Most common 2001 Mitsubishi Montero problems
Share of the 166 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Montero complaints by model year
Best Montero years: 2004, 1996, 2003. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 1998, 1995. Compare all years →
2001 Mitsubishi Montero recalls (4)
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
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.
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.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
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.
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…
Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior
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."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview mirror.
What 2001 Mitsubishi Montero owners say
Brakes all 74 →
The contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal felt sticky. Additionally, the contact stated that upon depressing the brake pedal twice, the brake pedal vibrated and shuddered. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the ABS system had failed due a faulty hydraulic pump and accumulator. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V254002 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,600.
Defective hydraulic brake booster accumulator (NHTSA id#01V254001) on my 2001 Montero caused my brakes to fail while stopping at an intersection which resulted with me rear ending another vehicle! This happened over 1 year ago and the defective part has been making a terrible sound while braking for over 2 years. Everytime I performed maintenance on my vehicle. No one could confirm what was causing this noise. I just found out today (06/08/2004) what the part is and that it's known to fail, causing crashes what happened on 03/10/2003. I was cited for "failure to yield, but contested that my brakes failed at the point of avoiding the car in front of me. I had the vehicle checked several times and no one knew what was wrong with the vehicle? The brakes would continue to fail if I came to a fast stop and I have been driving the vehicle very carefully since this accident. …
Engine & cooling all 24 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. While driving 35 MPH, the battery and brake indicators illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel seized and became difficult to turn. The failure occurred two times on different occasions. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crank shaft guide pin fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic to be repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.
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.
Electrical system all 22 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. While driving 65 MPH, the horn sounded loudly without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the horn failed and the horn module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 352,478. Ma 10/15/2015
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. The contact stated that the horn sounded independently. The contact stated that the battery had to be disabled to stop the horn from sounding. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
2001 Mitsubishi Montero engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero a good car?
Based on 166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Montero rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Montero at the same age. It is one of the Montero 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?
The brakes — 74 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about power assist › vacuum. Next are the engine & cooling (24) and electrical system (22).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero, the most recent from September 1, 2004 (labels). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 1996 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 1998 and 1995. See the full Mitsubishi Montero years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Mitsubishi Montero problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 107,000 miles; 14% 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.