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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

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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

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

What owners actually said

123 reports
62,000 miles · Mar 5, 2006
Visibility

EXCESSIVE FOGGING OF INTERIOR WINDOWS AND FAILURE TO CLEAR UP HAVE RESULTING IN VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR CHILDREN AND JUST MISSED GETTING HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THE OTHER DAY. IN ADDITION THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE IS DISGUSTING! BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND SPENT NEARLY $600 TO REPAIR "O …

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EXCESSIVE FOGGING OF INTERIOR WINDOWS AND FAILURE TO CLEAR UP HAVE RESULTING IN VERY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR CHILDREN AND JUST MISSED GETTING HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THE OTHER DAY. IN ADDITION THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE IS DISGUSTING! BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND SPENT NEARLY $600 TO REPAIR "O RINGS". DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO HAVE AS MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE WITHOUT HAVING THE MANUFACTURER PROPERLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED SOONER OR LATER. I GUESS WE SHOULD WAIT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE HEAR FROM NHTSA AND MITSUIBISHI. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151808

1 miles · Mar 2, 2006
VisibilityInjury

THE FIRST TIME MY 5 YEAR OLD SON DROVE IN THIS CAR, HE VOMITTED. EVERYTIME HE RIDES IN IT HE BECOMES NAUSEOUS. THE CAR'S WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND A SICKLY SWEET SMELL COMES OUT OF THE VENTS. THE WINDSHIELD IS COVERED IN A PERMANENT HAZE. WE NOTICED THESE SYMPTOMS BUT HAD NOT GIVEN IT A SECOND THOUGHT SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND HA…

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THE FIRST TIME MY 5 YEAR OLD SON DROVE IN THIS CAR, HE VOMITTED. EVERYTIME HE RIDES IN IT HE BECOMES NAUSEOUS. THE CAR'S WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND A SICKLY SWEET SMELL COMES OUT OF THE VENTS. THE WINDSHIELD IS COVERED IN A PERMANENT HAZE. WE NOTICED THESE SYMPTOMS BUT HAD NOT GIVEN IT A SECOND THOUGHT SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND HAD NO REASON TO SUSPECT MAJOR PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS RECENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR 1 WEEK, WHEN WE PICKED IT UP WE REALLY NOTICED THE SWEET SMELL AND ALERTED THE SHOP. AFTER INSPECTION THE SHOP DIAGNOZED IT AS A HEATER CORE PROBLEM, A LEAK THAT IS VAPORIZING AND CONDENSATING ON THE WINDSHIELDS. THE ANTI-FREEZE FUMES ARE NOXIOUS, AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH WE HAVE FOUND THAT MITSUBISHI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS EVEN ISSUED 2 TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM. MITSUBISHI FAILS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY FIXING THE CAR. BECAUSE OF THE NOXIOUS NATURE OF THE FUMES, THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON RECORD, MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THESE CARS AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF NHTSA REFUSES TO HELP ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN SCREWED BY ANOTHER LARGE CORPORATION, WHY AM I PAYING MY TAXES, SO THAT YOU CAN PROTECT CORPORATE INTERESTS LIKE ALL OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES? THE INCIDENT IS EVERYDAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151637

35,000 miles · Feb 22, 2006
TiresVisibility

HEATER CORE HOSES LEAKED BY 34K MILES - SEEPING ANTI FREEZE INTO PASSENGER SIDE CARPET, SMELLING OF SYRUP, AND FOGGING UP WINDOWS WHEN THEY NEEDED TO BE DEFOGGED. ALSO, TIRES WERE NOISY FROM FIRST DRIVE. AT 36.5K MILES THEY ARE VERY BAD, VIBRATING ENTIRE CAR AND MAKING EXTREME ROAD NOISE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150876

587,520 miles · Feb 15, 2006
Visibility

'02 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE; HEATER CORE FAILURE; 2ND OWNER EFF. 2/05; BOUGHT FROM SAME DEALER THAT LEASED TO 1 PERSON; FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS SUFFERING SAME ISSUE ON GOOGLE TO SITE: HTTP://WWW.DIAMANTEOWNERS.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?S=918C701E5465C87381CCAE0AA22C20A3&SHOWTOPIC=3615 I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1200 BY 2 DEALERS AND …

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'02 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE; HEATER CORE FAILURE; 2ND OWNER EFF. 2/05; BOUGHT FROM SAME DEALER THAT LEASED TO 1 PERSON; FOUND MANY OTHER OWNERS SUFFERING SAME ISSUE ON GOOGLE TO SITE: HTTP://WWW.DIAMANTEOWNERS.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?S=918C701E5465C87381CCAE0AA22C20A3&SHOWTOPIC=3615 I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1200 BY 2 DEALERS AND $900 BY A MECHANIC/INDEPENDENT. THE DEALER THAT LEASED THE CAR TO '1ST OWNER' AND SOLD IT TO ME AT END OF LEASE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON TWO DIAMANTES PER WEEK FOR HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT! WHY IS THERE NO RECALL YET??? THIS LEAK - PER BRAD/SALE AND SERVICE DEALER STATES THAT IF I FAIL TO FIX IMMEDIATELY - 10 HOURS OF LABOR - RADIATOR COOLANT WILL LEAK INTO PASSENGER FOOT WELL/FLOOD AND THE LEAKAGE GOES OVER MY COMPUTER THAT RUNS THE CAR! 2 REPAIRS A WEEK IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! PLEASE HELP!!! I HAVE A TODDLER AND TEENAGER RIDING DAILY WITH ME SMELLING THE RADIATOR FLUID THAT STEAMS INSIDE WINDSHIELD (CANNOT USE HEATER). THIS FOGGING OCCURS EVEN WHEN HEATER NOT IN USE (ALTHOUGH MUCH MILDER IN CONDENSATION). BOUGHT CAR IN MINT CONDITION -USED- AT SAME DEALERSHIP THAT ISSUED LEASE/ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. I CANNOT AFFORD THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT THAT NEEDS FULL 'RECALL' STATUS - PLEASE HELP! P.S. PERSONALLY, I HAVE WANTED THIS CAR FOR 6 YEARS - TO HAVE THIS ISSUE, AND OBVIOUSLY JUST BEFORE A RECALL WILL / "*HAS** TO BE MADE IS SO TERRIBLY STRESSFUL AND DISAPPOINTING. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10150380

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2006
Visibility

HEATER CORE FAILURE - WINDSHIELD FOGGED UP SEVERELY, AND TURNING ON DEFROSTER MADE PROBLEM WORSE AS GASEOUS ETHYLENE GLYCOL WAS PUMPED DIRECTLY ONTO INTERIOR WINDSHIELD. VERY HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, AS WELL AS AIR QUALITY IN CAR CABIN WAS EXTREMELY PUNGENT W/EG FUMES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10148065

47,890 miles · Jan 10, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED A USED 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE IN AUGUST 2005. THE CAR HAD 45,000 MILES ON IT. IN OCTOBER WHEN I STARTED TO USE THE HEATER I COULD SMELL AN UNUSUAL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. IN JANUARY OF 2006 MY BROTHER RODE IN THE CAR AND TOLD ME THE SMELL WAS ANTI-FREEZE. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND INSTANTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS MODEL…

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I PURCHASED A USED 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE IN AUGUST 2005. THE CAR HAD 45,000 MILES ON IT. IN OCTOBER WHEN I STARTED TO USE THE HEATER I COULD SMELL AN UNUSUAL SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. IN JANUARY OF 2006 MY BROTHER RODE IN THE CAR AND TOLD ME THE SMELL WAS ANTI-FREEZE. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND INSTANTLY FOUND OUT THAT THIS MODEL CAR HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATER CORE O-RINGS FAILING. THE SMELL IN THE CAR GOT REAL BAD REAL QUICK AND I HAD TO HAVE THE LEAKING O-RINGS REPAIRED. I WOULD GET SICK FROM THE SMELL AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT FIXED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER AND HAD THE REPAIR DONE FOR $650.THE CAR HAD 48,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THAT IS ALOT OF MONEY FOR PROBLEM THAT MITSUBISHI SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147393

50,070 miles · Jan 8, 2006
Visibility

COULD NOT CLEAR THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. SMELL LIKE ROTTEN EGGS WHEN I TURN ON THE HEATER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHTS INDICATOR ON BOTH THE N AND D WERE FLASHING. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WAS DIFFICULT. DEALER'S MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RELAY HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY COOLANT …

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COULD NOT CLEAR THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. SMELL LIKE ROTTEN EGGS WHEN I TURN ON THE HEATER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHTS INDICATOR ON BOTH THE N AND D WERE FLASHING. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING WAS DIFFICULT. DEALER'S 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. REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND THE RELAY TO A TUNE OF $1,500 BILL. CAR HAS 50,000 MILES .DH. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10147174

29,000 miles · Jan 3, 2006
Visibility

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE WINDOWS WOULD CONSTANTLY BE FOGGY. THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, COOLANT LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED. THEY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE HEATER CORE, IT NEEDED TO BE REPL…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE WINDOWS WOULD CONSTANTLY BE FOGGY. THE VEHICLE WAS SMOKING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, COOLANT LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED. THEY DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE HEATER CORE, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10146838

97,572 miles · Nov 21, 2005
Visibility

HEATER CORE LEAKING AND FOGGING UP WINDOWS. INHALING OF RADIATOR FLUID FUMES IS NOXIOUS. CAN NOT KEEP WINDOW CLEAN, IT'S GREASY, AND CAN'T SEE TO DRIVE WITHOUT WIPING OFF FILM. PASSENGER SIDE CARPET IS WET FROM RADIATOR FLUID AND I'M AFRAID SMELL WILL NOT GO AWAY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10143336

Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A LEAK COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. THIS CAUSES ANTI-FREEZE TO COME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ANTI-FREEZE IS OBSTRUCTING HIS VISION AND HE IS BREATHING ANTI-FREEZE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO A DEALERSHIP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10142719

Official recalls

3

04V428000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.