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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

Air Bags complaints

14 reports
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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

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2014
Air Bags

THE HORN STAYS ON. HAD TO UNPLUG IT. IT IS PART OF THE AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10592625

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

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

66,000 miles · Jun 14, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT-END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BRUISING IN THE COLLISION, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10159819

130,000 miles · May 7, 2004
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH IN THE RAIN A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER SWERVED TO AVOID THE DEER AND WENT INTO A DITCH. FRONT OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK A METAL POLE IN A DRIVEWAY AND FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION, BUT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10072271

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2004
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH A DEER RAN IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS HIT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, IT SKIDDED INTO A GUARD RAIL, AND FLIPPED OVER BEFORE ROLLING DOWN A HILL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10071472

69,000 miles · Mar 17, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

ROLL OVER ACCIDENT IN 2001 MONTERO LTD. AT 65 MPH THE TRUCK WAS ROLLED OVER 2.5 TIMES AND ENDED UP RESTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. OF THE FOUR AIRBAGS AVAILABLE, NOT ONE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR SKIN, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR SKINS WERE COMPLETELY REMOVED. THE ROOF WAS RE…

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ROLL OVER ACCIDENT IN 2001 MONTERO LTD. AT 65 MPH THE TRUCK WAS ROLLED OVER 2.5 TIMES AND ENDED UP RESTING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. OF THE FOUR AIRBAGS AVAILABLE, NOT ONE DEPLOYED. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER EXTERIOR DOOR SKIN, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DOOR SKINS WERE COMPLETELY REMOVED. THE ROOF WAS RESTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD PILLAR SEPARATED AT BODY. DRIVERS SIDE HEADREST BENT AT 90-DEGREE ANGLE TOWARDS HOOD. PICTURES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI #10062476

45,000 miles · Jan 26, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES WHEN HER HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AND HER CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10055828

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.