WHEN I STEP ON THE BREAK PEDAL I HEAR A BUZZING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE BREAK IS NOT FUNCTIONAL SINCE IT IS HARD AND STAYS UP WHILE I DEPRESS WITH MY FOOT. WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING I HEAR THIS SOUND PERIODICAL AND A STEADY SOUND WITH THE ANTI LOCK/ BREAK LIGHT ON
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
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.
What owners actually said
166 reportsWHILE 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
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…
Read full complaint
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING 10 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A PRECEDING VEHICLE THAN ABRUPTLY APPLIED THEIR BRAKES. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT. THE POLICE WERE NOT CO…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS TRAVELING 10 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO AVOID A PRECEDING VEHICLE THAN ABRUPTLY APPLIED THEIR BRAKES. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ADDITIONAL CRASHES AS A RESULT OF FAILED BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS ACCUMULATOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, BASED ON HIS RESEARCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000.
ALARM OR HORN SYSTEM KEEP GOING OFF RANDOMLY. *TR
1TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE IN PARK, SHE WOULD HEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONT…
Read full complaint
1TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE IN PARK, SHE WOULD HEAR A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ACCUMULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED HER THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE RECALL WAS EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000. UPDATED 1/29/13 *CN UPDATED 2/6/2013*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER PARKING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUE ROLLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER PARKING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND CONTINUE ROLLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCUMULATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,900.
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…
Read full complaint
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
SAME HAPPENED TO MY CAR. *TR
I'M DRIVING DOWNHILL WHEN MY BRAKES START ACTING UP. IT WAS SO HARD AND NO POWER BRAKES , I NEEDED TO USE THE HAND BRAKES TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T GOING HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK TO THE DEALER COST A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID MY POWER BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT F…
Read full complaint
I'M DRIVING DOWNHILL WHEN MY BRAKES START ACTING UP. IT WAS SO HARD AND NO POWER BRAKES , I NEEDED TO USE THE HAND BRAKES TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T GOING HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. TOOK TO THE DEALER COST A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID MY POWER BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIX RIGHT AWAY IT COST FEW THOUSAND BUCKS FOR THE NEW ONE AND I DON'T WANT PUT A USED ONE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF ITS GOING TO LAST. HOW COME MITSUBISHI MOTORS CAN'T HELP US FOR THIS THEY KNOW THESE PARTS ARE NOT GOING TO LAST. THAT'S WHY THEY CHANGED IT AND PUT A DIFFERENT ONE ON THEIR 2003 AND UP MODELS. *JB
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.
Illustration