2002 Mitsubishi Diamante complaints

THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE LS. THE WINDOWS IN THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN CONSTANTLY FOGGY IN A DRY ENVIRONMENT. WHEN WIPING WINDOWS DOWN, I NOTICED THAT THE CONDENSATION WAS OILY. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED A SYRUP SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEFROSTER HAS NOT BEEN WORKING PROPERLY, SO I INVESTIGATED ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE. WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS THAT THE SYRUP SMELL AND OILY CONDENSATION WAS MOST LIKELY DUE TO A LEAKY HEATER CORE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO FOUND THAT THE O-RING SEALS FOR THE HEATER CORE WERE FAILING. THEY PRESSURED TESTED THE CORE TO BE SURE IT WAS NOT FAILING ALSO. THE OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEFROSTER WAS NOT RELATED AND ONLY SPARKED MY INVESTIGATION INTO THE OILY CONDENSATION. *JB

FOG AND MIST ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. COOLANT LEVELS DROPPED AND REFILLS WERE REQUIRED, FOLLOWED BY A PROBLEM IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING AND FINALLY A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RELAY HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY COOLANT LEAKING ONTO THE ECU FROM THE HEATER CORE. COOLANT WAS ALSO FOUND TO HAVE LEAKED UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE CARPETING. *JB

HEATER CORE (AND POSSIBLE EFFECT ON TRANSMISSION ISSUES) GOING UP BEFORE ITS TIME (AND THIS KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE DIAMANTES FOR OVER 3 YEARS OF THE MODEL) AND CAUSING ANTIFREEZE FUMES AND SMOKE TO FILL MY CAR FOR MONTHS UNNOTICED EXPOSING MY FAMILY AND SELF TO NAUSEOUSNESS, HEADACHES, NOT TO MENTION EXPENSE OF REPAIR ON A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE. *NM

THE HEATER CORE HAS DEVELOPED A LEAK THAT ALLOWS ANTI-FREEZE TO ENTER AND COLLECT ON THE INSIDE FLOOR OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS MOISTURE INSIDE THE VEHICLE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE DEFROSTER, MAKING FOR A RATHER DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. THIS IS ON A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE WITH FAIRLY LOW MILES. I'VE OWNED A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN MY LIKE AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A HEATER CORE HAS EVER FAILED. *NM

MY WIFE AND I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE VR-X. THIS PAST JUNE 2005 I STARTED NOTICING THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING WHEN I WOULD STOP AT LIGHTS OR IN TRAFFIC. AT FIRST I FIGURED IT WAS THE REALLY HOT WEATHER WE WERE HAVING. AFTER A DAY OR SO I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WOULD FLUCTUATE EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, SO I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE COOLANT. IT WAS LOW. I BOUGHT SOME COOLANT AND FILLED UP THE RESERVOIR THINKING I HAD FOUND MY PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS AGAIN AND CHECKED THE FLUID LEVEL, IT WAS LOW AGAIN. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG THEN AND I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. LOW AND BEHOLD I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE ANTIFREEZE, WHICH IS POISONOUS, HAS LEAKED ALL OVER PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AND WAS TOLD THAT IT PROBABLY HAD BEEN BLOWING OUT OF THE VENTS ALSO. THIS WAS VERY DISCONCERTING NOT JUST FOR THE HEALTH OF MY WIFE AND MYSELF, BUT ALSO BECAUSE WE HAD, AT THE TIME, A FIVE MONTH OLD WHO ALSO HAD BEEN BREATHING THIS POISON. I PRAY WE DON'T END UP HAVING ANY RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY MY DAUGHTER, FROM THIS IN THE FUTURE. WHAT ENDED UP BEING THE PROBLEM WAS THE HEATER CORE CORRODED AND WAS LEAKING INTO THE CAR. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH ONLY 50K MILES. ACTUALLY, THEY SAID IT GENERALLY SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO A VEHICLE. I COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE LEAK IS JUST ABOVE THE CARS COMPUTER SYSTEM. FORTUNATELY THE LEAK DIDN'T AFFECT THESE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS. I SEE FROM THE HTTP://WWW.MYCARS

LEAKING GASKET/HEATER CORE ALLOWING TOXIC FUMES TO BE EMITTED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN EXCESS OF A YEAR. CAUSED A FILM TO FORM ON WINDSHIELD AND THE SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. QUOTES TO REPAIR EXCEED $1000. *JB

FAILURE IN THE HEATER COIL WITH LESS THAN 50000 MILES ANTIFREEZE LEAKIG INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND FOGGING WINDOW.*AK

I PURCHASED 2002 MITUSBISHI DIAMANTE LS WITH 35000 MILES FROM THE MITSUBISHI DEALER IN SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA. AFTER DRIVING OFF I NOTICED A SMELL OF MAPLE SYRUP. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY EYES BURNED AND ITCHED WHEN THE HEATER WAS ON. THIS WAS LIKELY DUE TO THE WHITE CLOUD THAT CAME FROM THE HEATER DUCT. IT WAS ALSO CAUSING CLOUDY WINDOWS THAT MADE SAFE NAVIGATION IMPOSSIBLE. THE CARPET I STARTING TO PUDDLE WITH ANTIFREEZE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I TOOK IT IN FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, AND HAD THE DEALER MECHANIC CHECK THE SMELL. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING, AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEIR QUOTE WAS $1060 AND WAS NOT COVERED BY MY BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD AND THE LEAKY HEATER CORE COULD CAUSE MASSIVE DAMAGE TO THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE. THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUG IT WA A PROBLEM AT DRIVE OFF.*AK

2002 MITSHUBISHI DIAMONTE AUTO HEATER CORE FAILS AND LEAKS; WINDOWS REMAIN FOGGED FOR A LONG PERIOD. VENTS AND AC FIRST FAILED 5/2004. AN AUTHORIZED DEADER REPAIRED SYMTOM W/O A ROOT CAUSE. BY 4/1/2005, DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE UNTIL VISIBILITY WAS UNSAFE AND THE VENTS EMITTED AN ODOROUS SMELL. ORIGINAL DEALER DISCONTINUED SERVICE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER INITIALLY REFUSE TO COVER THE REPAIR. NOTHING WAS DONE OR DIAGNOSED AFTER 6 HOURS, REPORTING THE VENTS WORKED OK. I RE-OPENED A CASE BY CONTACTING THE MFG WHO ACKNOWLEDGED GROWING SAFETY REPORTS WITH THE HEATER CORE. THE DEALER WAS GIVEN 2-3 WORKING DAYS OR REVIEW. MEANWHILE. *AK

WINDOWS FOGGED UP AND WOULD NOT CLEAR UP. THERE WAS A KIND OF SWEET BURNING SMELL. DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT IS WAS THE HEATERCORE LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AND ALL THE SYMTOMS LISTED ON SITE MATCHED MY CAR. CHECKED THE PASSENGER SIDE AND FOUND PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE SOAKED IN THE CARPET. ALSO THE ANTIFREEZE IN THE RADIATOR WAS VERY LOW. MY WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR AND SHE IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT! SHE HAD BEEN UNKNOWINGLY INHALING THE ANTIFREEZE VAPORS SINCE THE LEAKAGE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT COST ME $690 TO FIX (3/10/05). I HAD TO WAIT 3 DAYS BEFORE THE PARTS CAME IN AND 1 DAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS CAR IS ONLY A 2002 AND HAS 52,000 MILES! WHAT A COINCEDENCE THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING THE CAR SINCE MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND THE CAR STILL SMELLS LIKE ANTIFREEZE! I HAVE TO DRIVE IT WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN SINCE THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE VAPORS ARE STILL STRONG. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE AFFECTS OF BREATHING THE ANTIFREEZE VAPORS.*AK

JANUARY 12, 2005 ONE COLD MORNING I NOTICED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR DID NOT GO IN AS FAST AS IT SHOULD IT TOOK LIKE 1 MINUTE TO GO INTO GEAR, WHEN COLD IT WOULD JOLT BEFORE ADVANCING IN DRIVE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING, SO I PICKED UP THAT SAME AFTERNOON, NEXT MORNING SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK ON JAN 19, LEFT IT OVER NIGHT AND THEY FOUND IT TOOK A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GO INTO GEAR, THEREFORE, THEY DECIDED TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION, THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER SINCE 1/20 THRU 2/7, AFTER SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT IS THE HEATING CORE DRIPPING ON TOP OF THE COMPUTER DAMAGING THE SENSORS, TODAY 2/8 THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR AT ALL. I HAVE HAD GREASE WITH THE SEAT BELTS, THEY HAD TO BE CHANGED AT 3600 MILES, THE TIRES (EAGLE) HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 18,000MIES, THE BRAKES STARTING ACTING UP AT 6000 MILES, THE STEERING STARTED VIBRATING AT 12,000 MILES. BOTTOM LINE THIS CAR IS A MESS, SUCKS AND MITSUBISHI DOES NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THOSE PROBLEMS, THIS IS A BIG LEMON!*AK

THIS HEATER CORE LEAKS DIRECTLY OVER COMPUTERS WHICH CONTROL THE ENGINE - AND COULD CAUSE IT TO ACT UNPREDICTABLY OR CUT OUT ALTOGETHER WHEN DRIVING. *AK * ANTI-FREEZE CONTAINS ETHYLENE GYLCOL WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS RESPIRATORY DAMAGE * THE LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE CAUSES A FILM TO FORM ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE WINDSCREEN TO FOG UP SUDDENLY, OBSCURING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING A COLLISION IT WILL COST ME MORE THAN 900.00 TO REPAIR THIS ITEM, PLUS THE COST TO REPLACE MY CARPET AND TO CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE. PLUS I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL EVERGET RID OF THE SMELL AND THIS WILL MOST LIKELY LOWER THE RESALE VALUE COSTING ME EVEN MORE IN THE LONG TERM.I WOULD EXPECT THIS KIND OF THING TO HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OR OLD. BUT IN A CAR THAT WAS MADE IN 2001 AND HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES AND WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AT THE COMPANY'S OWN DEALER SERVICE CENTER IS ABSURD. I FOLLOWED ALL THE MANUFACTURERS SERVICE INTERVALS AND AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE COOLANT IS NOT CHANGED, THIS MAKES ME QUESTION THE DEALERS' AND MANUFACTURERS' COMMITMENT TO SAFETY. I AM SAVING THE PARTS THAT ARE BEING REPLACED AND WILL MAKE THEM AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NEED BE.

HEATER CORE HAS FAILED. ANTI-FREEZE LEAKS AND, AS THE RESULT, SYRUP-LIKE SMELL IS EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE CAR! WINDOWS FOG UP. POSSIBLE DAMAGES ARE NOT TO BE IGNORED!. IF THE PROBLEM ISN'T TAKEN CARE OF, IT CAN UNDOUBTEDLY LEAD TO LONG TERM HEALTH PROBLEMS DUE TO ANTI FREEZE FUMES, AS WELL AS ELECTRICAL DAMAGES TO THE COMPUTER. *JB

WINDSHIELD WOULD NOT DEFROST. VAPOR BLOWING FROM VENTS. CALLED TO GET COST ESTIMATE-$765 FROM DEALER. CALLED OTHER REPAIR SHOPS--THEY SAID THEY'VE DONE 4 REPAIRS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS ON MITSUBISHI'S FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM

MY WIFE NOTICED LITTLE CLOUDS OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS WHEN THE HAETER/DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON, WE COULD ALSO SMELL SOMETHING THAT SMELLED LIKE SYURP OR ANTIFREEZE. THE WINDOWS DO NOT DEFROST ANYMORE, WHICH IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I AM TOLD THAT THIS MOST LIKELY FROM A BROKEN HEATER CORE. IF NOT REPLACED ANTIFREEZE CAN LEAK INTO THE CARS COMPUTER, WHICH COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BY SHUTTING DOWN THE ENTIRE CAR. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $400-$1000. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE TO FIX THIS SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. *AK

NOXIOUS ODOR COMING OUT OF VENTS INSIDE CAR. WINDOWS NOT CLEARING WITH DEFROSTERS ON AND SMOKE SWIRLING AROUND LOWER WINDSHIELD. TOOK TO DEALER, PAID $704 FOR REPAIR. WHEN ENTERED CAR TO LEAVE DEALERSHIP, SAME PROBLEM EXISTED. LEFT CAR WITH DEALER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. ALSO, WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSOR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK IT WAS LATER DETERMINED BY THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN THAT THE ETACS SYSTEMS FAILED. *NM

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 25 MPH VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER. THEN, THE BRAKES MADE A SQUEAKING NOISE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED FRONT LEFT TIRE HIT A CURB, AND THE AXLE AND RIM BROKE. CONSUMER HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF FOR A SPLIT SECOND WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT DOES THIS WHEN THE AC SYSTEM KICKS IN. LIGHTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE DIM AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS AT BOTH IDLE AND HIGH RPM. A VOLT METER SHOWS A LARGE VOLTAGE SPIKE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR IS NOT RESPONDING FAST ENOUGH TO PICK UP THE VOLTAGE. HAVE WORKED FOR OVER A YEAR WITH MITSUBISHI TO ATTEMPT TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THEIR MECHANICS AT 2 DEALERSHIPS SAY THAT THE PROBLEM ISN'T NORMAL UNTIL THEY DON'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEN THEY COME BACK AND SAY IT'S NORMAL. I HAVE YET TO SEE A CAR DO THIS - ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IF THE PROBLEM WAS "NORMAL" THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE SHOP TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE -- WHY SPEND HOURS TRYING TO FIND A BAD WIRE IF THE PROBLEM IS "NORMAL". I FEEL THIS IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE MITSUBISHI DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSES TO AUTHORIZE THE SERVICE DEPT TO REPLACE MY ALT. OR BATTERY TO SEE IF IT WILL RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE FIRST MONTH I HAD MY CAR, AND CONTINUES TO HAPPEN NOW THAT THERE IS 20000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. NUMBER OF FAILURES IS HARD TO ESTIMATE SINCE IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE EVERY TIME THE AC KICKS IN AT NIGHT. WILL PUT 180 ASSUMING 15 TIMES DRIVING AT NIGHT PER MONTH. *JB

GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRES, MAKE WINDING NOISE WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY LACK OF TIRE ROTATION, I HAVE ROTATED THIS TIRES EVERY 6,000 MILES, SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER THE CAR HAD ABOUT 2,000 MILES, CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESOLVED, VEHICLE HAS 24,000 MILES, IT CAME WITH 36,000 MILES BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I THOUGHT THAT WHEN YOU BUY A NEW CAR THE TIRES ARE ALSO UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, BUT EVIDENTLY THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR THIS. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURER HAD USED THESE CHEAP MADE TIRES ON A GOOD VEHICLE LIKE THIS. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLES WHEEL CAME OFF. THE BRAKE DRUM AND SOME OF THE AXLE WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO RUN INTO A WALL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED BACK, NECK AND SIDE . THIS WAS REPORTED TO MITSUBISHI. *NLM.

MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING STALL. PUT ON BRAKE, TO STOP, CAR ACCELERATED OVER CURB INTO BUILDING. MR