IllustrationHEATING CORE GOING BAD, WINDOW SHIELD FOGS UP AND CANNOT WIPE WAYS EASILY, VAPORS COMING FROM UNDER DASH, SYRUP SMELL IS STRONG AND ONLY WHEN HEAT IS ON. *TR
2002 Mitsubishi Diamante
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Diamante years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante are substantially higher than the model-year median of 31.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Diamante years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
80–25K
1925–50K
3750–75K
2075–100K
7100–150K
1150K+
92 reports with mileage · 31 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Visibility. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports8 injury reports
Visibility complaints
71 reportsCOMPLAINT DESCRIPTION: NOTICED FAINT SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO. HAD PROBLEMS WITH DEFROSTER CLEARING WINDOWS. ALSO, SEEMED TO GET BETTER (OR MAYBE I GOT USED TO THE SMELL). NOW NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR CARPET IS SOAKED WITH ANTI FREEZE. OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER CORE OR THE HOSE(S) WHICH CONNE…
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COMPLAINT DESCRIPTION: NOTICED FAINT SMELL OF ANTI FREEZE APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO. HAD PROBLEMS WITH DEFROSTER CLEARING WINDOWS. ALSO, SEEMED TO GET BETTER (OR MAYBE I GOT USED TO THE SMELL). NOW NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR CARPET IS SOAKED WITH ANTI FREEZE. OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER CORE OR THE HOSE(S) WHICH CONNECT TO IT ARE LEAKING. CAR HAS 55000 MILES, AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. I CALLED LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR. HOPING THEY CAN REPAIR THIS AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO ME AS THIS IS AN OBVIOUS DEFECT IN PARTS OR INSTALLATION. ALL LOCAL MITSUBISHI DEALER SAID THAT THIS WILL COST WE ABOUT $1200. I SEE ALOT OF COMPLAINT OF THIS TYPE SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL? *TR
BAD HEATER CORE, LEAKING O-RINGS. *JB
HAD TROUBLE DEFROSTING WINDSHIELD, BUILD UP OF FILM ON WINDSHIELD, ANTIFREEZE ON PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, HEADACHES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD, BUT WHEN THE ENGINE REVVED, THE VEHICLE MOVED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND PULL OFF THE ROAD, BUT WHEN THE ENGINE REVVED, THE VEHICLE MOVED APPROXIMATELY THREE FEET AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 20,000 MILES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SEVERELY FOGGED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEATER CORE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE DRIVER WAS NAUSEATED FOR TWO WEEKS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
CAR CABIN HAS STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE WHEN USING THE HEATER. WINDOWS HAVE DIFFICULTY DE-FOGGING AND AFTER CONTACTING SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE OVER $1000 TO FIX. AS I DUG DEEPER INTO MY PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF MY VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND MY REPAIR FORUM HAD THIS LINK T…
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CAR CABIN HAS STRONG ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE WHEN USING THE HEATER. WINDOWS HAVE DIFFICULTY DE-FOGGING AND AFTER CONTACTING SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE OVER $1000 TO FIX. AS I DUG DEEPER INTO MY PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY OWNER OF MY VEHICLE THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM, AND MY REPAIR FORUM HAD THIS LINK TO FILE A REPORT. *TR
FOGGY SPOTS ON FRONT WINDSHIELD, SYRUP LIKE SMELL, AND VAPORS BLOWN THROUGH FRONT VENTS. HEATER CORE GASKET LEAKED COOLANT FLUID INTO CAR DRIPPING ON PASSENGER SIDE, FOUND FLUID UNDERNEATH CARPET. MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP REPLACED HEATER CORE. *AK
HEATER CORE FAILURE. *JB
NOTICE THICK RESIDUE ON FRONT WINDOW AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE IT WITH DEFOGGER. NOTICE LOSE OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH CAUSED OVER HEATING AND POTENTIAL ENGINE CEASING. THEN NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE CARPET WAS FULL OF ANTI-FREEZE. AFTER INTENSE CLEANING AND ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IT STILL EMITS A MAPLE SYRUP ANTI FREEZE TOXIC FUM…
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NOTICE THICK RESIDUE ON FRONT WINDOW AND WAS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE IT WITH DEFOGGER. NOTICE LOSE OF ANTIFREEZE WHICH CAUSED OVER HEATING AND POTENTIAL ENGINE CEASING. THEN NOTICED PASSENGER SIDE CARPET WAS FULL OF ANTI-FREEZE. AFTER INTENSE CLEANING AND ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM, IT STILL EMITS A MAPLE SYRUP ANTI FREEZE TOXIC FUME
HEATER CORE PROBLEM. WINDOW FOG. ANTI FREEZE SMELL IN SIDE OF CABIN. EXTENDED WARRANTY IS NOT COVER.ONLY 28800 MILES 2002 DIAMANTE. *JB
Official recalls
304V428000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 1, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
04V067000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Feb 11, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
02V100001 · Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood
Apr 7, 2002
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.