Total Complaints
80 filings
MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT · model year
80 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001MITSUBISHIMONTERO SPORT carries 80 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 MONTERO SPORT is electrical system with 7 filings, followed by steering (6) and power train:automatic transmission (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2001 MONTERO SPORT. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
80 filings
Crashes Reported
9 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 7 |
| STEERING | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
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.
On multiple occasions, the horn itself will start blowing without command. After pressing the horn to alert another driver, the horn will then stick again. There are repairs where 3m tape is applied to the horn switch behind the airbag, however it is not a professional repair and looks like it could potentially cause the horn to blow without command again.
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
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
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
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. I am sure that everyone with this model vehicle has experienced the same problem but these vehicles are dangerous on
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. I am sure that everyone with this model vehicle has experienced the same problem but these vehicles are dangerous on
I DROVE MY FAMILY TO THEIR DOCTOR APP. AND WHEN I WAS PARKED GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVERS REAR TIRE ONTO THE PAVEMENT UPON INSPECTION I SAW GASOLINE RUNNING OFF OF THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK I THEN WENT AND TOLD THE PARKING LOT ATTENDANT WHAT WAS HAPPENING HE THEN HAD TO BLOCKADE THAT AREA OF THE PARKING LOT OFF. I HAD CALL TO GET US A RIDE HOME . I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND HAD A MECHANIC INSPECT IT AND HE FOUND THE STEEL GAS LINES WERE COMPLETELY RUSTED THRU ON THE PRESSURE SIDE AND THE RETURN LINE AS WELL UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE FOUND SEVERE FRAME ROT AND SAID IT WON'T PASS INSPECTION WHEN IT COMES DUE NEXT TIME.
Mileage: 187,985
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.
Mileage: 148,000
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.
Mileage: 148,000
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.
Mileage: 148,000
FRAME IS RUSTING TO A POINT WHERE IT'S BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR TENDS TO SHIFT BACK AND FORTH IN THE REAR. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE POINTED OUT THE ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH FRAME NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL.
Mileage: 199,700
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING PUMP PULLEY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER CHECKING I NOTICED THE FRAME HAD RIPPED ,BROKEN OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED FOR 3-4 FEET. FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE REAR WHEEL . AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE FRAME THE DRIVER SIDE IS UNAFFECTED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS POOR METAL/FRAME FROM THE FACTORY,NO ANTY CORROSION WAS APPLY TO THE METAL FRAME FROM MITSUBISHI FACTORY.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 113,000
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER QUICKLY CHECKING TIRES, ETC. I NOTICED THE FRAME HAD RIPPED IN HALF. THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED FOR 4-5 FEET. FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE FRAME THE PASSENGER SIDE IS UNAFFECTED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS POOR METAL/FRAME FROM THE FACTORY. *TR
Mileage: 214,108
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER QUICKLY CHECKING TIRES, ETC. I NOTICED THE FRAME HAD RIPPED IN HALF. THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED FOR 4-5 FEET. FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE FRAME THE PASSENGER SIDE IS UNAFFECTED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS POOR METAL/FRAME FROM THE FACTORY. *TR
Mileage: 214,108
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ONTO SHOULDER. AFTER QUICKLY CHECKING TIRES, ETC. I NOTICED THE FRAME HAD RIPPED IN HALF. THE DRIVER SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY ROTTED FOR 4-5 FEET. FROM THE FRONT DOOR TO THE REAR WHEEL WELL. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE FRAME THE PASSENGER SIDE IS UNAFFECTED WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE IT IS POOR METAL/FRAME FROM THE FACTORY. *TR
Mileage: 214,108
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, HE ATTEMPTED TO SOUND THE HORN BUT IT WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, SRS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO JUMPSTART THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO BEGIN DRIVING. AS THE CONTACT BEGAN DRIVING, THE HORN BEGAN TO SOUND NONSTOP UNTIL THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW EXACT FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
HORN SPONTANEOUSLY SOUNDED AND WOULD NOT GO OFF WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN COLD. THE FUSE HAD TO BE REMOVED. NOW THAT THE TEMPERATURE IS WARMER THE HORN APPEARS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL WITH THE FUSE BACK IN. THE HORN SWITCH IS CONTAINED IN AN ASSEMBLY THAT INCLUDES THE AIRBAG AND IS SOLD ONLY AS A UNIT WITH A PARTS PRICE OF OVER $600, PLUS LABOR TO INSTALL. AN INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THAT A NUMBER OF OTHER 2001 MITSUBISHI MONTERO OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR DEFECTS IN THE HORN. IT IS UNREASONABLE FOR MITSUBISHI TO CHARGE $1,000 TO FIX THEIR DEFECT IN THE HORN SWITCH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DEFECT.
Mileage: 104,500
I HAVE A 01' MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT XLS 3.0L AS OF THE LAST WEEK IN MARCH I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY A/C AND CALL AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT. TO MY SURPRISE THE MITSUBISHI/SATURN SHOP, THE PLACE THAT I HAD TAKEN IT TO 6MTHS TO A YEAR BE4, MY OXYGEN SENSOR TO BE REPLACED AND SOME OTHER THINGS, WAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. SO I CALL WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM, AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD GOTO A LICENSED MECHANIC SHOP TO GET MY A/C FIXED, OXYGEN SENSOR HAD DEFAULT AGAIN, BUT IT STILL HAD WARRANTY ON IT WITH THE PREVIOUSLY SHOP SO THE RECENT SHOP COULD NOT REPLACE IT AND I ALSO STILL HAD WARRANTY COVERAGE WITH THE CREDIT UNION THAT I PAY MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO. SO I CALLED THE WARRANTY GROUP, AND THE WARRANTY GROUP PAID FOR A/C TO BE FIXED AND I ONLY HAD TO PAY 100 DEDUCTIBLE. I RECEIVED MY SUV BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THEN I NOTICED A KNOCKING WITHIN THE MOTOR SO I WENT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A OIL CHANGE, BUT I JUST RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP AND OIL
Mileage: 124,000
I HAVE A 01' MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT XLS 3.0L AS OF THE LAST WEEK IN MARCH I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY A/C AND CALL AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT. TO MY SURPRISE THE MITSUBISHI/SATURN SHOP, THE PLACE THAT I HAD TAKEN IT TO 6MTHS TO A YEAR BE4, MY OXYGEN SENSOR TO BE REPLACED AND SOME OTHER THINGS, WAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. SO I CALL WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM, AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD GOTO A LICENSED MECHANIC SHOP TO GET MY A/C FIXED, OXYGEN SENSOR HAD DEFAULT AGAIN, BUT IT STILL HAD WARRANTY ON IT WITH THE PREVIOUSLY SHOP SO THE RECENT SHOP COULD NOT REPLACE IT AND I ALSO STILL HAD WARRANTY COVERAGE WITH THE CREDIT UNION THAT I PAY MONTHLY PAYMENTS TO. SO I CALLED THE WARRANTY GROUP, AND THE WARRANTY GROUP PAID FOR A/C TO BE FIXED AND I ONLY HAD TO PAY 100 DEDUCTIBLE. I RECEIVED MY SUV BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THEN I NOTICED A KNOCKING WITHIN THE MOTOR SO I WENT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A OIL CHANGE, BUT I JUST RECENTLY HAD A TUNE-UP AND OIL
Mileage: 124,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.