1997 Mitsubishi Diamante

Routine

Owners filed 34 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
100
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly2
010
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly2
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires › Tread/BeltCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 7, 2008151,000 milesOK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II TIRES, SIZE 115/60/15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, SHE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL AND THAT THE TREAD DEPTH WAS 8/32. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRE, AN OFFICER CONCLUDED THAT THE TREAD WAS DEFECTIVE BECAUSE CHUNKS OF THE TREAD WERE MISSING AND WIRES WERE HANGING OUT OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/16/08. *JB

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core
Filed Feb 11, 2008112,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED DUE TO THE HEATER CORE. THE RADIATOR LEAKED ONTO THE CARPET WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE INHALED TOXIC FUMES FROM THE RADIATOR LEAKING ONTO THE CARPET AND THEY ARE CONCERNED OF FUTURE HEALTH RISKS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE LEAK, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD HAD TO BE REMOVED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jan 21, 2008111,132 milesOH

THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE HEATER CORE GOING OUT. MINE WENT OUT A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY MITSUBISHI IT WILL COST ME 965 TO REPLACE. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM INCLUDING WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE AS LOW AS 30-45K ON THEIR VEHICLE. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS FORUM WHICH SHOW MANY MITSUBISHI OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THEIR VEHICLE.. HTTP://WWW.DIAMANTEOWNERS.COM/FORUM/LOFIVERSION/INDEX.PHP?T3615-0.HTML PLEASE HELP ME AND HELP THESE POOR OWNERS. RECALL THIS MAJOR ERROR MISTUBISHI KNOWS ABOUT BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND KEEP SILENT. THIS ALSO CAN CAUSE DEATH BECAUSE WHEN THE HEATER CORE FAILS IT LEAKS AND CAUSES A BAD ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE. YOU WOULDN'T WANT YOUR KIDS BREATHING ON THAT WOULD YOU. ON THE WEBSITE I HAVE PROVIDED YOU IT WILL SHOW A CASE IN WHICH A PERSON WENT INTO RESPIRATORY FAILURE DO TO INHALING ANTI FREEZE.. MANY OF THESE OWNERS TILL THIS DAY FACE A DANGER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THESE VEHICLES AS IT IS THERE ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION AND MANY CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS EXPENSIVE PROBLEM (COSTING AS MUCH AS 1,300). WE BEG OF ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE THAT HAD MADE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLES LIVES, SAFETY AND SECURITY TO HELP US DIAMANTE OWNERS THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jun 17, 2007NY

HEATER CORE RANDOMLY CRACKED ONE DAY, CAUSING A TEAR-LIKE SPILL OF ANTI-FREEZE THROUGH THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WE TRIED WELDING THE CRACKS. ANTI-FREEZE STILL SPILLED OUT AND ANTI-FREEZE SMELL CAME IN THROUGH AIR EVENTS AND THE LIQUID ALSO BURNED, CAUSING SMOKE TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

Structure
Filed Sep 21, 2005SC

THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK DECK OF MY 1997 DIAMANTE IS FADING WITH WHITE PATCHES. THE HOOD AND BODY PAINT LOOKS GOOD AS NEW. I WAXED MY VEHICLE AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR. IS THIS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY I HAVE NOTICE SEVERAL SIMILAR MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM? *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank AssemblyFire
Filed Jun 9, 200578,000 milesMA

DT: CONSUMER HAD 1997 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER,. VEHICLE HAD A GAS LEAK, DEALER COULD NOT FIND HOLE IN GAS TANK, CONSUMER REPLACED GAS TANK, ABOUT 8 MONTHS AFTER GAS TANK WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Feb 22, 2002GA

SAFETY - TRANSMISSION: AT 9,500 MILES MY CAR STARTED LURCHING WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS FROM A STOP. IT SUPPOSEDLY WAS REPAIRED BUT HAS CONTINUED TO BE PROBLEM AND EACH TIME I BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE THE DEALER CAN NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. SINCE I HAD NOT HEARD THAT THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, I THOUGHT IT MUST BE SOMETHING THAT I HAD DONE. UPON REVIEWING THE INFORMATION OF NHSTA, I REALIZE THAT THE DEALERS AND MITSUBISHI ARE DELIBERATELY HIDING THIS PROBLEM. SAFETY - FUEL TANK: MY FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING AT 59,560 MILES AND WHEN THE DEALER REMOVED IT HAD 3 STRESS WHOLES. THE TANK HAD TO BE SENT OUT FOR WELDING. OF COURSE, I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH I SPOKE DIRECTLY TO THE MITSUBISHI COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT. SINCE IT WAS NOT A RECALL ITEM, MITSUBISHI OR THE DEALER WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK IS ANOTHER ONGOING HIDDEN PROBLEM. ALTERNATOR PULLEY: HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE FROM THE BEGINNING AND I HAVE COMPLAINED EACH SERVICE. NOW, I DISCOVER THROUGH NHTSA THAT ALTERNATOR PULLEY IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. MITSUBISHI AND THEIR DEALERS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.*AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Nov 26, 2001NC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Sep 17, 2001MD

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE MADE 5 TRIPS BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO BRAKES, TIRES & ENGINE TAPPING AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRESIZE: P21560R16)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jan 25, 2001NY

WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM WHEEL, AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Oct 23, 2000MA

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SHUTTERING AT 19,800 MILES. DEALER TURNED ROTORS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUTTER, BUT STILL WOULD NOT STOP VERY WELL. CONSUMER HAD TO REALLY PRESS HARD TO STOP, CURRENTLY, TOOK IN VEHICLE FOR OIL CHANGE, AND DEALER SAID PADS WERE WORN OUT AT 22,000 MILES. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS DANGEROUS, AND MAY HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING.*AK

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 11, 2000VA

WHEN EXITING VEHICLE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER ADJUSTED THE BELTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCUR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK THE BRAKES MAKE NOISE DUE TO FRONT PADS WEAR AND FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPING. THE TRANSMISSION SHUTTERS OCCASINALY WHEN TAKING OFF AND WAS REPLACED WITH NEW ONE. *YH

Service Brakes, Air › Antilock
Filed Sep 1, 2000CT

THE BRAKE PADS, L/R ROTORS, L/R CALIPER HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES ON THIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER, OCEAN MITUBISHI, ABOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS. THEY HAVE CONTINUALLY IGNORED MY COMPLAINTS AND SAID THAT IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS DIAMANTE. WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT MITUBISHI HAS HAD IN JAPAN, I EMAILED THE DEALER, WHO SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. I EMAILED THE ARTICLES FROM THE NEWSPAPER AND CALLED THEM TO FOLLOW UP. AT THAT TIME THEY ACKNOWLEDGED PROBLEMS WITH THE DIAMANT BRAL

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Aug 31, 2000SC

THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT GAS SMELL IN AND AROUND THE CAR. IT ALSO LEAKS GAS FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN FULL. I HAVE NOTIFIED MISUBISHI SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT MY CAR IS FINE.

Seat Belts › Integrated Child Seat
Filed Aug 14, 2000TX

WHEN REMOVING CHILD FROM THE INTEGRAL CHILD SAFEYY SEAT SHOUDLER HARNESS LOCKED UP. HARNESS GOT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AROUND CHILD'S CHEST. PARENT HAD TO CUT THE HARNNES STRAP(S) TO REMOVED THE CHILD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURE WAS LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Jul 23, 2000MD

LOUD WINDING NOISE FROM ALTERNATOR PULLEY, TOOK CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE CENTER THAT THE PULLEY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE OR REQUIRED. A NEW DESIGN AND BELT WAS IMPLEMENTED ON THE NEW MODELS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. A NEW BELT IS REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE OLD MODELS. THE NEW BELT WILL NOT GO AROUND THE PULLEY AND THE PULLEY WILL NOT BE USED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT. IS THE CONSUMER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE NEW BELT AND LABOR TO PUT IT ON. THIS NEW BELT WAS NOT PART OF THE 1997 MODELS. I THINK THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THIS REPAIR! IT IS A DEFECT. THE PULLEY IS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT IS THE PROBLEM PART.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Oct 20, 1999NH

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AS IF METAL GRINDING. DEALER SAYS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE GOT CAUGHT ON THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Aug 18, 1999CT

ROTORS WERE WARPED AND RESURFACED THREE TIMES. YH

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 1, 1999FL

IN REVERSE GEAR ,BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. BRAKES WERE INOPERATIVE, DID NOT STO VEHICLE.CONSUMER HAD TO THROW THE VEHICLE INTO PARK IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Feb 16, 1999NY

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING BAD VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, AND CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, DEALER REPLACED ROTORS. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

20 of 34 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20043100Routine
200356200Routine
2002123302Fatalities reported
200178200Routine
200051300Routine
199923200Routine
199827100Routine
1997 — this page34010Routine
199512000Routine
199427200Routine
199329310Routine
199242210Routine

Compare every Diamante year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.