2002 Mitsubishi DIAMANTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
123 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
61,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 92 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 123 complaints (50.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 11.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 62 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 16 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Visibility | 4 |
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 62; Engine And Engine Cooling: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 16; Electrical System: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 5; Power Train: 4; Visibility: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (37). 31 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 26 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 25 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 6; 2005: 16; 2006: 26; 2007: 23; 2008: 25; 2009: 14; 2010: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 3; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10110114 · 2005-02-08 (February 8, 2005)
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 THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138663 · 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019778 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066805 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064425 · 2004-04-02 (April 2, 2004)
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 THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072280 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 21,076 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103809 · 2004-12-15 (December 15, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209795 · 2007-11-24 (November 24, 2007)
I HAVE A 2002 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. I HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTENANCE. I AM SUBMITTING THIS FORM BECAUSE OF A HEATER CORE ISSUE I AM HAVING. HOWEVER I HAVE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. ALL THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RECURRING PROBLEMS THAT HAPPEN TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MODEL. AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT I FIND WHEN I SEARCH THE ISSUES ON THE INTERNET 1- VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL --THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER TAKING CAR BACK TO DEALER-IT APPEARS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ROTORS IN THIS CAR. AFTER HAVING THE ROTORS CUT TWIC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10209795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154602 · 2006-04-05 (April 5, 2006)
OCPL.COM EPNET.COM AUTO REPAIR REFERENCE CENTER MISUBISHI MOTORS TECH INFORMATION UPDATE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NO: TSB-03-13-007 ODI ID NUMBER: 10152897 DATE: OCTOBER/2003 MODEL: 1997-2003 DIAMANTE MODELS PRODUCED BEFORE 7/7/03 PART: MR908180 DESC: FUEL TANK PUMP AND GAUGE ASSEMBLY SUBJ:LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT ON SOME AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT MAY NOT ILLUMINATE UNTIL AFTER THE FUEL GAUGE REACHES "E". THE WARNING LIGHT SHOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 3.7 GALLONS OF FUEL REMAINING. THE FUEL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10154602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478125 · 2012-10-01 (October 1, 2012)
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 ERRAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478125 at NHTSA ↗