Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero a bad year?
166 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Montero years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero are in line with other Montero years. Brakes stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 Montero owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 124,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 74 (45%) | 88k–150k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 22 (13%) | 88k–150k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 16 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 14 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Equipment | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine and cooling | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 124,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 166 complaints: 15 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Oct 2022.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero: 4
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. This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
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. 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.
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. 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…
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." This limits the driver's field of vision on that side of the vehicle.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mitsubishi: 18
Repair instructions Mitsubishi sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Neighbouring years
2000 Montero: 50 complaints, keep it · 2002 Montero: 111 complaints, keep it.
Every Mitsubishi Montero year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · All Montero years side by side
Other Mitsubishi models: Mitsubishi Diamante · Mitsubishi Eclipse · Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder · Mitsubishi Endeavor · Mitsubishi Galant · Mitsubishi Lancer · Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution · Mitsubishi Mirage · Mitsubishi Montero Sport · Mitsubishi Outlander · Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero a bad year?
166 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Montero years. At 124,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: brakes (74), electrical system (22), engine (16), air bags (14), transmission and drivetrain (13).
How many recalls does the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 04V-428), Equipment (NHTSA 04V-067), Brakes (NHTSA 01V254001), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 00V123002). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.