IllustrationMONTERO UNDER 50,000 MILES. HAVE TO REPLACE COMPRESSOR, ALIGNMENT BARS FOR SUN ROOF, AND BRAKES. COST $2700 WITH LABOR. HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS. NO WARRANTY LEFT. MONTERO HAS TO BE JUMPED TO TURN ON, BUCKS WITH DEFROST ON, NO AIR, NO RADIO, AND BRAKES ARE BAD. DEALER WILL NOT HELP WITH COST. *NM
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
Compare all Montero years →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
40–25K
1125–50K
1750–75K
1475–100K
35100–150K
28150K+
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
56 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH PANEL AREA. A NHTSA RECALL, #01V254001 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE SERVICE BRAKES POWER ASSIST VACUUM HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAI…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH PANEL AREA. A NHTSA RECALL, #01V254001 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE SERVICE BRAKES POWER ASSIST VACUUM HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE UNDER THE RECALL.
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A METAL TO METAL GRINDING SOUND. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR, NHTSA # 01V254001. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO OWNERSHIP UNDER THIS RECALL. THE RECALL WORK HAS FAILED. *JB UPDATED 2/7/2006…
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DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THERE WAS A METAL TO METAL GRINDING SOUND. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKE ACCUMULATOR, NHTSA # 01V254001. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO OWNERSHIP UNDER THIS RECALL. THE RECALL WORK HAS FAILED. *JB UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM
REFUSAL TO COMPLY WITH RECALL ID# 01V254001. WE TOOK OUR 2001 MONTERO TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER AS THE BRAKE PART HAD GONE BAD JUST AS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN INSPECTED WHEN NEW AND IT WAS DEEMED OK. IT WAS NEVER REPLACED AND NOW THAT IT HAS BECOME DEFECTIVE THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT. *JB
DT: THE SERVICE BRAKE WAS DOING THE SAME THING AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR ACCUMULATOR ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM . IT MADE A PRESSURE NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH WHERE MASTER CYLINDER WAS AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE WHOLE PIECE WILL ACTUALLY SHAKEN. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY WILL CHARGE TO LOOK AT IT. *AK
THE 2001 MONTERO XLS EXPERIENCED 7 INSTANCES OF BRAKE FAILURES. *BF MOST OF THE BRAKE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS. *SC *JB
BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 27000 MILES. THEN AGAIN, THE ROTORS WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED ON BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT AT 43000 MILES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS IS DUE TO DRIVER ABUSE.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON THE 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO LIMITED. *MR THE ROTORS, FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE REPLACED DUE TO VIOLENT SHAKING. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *SC *JB
PROBLEMS WITH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS. *MR THE ROTORS HAD BEEN WARPED WHICH MADE STOPPING VERY DIFFICULT DUE TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AND THE ROTORS WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE VEHICLE. *SC *JB
DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR (NHTSA ID#01V254001) ON MY 2001 MONTERO CAUSED MY BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION WHICH RESULTED WITH ME REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE! THIS HAPPENED OVER 1 YEAR AGO AND THE DEFECTIVE PART HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE SOUND WHILE BRAKING FOR OVER 2 YEARS. EVERYTIME I P…
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DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER ACCUMULATOR (NHTSA ID#01V254001) ON MY 2001 MONTERO CAUSED MY BRAKES TO FAIL WHILE STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION WHICH RESULTED WITH ME REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE! THIS HAPPENED OVER 1 YEAR AGO AND THE DEFECTIVE PART HAS BEEN MAKING A TERRIBLE SOUND WHILE BRAKING FOR OVER 2 YEARS. EVERYTIME I PERFORMED MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE. NO ONE COULD CONFIRM WHAT WAS CAUSING THIS NOISE. I JUST FOUND OUT TODAY (06/08/2004) WHAT THE PART IS AND THAT IT'S KNOWN TO FAIL, CAUSING CRASHES WHAT HAPPENED ON 03/10/2003. I WAS CITED FOR "FAILURE TO YIELD, BUT CONTESTED THAT MY BRAKES FAILED AT THE POINT OF AVOIDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE? THE BRAKES WOULD CONTINUE TO FAIL IF I CAME TO A FAST STOP AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE VERY CAREFULLY SINCE THIS ACCIDENT. LUCKILY I CAME ACCROSS THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND DISCOVERED THAT I HAD A DEFECTIVE PART!!! ACCIDENT CAUSED MY VEHICLE $1,700.00 IN DAMAGES AND THE OTHER VEHICLE DAMAGE. ALSO (NOT SURE $ / COVERED BY INSURANCE) HOW DO I GO ABOUT FILING A CLAIM FOR MY VEHICLES DAMAGE OF $1,700.00 AND GETTING THIS PART EXCHANGED??? THE MITSUBISHI DEALER I PURCHASED MY 2001 MONTERO FROM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS YEARS AGO. *AK
Official recalls
404V428000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.