A used Mitsubishi Montero Sport, sold in the U.S. for roughly the 1997 to 2004 model years, is worth buying when the brake hose recall is closed, the frame is solid and the title is clean. On Nov. 5, 2026, the NHTSA recall API for 2001 returned 01V027000, which covers 3.5L V6 SUVs fitted with brake vacuum hoses that did not comply with the federal brake hose standard and could burst. Run the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup before you pay.
Which Montero Sport this is
Wikipedia lists the Montero Sport as the U.S. name for the first-generation Pajero Sport, a body-on-frame SUV related to the Triton pickup, sold with four-cylinder and V6 engines and rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. It is a different vehicle from the full-size Montero. Our Montero guide covers the bigger SUV, and our Mitsubishi recall check shows the VIN search.
Brake hoses and brakes
On a 3.5L truck, ask for the dealer invoice for 01V027000. Look at the vacuum hose to the brake booster for cracks, and feel for a hard or sinking pedal. Check the brake lines along the frame for rust, because a cheap SUV often gets the minimum brake work.
Frame, 4WD and timing belt
Tap the frame rails near the rear spring hangers and look for flaking or fresh undercoating. Shift into 4HI and 4LO and listen for grinding. The V6 uses a timing belt, so ask when it was last done. Parts can be slower to find for these trucks, so price the repairs before you agree. Our open recall guide covers how campaigns appear on a report.
A test drive that tells you something
Drive it from cold, not after the seller has warmed it up. Listen for ticks and knocks at start-up, watch the mirror for smoke, and check that every gauge and warning lamp comes on and then goes out. Try every gear, a hard stop and a slow full-lock turn both ways, then look underneath for fresh drips. Bring a flashlight and a magnet for filler checks on the lower doors and rear wheel arches.
Insurance, registration and inspection
Call your insurer with the VIN before you pay, because a high-mileage SUV or van can be valued low after a loss. Ask your state DMV whether the vehicle needs a VIN inspection, a safety inspection or an emissions test at transfer, and what happens if a prior registration lapsed. Budget for new tires if the date codes are old, even when the tread looks fine.
When to walk away
- An open 01V027000 brake hose recall on a 3.5L truck.
- Frame rust near the spring hangers.
- 4WD that will not engage.
- A VIN that does not match the title.
Questions to ask the seller
- Was 01V027000 done? Was the work done, and is there a receipt?
- When was the timing belt last replaced?
- Has it lived in a salt state?
- Has the title ever been branded?
Reading the history on an older SUV
Do not expect a complete service log. Many independent shops never reported their work, so the report matters most for title brands, odometer readings at title transfers and registration gaps by state. A car that moved from a coastal or rust-belt state to a dry one may have been retitled; look at the dates and ask why. An approved NMVTIS check adds salvage and junk records from insurers and recyclers. If the odometer readings go backward or the car shows as exempt, ask for the paper trail before you price it. Our odometer discrepancy guide explains what those entries mean.
Private-sale paperwork
Most cars like this sell privately. Make sure the name on the title matches the seller ID, the VIN on the title matches the plate and the stamping on the car, and any old lien is released in writing. Our lien release guide walks through that step. Pay by a traceable method, get a dated bill of sale, and do not accept an open title signed by someone who is not present.
How to price it
Montero Sports are cheap for a body-on-frame 4x4. Compare recent private sales and dealer listings for the same year, engine and drivetrain, then subtract frame work, brakes and timing belt service.
What the report costs
As of early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct usually costs around $44.99, and AutoCheck sits a little lower. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Our guest price has been about $5.50 a report, about $4.50 for members, and about $6.75 for a CARFAX and AutoCheck bundle. Confirm the price at checkout, since it can change.
On a car this old, read the report for title brands and odometer readings first; service entries are often thin.
Sources
- NHTSA recall lookup (API checked Nov. 5, 2026; 2001: 01V027000 3.5L brake vacuum hose)
- Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, Wikipedia
- NMVTIS
- Hagerty (valuation tools)
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