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2003 Mitsubishi Montero Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 8, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 39 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Mitsubishi Montero submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed May 8, 2015

A SIREN SOUND CAME ON. MY HUSBAND PROCEEDED TO GET OF THE ROAD. IN HIS ATTEMPT, THE BRAKES BECAME VERY HARD TO PRESS. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AS THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. HE THE PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A AUTO SHOP. AFTER A THOROUGH CHECK, THE OWNER (MASTER MECHANIC) DISASSEMBLE THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO CHECK IF THE BOOSTER HAD FAILED, HE STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A BOOSTER. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP ON FRIDAY, MAY 7 AROUND 4:00PM. AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE, THE SIREN NOISE CAME BACK ON. WE ARE AWAITING TO HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED AGAIN ON MONDAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10715411
Incident
May 3, 2015
Mileage
187,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID
10649213
Incident
Oct 16, 2014
Mileage
93,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 29, 2014

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND A BUZZER. I THEN WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT BUDGE. IT WAS LIKE THERE WAS A BRICK UNDER IT. THERE WAS NO WAY OF STOPPING SAFELY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO YOU THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT DOWN. PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD ON BRAKES AND FINALLY STOPPED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND HAVE DISCOVERED IT IS QUITE COMMON. HOW IS IT SAFE FOR A VEHICLE WITH A ANTILOCK BRAKE MALFUNCTION TO TAKE OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY? I HAVE CONTACT MITSUBISHI AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL!! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?! THIS IS VERY UNSAFE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE PARKED SINCE THE INCIDENT. I FEEL MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO PAY FOR THIS AND UPGRADE THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PRICE AND WOULD COST ME 1700.00 TO HAVE THE SYSTEM REPLACED. WITH NO GUARANTEE OF IT NOT DOING IT AGAIN. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585588
Incident
Oct 16, 2013
Mileage
187,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 19, 2013

I WAS DRIVING, STARTED HEARING OOZING SOUND THEN I APPLIED BRAKES, VERY HARD AND WON'T GO DOWN. THEN I PULLED OVER THE SIDE CURB AND THE CURB STOPPED THE CARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10556663
Incident
Oct 2, 2013
Mileage
145,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 16, 2013

MY HYDRAULIC BRAKE STOP WORKING I HAVE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE REPAIR IS 2500 MY CAR IS A 2003 WITH 90000 MILE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10525110
Incident
Jul 9, 2013
Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10496520
Incident
Jan 31, 2013
Mileage
135,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 14, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI MONTERO. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THERE WAS A LIGHT BLINKING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AN ALARM WENT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

NHTSA ID
10382546
Incident
Feb 3, 2011
Mileage
190,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 15, 2010

I HAVE A 2003 MONTERO LIMITED AND SUDDENLY MY BRAKES FAILED AND THE CAR HAD A HIGH PIERCING NOISE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A NEAR BY MITSUBISHI DEALER IN MARLOW HEIGHTS MARYLAND ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT IF IT WAS THE ACCUMULATOR THEY WOULD FIXED IT AT NO CHARGE. HOWEVER, AFTER THEIR REVIEW IT THEY SAID IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER AND IT WOULD COST ME $2500 AFTER TAKING IT TO ANOTHER MECHANICAL SHOP I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ACCUMULATOR AND THE PART WAS $228 PLUS LABOR CHARGES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365734
Incident
Aug 5, 2010
Mileage
114,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 29, 2009
Crash reported

IN 2007 I HAD THE BRAKES TO MY 2003 MITSUBUSHI MONTERO LIMITED REPLACED BECAUSE I FELT THEY MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AS DESIRED. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES REPLACED IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. IN DEC 2007 I TRIED STOPPING IN LESS THAN 3 INCHES OF SNOW. MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP, I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES IT SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE THE BRAKES WERE GRINDING OR EVEN A CRUNCHING SOUND. WHEN DRIVING IN DRY CONDITIONS THE BRAKES APPEAR TO WORK VERY WELL BUT IN WET OR SNOW CONDITIONS IT DOES NOT HANDLE AT ALL. SINCE THEN THE FRONT BRAKES WAS AGAIN REPLACED IN NOV 2008. AGAIN ON 27 JAN 2009 I TRIED STOPPING IN LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND THE TRUCK DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO DRIVE ON THE CURB IN ORDER TO STOP. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR. MY BRAKES DOES NOT WORK IN SNOW CONDITIONS OR EVEN IN EXTREMELY WET CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256903
Incident
Jan 26, 2009
Mileage
107,800 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Sep 7, 2006

RECENT INCIDENT OF RIGHT BACK WHEEL DISPLAYING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND IMPAIRING DRIVING, AS WELL AS REPEATED INCIDENTS OF BRAKE WEAR, MALFUNCTION AND EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISES. REPEATED REPLACEMENT OF REAR RIGHT ROTOR. DRIVER WAS IN FEAR FOR HER SAFETY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167605
Incident
Sep 5, 2006
Mileage
11,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 2006

MITSUBISHI MONTERO 2003 - BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES (1ST AT 19K AND 2ND AT 30K) ON THE ODOMETER. SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AFTER DESCENDING DOWN HILL. IF YOU RIDE THE BRAKES (KEEPING SLIGHT PRESSURE APPLIED WHILE PERIODICALLY APPLYING MORE BRAKE) WHEN DRIVING DOWN A HILL, THIS CAUSES THE ROTORS TO HEAT UP AND THEN WARP. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THE ROTORS GET TOO HOT BRAKING BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. THE LONG BEACH MITSUBISHI SERVICE MANAGER CLAIMS THAT THE 2003 MONTERO USES A SMALLER BRAKE PAD THEN ITS PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164849
Incident
Jun 28, 2006
Mileage
19,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .