2002 Mitsubishi Diamante

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 123 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › defroster/defogger/hvac system › heater core. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

91 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Heater Core58
004
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System15
001
Engine and Engine Cooling12
000
Electrical System5
100
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System4
001
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
001
Visibility3
000
Power Train3
000
Suspension › Rear2
000
Air Bags2
101

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Other › Labels04V428000
Filed Sep 1, 2004100,432 vehiclesMitsubishi Caribbean

Defect. 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.

Risk. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy. MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual04V067000
Filed Feb 11, 2004134,000 vehiclesMitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. A LETTER OUTLINING THE PROBLEM WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS ALONG WITH A STICKER CONTAINING THE CORRECT INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE TO AFFIX THE STICKER IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood02V100001
Filed Apr 7, 20023,885 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE MAIN UNDER HOOD ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ENGINE CONTROL HARNESS AND THE EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD. AS A RESULT, THE HARNESS COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD, WHICH COULD RESULT IN MELTING OF THE HARNESS INSULATION.

Risk. THE MELTING OF THE HARNESS INSULATION COULD RESULT IN GROUNDING OF THE CRANK ANGLE SENSOR WIRING, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN ERRATICALLY OR STOP SUDDENLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE HARNESS FOR DAMAGE AND, IF NONE IS EVIDENT, WILL TIE THE HARNESS BACK TO PREVENT THE HARNESS FROM EVER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE HEAT SHIELD. ANY HARNESS THAT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE WILL BE REPAIRED AS NECESSARY AND THEN TIED BACK TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Aug 2, 2017143,000 milesWA

I WAS DRIVING MY MITSUBISHI ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY BRIDGE ON 7-28-2017 AND SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND I WAS STUCK AND HAD NO POWER OF MOVEMENT,MY WIFE AND 3 Y.O.CHILD WERE PASSENGERS IN THE CAR,LUCKILY THE STATE PATROL CAME AND ASSISTED US.THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THIS CAR WAS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND HAD NO PROBLEMS OR ISSUES.THEY LIED TO US AND BY DOING SO THEY PUT OUR LIVES IN DANGER.THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG WAS ALSO MISSING WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR.

Power Train
Filed Apr 8, 2015AL

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NO LONGER PROPEL THE VEHICLE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE. SHE HAD TO COAST THE CAR OVER AND WAS RAPIDLY LOOSING SPEED, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY PART IN THE TRANSMISSION CALLED A WAVE SPRING. IN EVERY F4A51 MITSUBISHI TRANSMISSION, THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE. THE WAVE SPRING BREAKS, BYPASSES THE FILTER, ENTERS THE PUMP GEARS AND BREAKS THE PUMP, ENDING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR, $1800-$2000. IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN, AND A BETTER AFTERMARKET WAVE SPRING WAS EVENTUALLY ENGINEERED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 18, 201565,289 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V100001 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.) THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,289.

Power Train
Filed Jan 11, 2015141,000 milesWA

DRIVING ALONG AT 35MPH ENGINE RPM SUDDENLY ALMOST RED LINED LOST POWER AND LOST ALL FORWARD AND REVERSE GEARS.HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE! *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 24, 201360,000 milesMN

THE CAR JUST STOPPED. THE GEARS WERE NONFUNCTIONAL. *TR

Electrical SystemCrash
Filed Oct 1, 2012140,000 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PASSENGER VAN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MISFIRES, NEEDED SPARK PLUGS, A FUEL PUMP, A FUEL INJECTOR, AN EGR VALVE, AND THE ENGINE SURGED ERRATICALLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 12/06/12*LJ UPDATED 12/6/2012 *JS

Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1 injured
Filed Dec 6, 201091,000 milesNJ

THE HEATER CORE IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE WINDOWS IN THE CAR FOG UP SO BAD I COULDNT DRIVE THE CAR...HAD TO PULL OVER AND WIPE THE WINDOWS DOWN. BUT THE THING IS...I DIDNT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS WAS...UNTIL I REALIZED THE WINDOWS WERENT JUST BEING FOGGED BY THE COLD, ECT IT WAS A TOXIC MIST FROM A HEATER CORE PROBLEM...I PULLED OVER 2 TIMES BECAUSE I GOT SICK...I NOTICED A MIST COMING OUT OF THE VENTS....SO ALL IN ALL I CALLED MITSUBISHI AND THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.THIS HEATER CORE PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, SICKNESS, AND OTHE EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS IN THE CAR! THE FUMES ARE EXTREMELY TOXIC!!! THERE ARE 1000'S OF COMPLAINTS AND BLOGS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM...I'M SURE THERE ARE 100,000+ COMPLAINTS ABPOUT THIS PROBLEM. AND MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO HELP OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I TOLD THEM, IS THIS GONNA TAKE A FATAL ACCIDENT FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING?" THEY REPLIED, "IM NOT ANSWERING THAT!" I TOLD THEM THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS PROBLEM. THEY REPLIED, "SORRY BUT YOUR WARRANTY IS UP WE CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT." THIS HEATER CORE PROBLEMS LEADS TO FAULTY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, HAZERDOUS PROBLEMS, SICKNESS, INTERIOR OF THE CAR CAN BE RUINED BECAUSE ANITFREEZE LEAKS THROUGH THE DASH BOARD...WHERE MITSUBISHI PLACED THE HEATER CORE. MADE NO SENSE TO PLACE A HEATER CORE ABOVE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THEY REALLY MESSED UP HERE AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I THINK THAT THE MEDIA SHOULD GET INVOLVED BECAUSE

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 25, 201088,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AS A RESULT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. UPDATED 12/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/27/10

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jun 24, 201080,000 milesFL

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE WITH A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE, I HAVE HAD HEATER CORE PROBLEMS. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING/SMELL AND WINDOWS FOGGING UP. COST TO REPAIR EXCEEDS $1000. IF EVERY ONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAS THIS SAME ISSUE, WHY HAS IT NEVER BEEN RECALLED? AND WHY DOES MITSUBISHI GET AWAY WITH ALL CARS HAVING THIS DEFECT? AND WHY HAS THIS INVESTIGATION NOT RESULTED IN ACTION? IS THERE ANOTHER AGENCY THAT CAN GET RECALL ACTION FROM MITSUBISHI? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 6, 2010MA

MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 2002 HAS FAULTY O-RINGS AND IS WIDELY PUBLICIZED TO CAUSE MAJOR HEATER CORE PROBLEMS AND ANTI-FREEZE LEAKAGE. *TR

Visibility
Filed Dec 17, 200960,000 milesIN

MY FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGING UP EVERY TIME I USED THE HEATER AND A SMELL OF COOLANT INSIDE MY CAR--NASTY FILM WAS LEFT, FOUND OUT IT WAS A HEATER CORE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES THE FOG WOULD TAKE 20 MINUTES TO CLEAR UP WITH DEFROSTER ON HIGHEST SETTINGS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH MITSUBISHI DIAMANTES. I AM SURPRISED THAT THESE HAVE NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR SAFETY REASONS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Dec 9, 200932,000 milesMA

ABS CONTROL MODULE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 9, 200930,000 milesMA

HEATER CORE AND O RINGS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Nov 17, 200937,000 milesPA

OUR 2002 MITSUBISHIS DIAMANTE VR-X HAS BEEN MISTING FROM THE HEATER CORE FOR A FEW YEARS. THE PROBLEM IS BAD GASKETS (O-RINGS) THAT JOIN THE HEATER CORE WITH THE LINES FOR THE HEATER HOSES. THE HEATER CORE IS INSTALLED RIGHT OVER THE PCM UNIT. IF IT LEAKS BADLY ENOUGH, THE PCM AND TRANSMISSION RELAY WILL BE DESTROYED. IT (HEATER CORE) FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN WE WENT TO MITSUBISHI DEALER, THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT. THEY QUOTED US $1400.00 FOR REPAIRS. ON THE INTERNET, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NO ONE HAS GOTTEN ANY SATISFACTION FROM MITSUBISHI. I PUT SOME RADIATOR STOP-LEAK IN AND THIS SEEMED TO HELP SOMEWHAT, BUT IT IS STARTING TO MIST AGAIN WITH ANTI-FREEZE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A TOXIN AND IS DANGEROUS TO INHALE AND WILL JEOPARDIZE MY FAMILY'S HEALTH. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 2, 200994,000 milesKY

I HAVE A '02 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE AND I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS OUT OF THE HEATER CORE LEAKING AND NOW ITS AFFECTED MY ECU (COMPUTER) I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT OUTRAGEOUS PRICES TO FIX OR EVEN CHECK MY CAR.. I THINK THAT SINCE ITS A PROBLEM FROM THE DEALER THEY SHOULD RECALL THESE CARS.. I KNOW I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MITSUBISHI AND I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND THEM TO A FRIEND.. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System1 injured
Filed Aug 3, 200978,000 milesAL

MY 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE HAS O RING FAILURE IN THE HEATER COIL. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THIS MODEL AND WOULD LIKE A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES DUE TO THE EXTREME NATURE OF THE ISSUE. WITH THE FAILURE OF THE O RINGS COME POTENTIAL ANTI FREEZE VAPORS ENTERING PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSING PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO ALL PASSENGERS. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE CAR TO OVERHEAT IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND/OR DEATH. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE HEATING ELEMENT TO NO LONGER WORK AND PASSENGERS IN THE EXTREME WINTER CLIMATES MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO PHYSICAL HARM OR DEATH. LASTLY, THIS IS A RAMPANT KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED AT DEALER COST. MY CAR COST ORIGINALLY $30,000. AND I WOULD EXPECT THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THESE COMPANIES BACK UP THE VEHICLES THEY ARE SELLING TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND MAKE THEM SAFE AND WORTH THE MONEY THAT IS SPENT ON THEM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed May 29, 200971,000 milesWI

HEATER CORE LEAKS INTO CAR STEAMS UP WINDOWS AND LEAKS ON THE COMPUTER AND CHANGES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. *TR

Child Seat
Filed May 20, 2009UT

THE BUCKLES IN BACK OF THE CAR SEAT DOES NOT HOLD THE STRAPS IN PLACE THEY COME LOOSE JUST BY CARING THE CAR SEAT. I ENTERED IN A DIFFERENT MODEL NUMBER THEN WHAT MY CAR SEAT MODEL NUMBER IS BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE IT IN YOUR SYSTEM MY MODEL NUMBER FOR MY CAR SEAT IS 22-325 PAC GB1B. SORRY BUT I NEEDED THIS COMPLAINT PUT IN IMMEDIATLY BECAUSE I DO NOT NEED ANYTHING BAD HAPPENING TO MY BABY BECAUSE OF HIS CAR SEAT THAT HAS A SERIOUS DEFAULT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2002, MAKE=MITSIBISHI, MODEL=DIAMANTE). *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 10, 2009FL

THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL, OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. I JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE SMELL AND THE SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS IS BECAUSE THE HEATER CORE HAS GONE BAD. THE QUOTE I RECEIVED WAS FOR $1100. MY ANTENNA JUST STOPPED WORKING ON ME ALSO. IT DOESN'T GO DOWN ANYMORE, BUT THE MOTOR STILL SOUNDS LIKE ITS WORKING. WE ARE ALL HAVING TOO MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE LIABLE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Mar 1, 2009103,000 milesFL

IT HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE. NO SIGNS OR WARNINGS TO HELP PREVENT THIS PROBLEM. THE HEATER CORE LEAKS UNCONTROLLABLY. IT'S A LONG LABOR JOB AND HAPPENS PRETTY EARLY IN THE CARS LIFE SPANS. THE PARTS ARE CHEAP TO REPLACE BUT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE DRASTIC. *TR

20 of 123 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20043100Routine
200356200Routine
2002 — this page123302Fatalities reported
200178200Routine
200051300Routine
199923200Routine
199827100Routine
199734010Routine
199512000Routine
199427200Routine
199329310Routine
199242210Routine

Compare every Diamante year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 1, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.