NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
166 reports11,000 miles · Jan 9, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
SINCE I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE (2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO LIMITED), I ALWAYS HAD PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT PROBLEM. THE THIRD DAY I GOT THE VEHICLE FROM THE ALHAMBRA MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP, THE LIGHT TURN ON. AND ALWAYS GOT THE SAME REPLY " MAKE SURE THE GAS CAP IS CLOSED PROPERLY". I HAD 5 CARS AND I NEVER HAD ANY KIND …
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SINCE I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE (2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO LIMITED), I ALWAYS HAD PROBLEM WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT PROBLEM. THE THIRD DAY I GOT THE VEHICLE FROM THE ALHAMBRA MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP, THE LIGHT TURN ON. AND ALWAYS GOT THE SAME REPLY " MAKE SURE THE GAS CAP IS CLOSED PROPERLY". I HAD 5 CARS AND I NEVER HAD ANY KIND OF PROBLEM LIKE EXEPT THIS MONTERO LIMITED. MY CAR HAS 63000MILES RIGHT NOW, AND THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON EVERY 2MONTH. AND NOW THE VEHICLE HAS THE LIGHT ON AGAIN, AND DEALER WILL NOT DO OR CARE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS GOING UPHILL OR WHEN IT NEED POWER. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT KEEP FAILING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10106006
90,000 miles · Dec 4, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO; ENGINE SHOT ON THE HIGHWAY (NJ TURNPIKE). THERE WAS NO OIL WARNING. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE-IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INNER LANE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. VEHICLES ON NJ TURNPIKE ARE TRAVELING 60-80MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON TIMELY OIL CHANGES AT JIFFY LUBE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.…
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2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO; ENGINE SHOT ON THE HIGHWAY (NJ TURNPIKE). THERE WAS NO OIL WARNING. THIS IS A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE-IF I HAD BEEN ON THE INNER LANE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD. VEHICLES ON NJ TURNPIKE ARE TRAVELING 60-80MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ON TIMELY OIL CHANGES AT JIFFY LUBE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. IT HAS 90K MLIES ON IT, BOUGHT USED, I OWE $15K ON IT, IT WILL COST $8K TO FIX. 2 YRS OG PAYMENTS TO GO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10102139
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Steering
THIS VEHICLE WHILE BACKING FROM A PARKING SPOT SEPARATED THE INNER TIE ROD FROM THE OUTTER THERE ARE NO SINGS OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE THAT I COULD FIND. THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PLAY. WE HAVE TRIED TWO INNER AND TWO OUTTER AND THE SAME RESULT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THIS NORMAL. I AM NOT THE OWNER…
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THIS VEHICLE WHILE BACKING FROM A PARKING SPOT SEPARATED THE INNER TIE ROD FROM THE OUTTER THERE ARE NO SINGS OF DAMAGE OR ABUSE THAT I COULD FIND. THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF PLAY. WE HAVE TRIED TWO INNER AND TWO OUTTER AND THE SAME RESULT. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THIS NORMAL. I AM NOT THE OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS BROUGHT TO ME TO BE REPAIRED. I AM AN ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH. I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THIS VEHICLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100891
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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
NHTSA ODI #10092954
72,000 miles · Sep 10, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 79K MILES. FEBRUARY 04 I NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE MITSUBISHI MECHANIC SAID IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT THAT HE WOULD JUST CHANGE THE OIL TO SEE IF THAT HELPED. THE SALES TICKET SAID, NO PROBLEM FOUND. AUGUST 04 THE KNOCKING CAME BACK. ON A TRIP THE OIL …
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ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT 79K MILES. FEBRUARY 04 I NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THE MITSUBISHI MECHANIC SAID IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT THAT HE WOULD JUST CHANGE THE OIL TO SEE IF THAT HELPED. THE SALES TICKET SAID, NO PROBLEM FOUND. AUGUST 04 THE KNOCKING CAME BACK. ON A TRIP THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BUT THERE WAS OIL IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MITSUBISHI. THE MECHANIC THEN CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE ENGINE. THE PICKUP TUBE WAS CLOCKED BUT THE ENGINE WALLS WERE CLEAN. THE RESULT WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. MITSUBISHI WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGES BECAUSE IT WAS PASS THE WARRANTY MILEAGE. NO ONE CAN DETERMINE HOW THE PICKUP TUBE WAS CLOGGED WITH SO MUCH CRUD. HOWEVER, MITSUBISHI SAYS THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE PICKUP TUBE IT WAS PAST THE WARRANTY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10090761
70,000 miles · Sep 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD 70,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. WHEN DRIVING THE AIR WOULD BLOW, THEN WHEN STOPPING THE AIR WOULD STOP. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT LOOKED AS IF THE PLASTIC TEE IN THE HEATER LINE WAS BUSTED. THEN, SHE WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY THE THERMOSTAT THAT WAS …
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CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD 70,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE BLEW OUT. WHEN DRIVING THE AIR WOULD BLOW, THEN WHEN STOPPING THE AIR WOULD STOP. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT LOOKED AS IF THE PLASTIC TEE IN THE HEATER LINE WAS BUSTED. THEN, SHE WAS TOLD THAT IT MAY THE THERMOSTAT THAT WAS STICKING. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT MOTOR BLEW OUT. SHE HAD NO WARNING, BECAUSE THE INDICATOR NEVER SHOWED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING HOT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090245
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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
NHTSA ODI #10089254
77,000 miles · Aug 2, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
AT 35000, THE TRUNK DOOR LATCH MECHANISM IS BROKEN. AT 57000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT, CAUSED BY SPARK PLUGS OR SPARK PLUG WIRES OPEN. REPLACE ALL PLUGS AND WIRES AT DEALERSHIP, COST $300.NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. AT 77000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT, DEALERSHIP REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY BUT I PAY FOR THE …
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AT 35000, THE TRUNK DOOR LATCH MECHANISM IS BROKEN. AT 57000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT, CAUSED BY SPARK PLUGS OR SPARK PLUG WIRES OPEN. REPLACE ALL PLUGS AND WIRES AT DEALERSHIP, COST $300.NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. AT 77000 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT, DEALERSHIP REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY BUT I PAY FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR PLUS LABOR THAT GOES WITH THE CATALYST.OLD PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. CAR DRIVEN ABOUT 3 MILES HOME FROM DEALESHIP AFTER REPLACING THE CAT. CONVERTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT AGAIN. DEALERSHIP CHECKED AND SAID ANOTHER OXYGEN SENSOR IS BAD. TOTAL 4 OXYGEN SENSORS IN THE SYSTEM. COST $230 TO REPLACE ONE SENSOR. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THESE SENSORS WILL GO BAD AT THE SAME TIME. IS THAT A COINSIDENCE OR MANUFACTURER PARTS DEFECTS???*AK
NHTSA ODI #10083156
Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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
NHTSA ODI #10083956
59,368 miles · Jun 15, 2004
Suspension
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE, WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO VIOLENT SHAKING FROM THE FRONT END. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES. BUYING NEW TIRES DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WITHIN A FEW DAYS WE BEGAN TO HEAR A HUMMING, VIBRATING, AND GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU…
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WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING OUR VEHICLE, WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO VIOLENT SHAKING FROM THE FRONT END. WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED 4 BRAND NEW TIRES. BUYING NEW TIRES DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. WITHIN A FEW DAYS WE BEGAN TO HEAR A HUMMING, VIBRATING, AND GROWLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU HIT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND BROUGHT THE SALES MANAGER FOR A TEST DRIVE TO HEAR THE NOISE. WHEN MY WIFE EXPLAINED THAT SHE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THEY ASSURED HER THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FREE WHEEL VALVE SOLENOID. WE PICKED UP THE TRUCK AND ON OUR WAY HOME THE NOISE RETURNED. WE CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AND EXPLAINED THAT THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE AND WE WERE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN AND TAKE THE TECHNICIAN FOR A TEST DRIVE IN IT SO HE CAN HEAR THE NOISE. WHILE ON TEST DRIVE THE TECH ADVISED HER THAT THEY HAD OTHER MONTERO'S THAT MADE THE SAME NOISE AND WHEN THEY CHANGED THE SENSOR IT WENT AWAY. THEN THEY SAID THE "TORQUE" CONVERTER WAS BAD - THEY CHANGED IT BUT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN THEY DRAINED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN WE WERE TOLD THEY MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT. THEY NEVER CHANGED THE DRIVE SHAFT BUT INSTEAD REPLACED THE LEFT HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY. MY WIFE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE 2 DAYS LATER AND THE NOISE WAS GONE BUT THE ENGINE WAS "JUMPING" EVERY TIME SHE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WE KEEP GETTING TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER ISN'T SHOWING ANY PROBLEMS. WHY HAS NOTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT ALL THE ROLL OVER CASES WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT? *LA
NHTSA ODI #10078293
Official recalls
4Sep 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.
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.
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.
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 ↗