2001 Mitsubishi MONTERO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
166 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
107,371 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 109 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 166 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 79 | 47.6% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 4.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum | 24 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 |
| Service Brakes | 17 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 10 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum: 24; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 23; Service Brakes: 17; Electrical System: 13; Electrical System:Horn: 10; Air Bags: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Suspension: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 35 |
| 150,000 and above | 28 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 35; 150,000 and above: 28
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 57 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2000: 2; 2001: 21; 2002: 13; 2003: 9; 2004: 20; 2005: 7; 2006: 7; 2007: 12; 2008: 9; 2009: 4; 2010: 7; 2011: 14; 2012: 6; 2013: 6; 2014: 10; 2015: 5; 2016: 5; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 79 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000910 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS. FIRST: I HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER TO LOCATE A VERY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. IT HAS TO BE IN SOMETHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE STEERING OR I GUESS SUSPENSION. I HAVE HAD THE RIGHT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED, NEW TIRES AND A BRAKE JOB THAT I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE DONE ON THE TRUCK AND I STILL HAVE THE NOISE THAT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN. WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT, THE CAR HAS LOUD HUM. WHEN I STEER TO THE RIGHT AND THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK SHIFTS TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001616 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HWY AT 65MPH SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE DROPPED THE SPEED FROM 65 TO 30 CAUSING RAPID LOSS OF SPEED, CONSUMER PULL OFF THE ROAD, DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOUND THE RADIATOR IS BROKE, TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS WELL PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. AS I MENTIONED THERE ARE TWO RECALLS #1 NHTSA 01-V-254-001 ON 7/30/2001 ABOUT BRAKE BOOSTER #2 NHTSA 00-V-123-002 ON 03/28/01 ABOUT REAR VIEW MIRROR. PLEASE CALL THE MANUFACTURER AT [phone removed] SEE IF YOUR VEHICLE APPLY FOR THOSE RECALL. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048284 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
ENGINE STALLS CONSTANTLY WHEN COMING TO STOPS.ALSO, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHEN TURNING IN ANY DIRECTION. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048284 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048676 · 2003-11-25 (November 25, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM BROKE AND AS A RESULT TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED INTO THE RADIATOR WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER WHERE THEY INDICATED THE COST OF REPAIRS WOULD BE $1,000. THE CONSUMER HAS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222391 · 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)
MARCH 25TH 2008: CAR WAS PARKED AT GOLF COURSE AND HORN BEGAN TO SOUND CONTINUOUSLY. HAD TO DISCONNECT BATTERY AND THE PULL FUSES TO STOP HORN. DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A STUCK SWITCH IN THE HORN ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING PAD/AIRBAG ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $1175 PARTS AND LABOR. ON SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FIND THIS BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MONTEROS PRIOR TO 2003. I CAN'T FIND A RECALL ON THIS BUT BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 105,420 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375264 · 2011-01-09 (January 9, 2011)
WITHIN THE LAST 30 DAYS WHENEVER THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 18F DEGREES THE HORN WILL CONTINUOUSLY BLOW. INITIALLY THE BATTERY IS DISCONNECTED TO STOP THE HORN FROM MAKING ITS NOISE. THEN HORN RELAY IS REMOVED TO DISABLE THE HORN COMPLETELY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 5 TIMES. A MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 164,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046159 · 2003-11-03 (November 3, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING FOR OVER AN HOUR VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER PULLED OFF THE ROAD. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL RECURRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10822697 · 2016-01-27 (January 27, 2016)
GAS LEAK FROM THE FRONT MOUNT AREA OF THE SENDING UNIT ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. SIGNIFICANT LEAK, ODOR OF GAS OVERWHELMING. QUOTED $1200 TO REPAIR. ALL SALVAGED TANKS/KITS IN SIMILAR CONDITION. FIRE HAZARD, AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED BY AUTO MASTERS TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR SAFETY REASONS. IT LEAKS WHEN IT IS RUNNING DUE TO THE BUILT UP PRESSURE. NOW HARD TO START BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE (BEING LOST FROM THE LEAK). ANOTHER SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822697 at NHTSA ↗