Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I just picked up my son's vehicle from the service garage where I had just had new brakes and rotors installed for him. I was on the way to meet my husband at the grocery store but needed to drop off some letters at the outdoor mail box at the post office which was < 1/4 mile from the service garage. As I pulled up to the post office drop box, I had my foot on the brake and was going just a few miles an hour. All of a sudden the engine revved loudly and the vehicle lurched forward. I pushed harder on the brake but it wouldn't stop! Thank god there was no one in front of me or in the parking lot, so I just steered the vehicle around the lot concentrating on not hitting anything! All the while trying to brake the vehicle to a stop. It took about 10-15 seconds and the engine finally revved back down (to the normal sound) and the brakes worked and I was able to stop the vehicle. …
By 20,000 miles the truck's front brake rotors were so out of round that the truck is very difficult to control durring braking. The dealer reports that the braking system, and more importantly the brake pads are not covered under the new car warrenty. This is rediculous. I have never needed to have a truck's braking system serviced before 80,000 miles.
My mechanic said that the hydraulic brake booster has been manufactured improperly which resulted in leakage of the pressurized nitrgen gas from inside the accumulator. The loss of this gas pressure resulted in an abnormal noise from the left side of the dash panel when the brakes are applied and can delay first time brake boost assist after the vehicle has been parked for a period of time and should be on the safety recall list no. Sr-01-008revii. He said this bulletin supercedes sr-01-008revi. He said that Mitsubishi should replace the old hydraulic brake booster accumulator with the new model. Affected vehicles are 2001-2002 Mitsubishi models produced before 6/20/01. I don't know the exact date my car was produced but this is the problem for sure. I took it to a second mechanic and he agreed. The car does not stop properly and I am very afraid to drive it.
My Mitsubishi Montero limited started making a strange noise from under the dash while driving. One day while driving when I applied the brake the pedal went all the way to the floor. I did some research and found a recall for the brake hydraulic booster for this vehicle but my VIN number is not showing a recall. When I contacted Mitsubishi all they would say is it's not covered under the recall. I don't understand
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport. The contact stated when driving at speeds of 55 MPH, the engine would vibrate excessively. The dealer made unknown repairs to the vehicle but did not address the contacts concerns with the engine vibration. The failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where adjustments were made to the rotors. Following repairs, the vehicle would not operate. The failure mileage was 6,196 updated 06/08/10. With only a 157,000 miles on the vehicle, the consumer was informed the engine needed to be replaced after it finally broke down on the highway. Updated evoq 08/18/10......updated 12/05/12 the consumer requested that all claims against this vehicle be canceled. Updated 12/7/2012
With less than 40K miles on my 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, the brake pads have been replaced three times, the rotors replaced once. Now two local mechanics tell me that my vehicle's brake pads cover less than 50% of the rotor, causing significantly reduced braking capability. The root cause appears to be that the vehicle has 14" rotors on trucks designed for 15" rotors (and 15" wheels). The result is that the brake system wears out quickly and, in the opinion of my local Goodyear dealership, presents a severe safety hazard. The Goodyear dealer actually told me that he would not recommend driving the vehicle.
Related 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…
NHTSA investigations
Brake booster accumulator failure
In October 2001, Mitsubishi notified the agency that it would conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall no. 01v-254) to remedy a defect condition that could result in a leak of pressurized nitrogen gas from the hydraulic brake booster accumulator in approximately 39,000 model years (my) 2001-2002 Mitsubishi montero vehicles produced from December 12, 1999 through June 20, 2001.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mitsubishi Montero Sport years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (17), 2000 (16), 2002 (11) and 1999 (5) model years. Brake complaints make up 27% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Mitsubishi Montero Sport brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 01V-027 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Feb 5, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mitsubishi Montero Sport brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles; 58% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (15 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (9).
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.