDE OF IT THAT MAKES CONTACT TO ACTIVATE THE HORN WHEN PRESSED. THEY CLAIMED THE RING HAS EITHER DETERIORATED OR BROKEN INTERNALLY AND THAT IS WHY THE HORN DOESN'T WORK AN…

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I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY TRUCK BECAUSE THE HORN QUIT WORKING SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES THAT THE AIRBAG HAS A METAL RING INSIDE OF IT THAT MAKES CONTACT TO ACTIVATE THE HORN WHEN PRESSED. THEY CLAIMED THE RING HAS EITHER DETERIORATED OR BROKEN INTERNALLY AND THAT IS WHY THE HORN DOESN'T WORK AND IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR YEARS WITH THESE TRUCKS. BASED ON THE CURRENT RECALLS I AM WONDERING IF THAT ALSO EFFECTS THE AIRBAGS AND IF THEY WILL WORK PROPERLY OR IF THERE COULD BE METAL SHARDS IN THERE THAT WHEN DEPLOYED COULD POSE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649572

151,231 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine

RANDOMLY THE FACTORY ALARM GOES OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH THE HORN BLARING. AFTER A WHILE, THE ALARM DRAINS THE BATTERY, EVEN IF IT RESETS. FUSES HAVE BEEN CHANGED, RELAYS, AND A RESET BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY- TO NO AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599178

80,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical System

THE HORN RANDOMLY STARTS BLARING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IF YOU DO NOT REMOVE THE FUSE. IF YOU REMOVE THE FUSE IT LEAVES YOU WITH NO HORN! COMPLETELY UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING NOT TO HAVE A HORN. CLEARLY THIS DEFECT WAS NEVER CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER LOOKING FOR A CAUSE IN MANY FORUMS, IT IS CLEAR NO ONE IS CERTAIN OF T…

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THE HORN RANDOMLY STARTS BLARING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IF YOU DO NOT REMOVE THE FUSE. IF YOU REMOVE THE FUSE IT LEAVES YOU WITH NO HORN! COMPLETELY UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING NOT TO HAVE A HORN. CLEARLY THIS DEFECT WAS NEVER CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER LOOKING FOR A CAUSE IN MANY FORUMS, IT IS CLEAR NO ONE IS CERTAIN OF THE ACTUAL CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588881

130,000 miles · May 13, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

WHILE VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, HORN STARTED BLARING, LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. HAD TO REMOVE FUSES, SO HORN AND ALARM WOULD STOP GOING OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND THE VERY EARLY AM HOURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511608

159,000 miles · Apr 23, 2013
Air BagsElectrical System

THE HORN RANDOMLY SOUNDS OFF DURING THE NIGHT. I'VE DISCOVERED ITS A TEMPERATURE THING. WHEN ITS COLD OR THE INTERIOR COOLS DOWN THE HORNS STARTS TO BLOW, BUT WHEN WARM EVERYTHING IS FINE. SO MOSTLY AT NIGHT THIS OCCURS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! AS THE CONNECTION RING INSIDE THE AIRBAG IS CLEARLY FAULTY. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLA…

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THE HORN RANDOMLY SOUNDS OFF DURING THE NIGHT. I'VE DISCOVERED ITS A TEMPERATURE THING. WHEN ITS COLD OR THE INTERIOR COOLS DOWN THE HORNS STARTS TO BLOW, BUT WHEN WARM EVERYTHING IS FINE. SO MOSTLY AT NIGHT THIS OCCURS. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! AS THE CONNECTION RING INSIDE THE AIRBAG IS CLEARLY FAULTY. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG OR PULL THE FUSE TO THE HORN. HOW IS THIS SAFE? I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND FOUND THE HORN DIDN'T WORK. THERE WAS NO FUSE! SO I REPLACED IT AND THAT'S WHEN THE PROBLEMS OCCURRED. CLEARLY THE FUSE WAS MISSING FOR THIS VERY REASON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509257

230,000 miles · Jan 18, 2013
Electrical System

ALARM OR HORN SYSTEM KEEP GOING OFF RANDOMLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493387

100,000 miles · Aug 29, 2012
Electrical System

AS THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF W/OUT ANY OPERATOR IN THE CAR. THE CAR REMAINED LOCKED AND NO ONE WAS AROUND. HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO THE HORN, HOWEVER, UPON PUTTING THE FUSE BACK IN THE HORN CONTINUES TO GO OFF RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A CONTINUOUS HO…

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AS THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THE HORN STARTED GOING OFF W/OUT ANY OPERATOR IN THE CAR. THE CAR REMAINED LOCKED AND NO ONE WAS AROUND. HAD TO REMOVE THE FUSE TO THE HORN, HOWEVER, UPON PUTTING THE FUSE BACK IN THE HORN CONTINUES TO GO OFF RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN A CONTINUOUS HONK AS IF SOMEONE IS LAYING ON THE HORN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472952

168,000 miles · Feb 22, 2011
Air BagsElectrical System

1) EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. 2) THE ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AT ALL TIMES OF DAY OR NIGHT. FREQUENCY IS FROM MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS. THE HORN HONKS AND LIGHTS FLASH UNTIL THE ALARM IS RESET OR UNTIL THE BATTERY DIES. 3) FUSES REMOVED BUT ALARM STILL OPERATES. HORNS DISCONNECTED BUT LIGHTS STILL FLAS…

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1) EVENT LEADING TO THE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN. 2) THE ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF FOR NO REASON AT ALL TIMES OF DAY OR NIGHT. FREQUENCY IS FROM MINUTES TO SEVERAL HOURS. THE HORN HONKS AND LIGHTS FLASH UNTIL THE ALARM IS RESET OR UNTIL THE BATTERY DIES. 3) FUSES REMOVED BUT ALARM STILL OPERATES. HORNS DISCONNECTED BUT LIGHTS STILL FLASH. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE ALARM OR DISABLE THE ALARM WITHOUT ALSO TURNING OFF THE HORN. REPORTEDLY, INORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM A SWITCH BEHIND THE AIR BAG MUST BE REPLACED WHICH ALSO REQUIRES REPLACING THE AIRBAG. REPLACING THE AIRBAG IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND OVER $1000. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE ALARM IN A SAFE MANNER. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TOTALLY DISARM OR TURN OFF THE ALARM SYSTEM SIMPLY AND SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384004

Official recalls

4

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

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 & remedy

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.

04V067000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Feb 11, 2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT CONTAIN A STEP-BY-STEP DESCRIPTION FOR HEADREST ADJUSTMENT WHEN INSTALLING A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM (CRS) TETHER STRAP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE TETHER STRAP IS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED TO THE TETHER ANCHOR, THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT RESTRAINED. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE CHILD COULD BE INJURED.

Remedy: A LETTER OUTLINING THE PROBLEM WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS ALONG WITH A STICKER CONTAINING THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE TO AFFIX THE STICKER IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.

01V254001 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Aug 3, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE ACCUMULATOR THAT IS INSTALLED ON THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THIS COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE PRESSURIZED NITROGEN GAS FROM INSIDE THE ACCUMULATOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOSS OF THIS GAS PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH PANEL WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND POSSIBLY A DELAYED FIRST TIME BRAKE BOOST ASSIST AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACCUMULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 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 AT 1-800-222-0037.

00V123002 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

May 1, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS LIMITS THE DRIVER'S FIELD OF VISION ON THAT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REARVIEW MIRROR.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.