Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Owners filed 242 complaints about the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (73).
Complaints
242
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
26
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic73
- Electrical system33
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Power train23
- Air bags23
- Service brakes19
- Suspension15
- Steering14
- Visibility10
- Equipment9
- Structure7
- Exterior lighting6
- Vehicle speed control5
- Engine3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
35
23
16
30
15
11
14
12
5
12
15
8
7
11
6
6
3
2
1
2
2
3
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 35 |
| 2002 | 23 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 14 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
73 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal felt sticky. Additionally, the contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal twice, the brake pedal vibrated and shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS system had failed due a faulty hydraulic pump and accumulator. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V254002 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,600.”
Electrical system
33 reports
“THIS WEEK I HAVE HAD TWO OCCURRENCES WHERE THE HORN JUST STARTS BLARING AND WON'T STOP. ONCE WAS IN THE AFTERNOON, AND THE OTHER WAS AT 5:00 AM. MY ONLY DIY ALTERNATIVES ARE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY (OBVIOUSLY CAN'T USE THE VEHICLE), OR REMOVE THE FUSE (VERY UNSAFE). THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NO WEATHER PROBLEMS, TEMPERATURE WAS MILD (AROUND 70 DEGREES). PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, THE HORN RARELY WORKED AT ALL; AT LEAST NOT WHEN I WANTED IT TO WORK. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND IT APPEAR TO BE VERY WIDESPREAD ON THIS VEHICLE. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT, IT INVOLVES REMOVING THE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY, SO GETTING IT FIXED IS VERY COSTLY (OVER $1000). I EXPECT TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON A FEW ITEMS HERE & THERE ON A 16 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, BUT I DON'T EXPECT TO SPEND OVER $ 1000 ON A VEHICLE JUST TO MAKE THE HORN WORK RIGHT.”
Engine and engine cooling
29 reports1 fire
“MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATES WHEN TOWING, ON STEEP GRADES, OR EVEN CONTINUOUSLY. DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0125 IS DISPLAYED INDICATING INSUFFICIENT COOLANT TEMPERATURE, EVEN THOUGH ACTUAL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE OF 200 TO 215 DEGREES. REPLACEMENT OF COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSORS (2) AND THERMOSTAT WILL NOT RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM! THIS IS A KNOWN COMPUTER ERROR THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT ADDRESS OR PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF. NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10001033 MMNA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 0313001. *TR”
Power train
23 reports1 crash3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. WHILE DECELERATING, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE TRANSFER CASE ENGAGED ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.”
Air bags
23 reports17 crashes
“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”
Service brakes
19 reports1 crash
“Brake lines completely rusted through and I lost all brakes while heading to work, thankfully I was able to pull the emergency brake to slow down and I coasted through a red light blowing my horn so I was not hit. I bought this vehicle brand new with only 3 miles on it and ever since I initially got it , it began to rust. Clearly it was not rust treated as everything under the body and alot under the hood is rusted. There is even metal inside of the vehicle cabin that is rusted, like the gas cap lever. This vehicle should have been recalled many years ago like the Outlander due to all of the rust the vehicle gets under it causing thing to fail while its being driven. My vehicle just has a little over 100,000 miles on it and it now sits after that brake incident as I am afraid to drive it seeing all of the rust under it. Even the running boards are all rusted underneath. I am sure that everyone with this model vehicle has experienced the same problem but these vehicles are dangerous on the roads due to everything on them rusting .”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.