Most common 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems
Share of the 63 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Montero Sport complaints by model year
Best Montero Sport years: 2004, 1997, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with 3.5l engines. These vehicles do not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 106, "brake hoses." these vehicles are equipped with noncompliant brake vacuum hoses.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the vacuum hose. Owner notification began February 15, 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…
What 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport owners say
Brakes
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. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Shortly after purchasing the vehicle in May of 2004, the brakes began failing. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle began sliding. After this incident, the vehicle began making noises continuously. While driving approximately 15 MPH around a curve, the vehicle began to tail spin when the brakes were applied. The vehicle was taken to the Mitsubishi dealer and they stated that the failure was due to the brake accumulator, which affected the ABS. The contact was also informed that the noise was due to the vacuum hose being defective. The brakes have not been repaired at this time. NHTSA campaign id number 01V027000 (service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings) was referenced. The current mileage was 107,000 and failure mileage was 40,000. …
Electrical system
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.
4 wh drive light flashes no apparent reason no issues makes the anti lock light come on and also the abs light worried cause a prob wit the brakes or something
Transmission & drivetrain
On my way to a funeral, my trucks transmission stalled on the road. When this started my vehicle started to overheat. When I finally was able to get on the shoulder of the highway my truck was on fire under the hood. I had my car towed to the dealer in richmond, va. Right now my truck is still at the dealer awaiting my approval for more repairs to be done. Right now my repair bill is at a cost of 2,013.29 and they are now telling me that I need to have my transmission rebuilt.
4 wh drive light flashes no apparent reason no issues makes the anti lock light come on and also the abs light worried cause a prob wit the brakes or something
2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 21 / 18 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 20 / 17 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 18 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport a good car?
Based on 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Montero Sport rates avoid: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Montero Sport at the same age. It is one of the Montero Sport years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
The brakes — 17 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the electrical system (11) and transmission & drivetrain (8).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the most recent from February 5, 2001 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Montero Sport?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 1997 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001 and 2002. See the full Mitsubishi Montero Sport years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 42% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.