Mitsubishi Diamante 2002

• Recall 41286 [USA]: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.
  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.
  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.
  the manufacturer's petition which requested that nhtsa determine this fmvss noncompliance does not create an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety was partially denied on january 26, 2005. Therefore, this manufacturer is obligated to conduct an owner notification and remedy campaign.Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

• Recall 34819 [USA]: 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.
  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.
  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.
  mitsubishi recall no. Sr-04-002.Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

• Recall 893 [USA]: 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.
  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.
  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 november 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 caribbean at 1-787-251-8715.
  customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

To ensure accuracy and for your safety, it is recommended to do a free VIN recall check here or here [USA] - UK - Canada.

Bulletins are notices put out by manufacturers in conjunction with the NHTSA to notify the public of manufacturing issues or changes.

Common OBD Error codes specific to this vehicle.

• P0133 [3] 02 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
• P0154 [1] 02 Sensor Circuit No Activity Detected (Bank 2 Sensor 1)
• P0174 [2] System too Lean (Bank 2)
• P0171 [1] System too Lean (Bank 1)
• C20A3 [1] C20A3

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.

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

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.

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

The car just stopped. The gears were nonfunctional. *tr

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

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 they probably wont do anything about if someone doesnt speak up! *tr

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

Mitsubishi diamante 2002 has faulty o-rings and is widely publicized to cause major heater core problems and anti-freeze leakage. *tr

Abs control module. *tr

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

Heater core and o rings. *tr

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

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

The black metal strip above the windshield came off while driving. All the plastic clips that attach the windshield to the strip were broken, and some were even missing upon inspection. I purchased the vehicle used from a dealership, and got a carfax report that showed the vehicle suffered no prior damage and had no prior accidents whatsoever. *tr

I have a 2002 mitsubishi diamante with less than 100,000 miles and already i need to replace the heater coil. I guess this is on going problem with mitsubishi. *tr

I have had the transmission replaced including the torque converter $5000. I am going on my second power antenna $300. The most recent called for a heater core replacement $1050. *tr

The heater core of the 2002 mitsubishi diamante needs to be recalled and/or redesigned by mitsubishi. As it is, just about every single post i see online about this car has the exact same problem. The heater is positioned directly above the car's computer , or ecu , and therefore causing problems with the engine, transmission, suspension, etc.. The entire 80-page thread linked below is almost completely about this issue : http://www.Carsurvey.Org/viewcomments_review_76426.Html there are many others like it. The issue is mentioned in technical service bulletins by mitsubishi but is not recalled. People are buying this car used and having to replace the heater core (around $1200 repair). *tr

Foggy window, antifreeze smell through vent, passenger side floor damp/wet. Was told by dealer that heatercore o-rings and heatercore possibly needs to be replaced. Looking for alternative solution to resolve the problem. *tr

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

I bought a 2002 mitsubishi diamante ls 10/3/07. He had 53,000 miles on it. It now has about 75,000 miles. My problem is the same as hundreds of owner of this car. Heater core issues. I recently had the heater core gaskets replaced as i was told that the heater core was ok, still had to pay for labor. It is now leaking again. This is a very common problem and seems that mitsubushi is unwilling to do anything about this. The heater core is right above the computer that runs the car. When the heater core goes bad, its leaks on the computer. What kind of sense does that make? My engine light is constantly on and i have seen the tcl light come on as well. I have searched the internet and all 3 of these problems are very common. I want to know if there is anything that can be done about this or if mitsubushi has addressed the problem and i am not aware of. I cannot afford to fix the car or get a new. Please help! *tr

Heater core is leaking car only has 82,000k on the dash. As i have gone through various car forums and have come to realize this is a very common problem. *tr

At approx 60k (i am the original owner) the car began to emit mist from the vents. The first incident was a near overheating event which caused me to check the coolant. After topping off the level the car operated normally for a few months and then repeated the behavior. The tcl went off, the check engine light came on, the mist got heavier, and the car is a danger to both myself as an operator and others on the highway because the fog from the antifreeze damages visibility. The floor mat on the passenger side has also gathered moisture from the apparent leak. This scenario is well documented by others and demands a recall. *tr

I bought my car used from the dealership, and drove about 200 miles before i realized the antifreeze smell as well as my windows began to fog. After reading the vast amount of heater core problems in the mitsubishi diamante, i decided to file a complaint. Antifreeze in the cab of the car cold lead to health issues and the consistent fogging of the windows can lead to little to no visibility. The windows will randomly become intensely greasy with antifreeze backup, this can happen at anytime when i am driving. I am extremely concerned about getting into an accident due to my visibility, and am getting my eyes checked out just incase the antifreeze has affected them. Thank you *tr

I own a 2002 mitsubishi diamante car, i bought this car in 02 since the 1st day i bought the car there was problems. The computer in the car went crazy my check engine light,,cruise control,anti lock brake, tcl light all started flashing . I took the car back to the dealer & they replaced the computer but it didn't work they put 3 computers in since then, these lights are still on till this day. In 06 my trans blew i took the car back to the dealer they replaced my trans the car still doesn't ride right. My a/c turns on but nothing comes out sometimes. In the winter the inside of my car becomes a fog all over my windows and it wont stop fogging up. A smell is coming out of my vents like a coffee smell & im inhaling this smell whenever im in the car i have to go to a doctor to get checked out to see if i have health issues .My sun roof leaks when it rains,i took my car back to the dealer to have all these issues fixed but they never did i purchased the car in 02 the warranty lasted 02-05 b/c that is when my warranty expired. When i call they tell me i have to pay out of pocket b/c the warranty expired. This isn't fair to any mitsubishi owner i shouldn't have to pay to have my car fixed now after the warranty when all the same problems have been recurring since i purchased the car and they never fixed it to begin with. I can understand if i was the only person with these problems i decided to search the internet to see if anyone else owned my make and model of my car to see if they had similar problems sure enough i came across a website called www.Carsurvey.Org/viewcomments_review_76426.Html there's over 50 people with the same problems i have with my car.Mitsubishi should fix these problems and stand by there cars. I called corporate headquarters today & was told there's nothing they can do b/c its out of warranty. *tr

The heater core. I start smelling an antifreeze smell inside the car then the check engine soon light came on. Also the tcl is on. The dealer said that it is a wheel sensor that will run me $625. The heater core is $1,200. Every one that i talk to on the email sight is having the same problem. Please help! Thanks. *tr

Started smelling "maple syrup" in passenger compartment. Windows were fogging up easily. This was confirmed by dealer to be the heater core leaking antifreeze, and service cost $1,100. *tr

At about 95000 miles i noticed the vehicle becoming very hard to drive whenever there was slight moisture or snow on the roads. After inspecting i noticed both rear wheels tipped in at the top substantially. The left rear wheel was also towed out at the front and both rear tires were almost completely worn even though i had just replaced them about 25000 mile prior. I took it to a local shop who informed me that there was a technical service bulletin out for bushings that press into the rear knuckles wearing prematurely. I have since moved the front tires to the rear and those have completely worn out. I understand i will need to have these bushings replaced and have the suspension aligned to fix the problem. This is a huge expense and without knowing what to look for the vehicle goes from a nice ride to almost impossible to drive in a very short time. I believe this is a huge safety concern and alot of people will be unaware of the problem or continue to drive the vehicle this way because it is very expensive to fix. *tr

The windshield fogs up for no reason and i am not able to defog it. It is very hard to see any time the heat is on. I am told it may be the heater core. *tr

Transmission retaining rings brake and jam gears. Car stopped in intersection had to be pushed off road and towed to shop replaced transmission. Was told by repair person that this is something that mitsubishi knew was happening for the last 2 years. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi diamante. The check engine light began illuminating, the heater coil was leaking, and the windows were steaming. The contact smelled a foul odor coming from the vehicle. A mechanic diagnosed that the heater core needed to be replaced. The failure mileage was 67,800 and current mileage was 67,990.

I found postings of the same heater core issue. Windshield fog and the awful syrup smell of anitfreeze. There needs to be a recall as you can clearly see the history of complaints dating back to 1995 or earlier. Please look into this urgent matter. *tr

Windshield fog, sweet syrup smell. *tr

2002 mitsubishi diamante 65k miles. Failure of heater core/ heater core gaskets/ o-rings. Windshield will not defog, strong coolant odor and residue on windshield and side windows. Resulted in dangerously low visibility while driving. Windshield too foggy for safe driving. Strong smell of antifreeze in passenger compt. Had to open windows in sub freezing temp to get fresh air to passenger compt while driving. Cost to repair estimated $800-$1100. Problem appears to be widespread based on complaints filed at this nhtsa site as some complaints are categorized under different component names but have same problem descriptions. Greater than 60 complaints by my count for 2002 model year alone on relatively low number of vehicles sold in us. *tr

Heater core - the air that comes out the vent when i turn my heater on, smells like antifreeze. My windows fog up and i work at night. Its kind of hard to keep wiping down the windshield consistently with my hand while driving. *tr

Heater core leaking into passenger side of car, releasing coolant vapor into car cabin. *tr

Fall of 2007, noticed increased fogging of windows that did not go away with defroster, fresh air. Began to smell sweet, syrupy smell. November 07, heat refused to work, checked antifreeze level, very low. Windows continuing to not be cleared. Oily film covering windows. Currently, i have not had complete failure of heater or computer module. I have researched this problem on the diamante owners web site. My problems mirror exactly as fellow posters. November 29, 2007, i pulled back the carpet to inspect computer module and heater core area, there is gunky green ooze on the floor and on the computer module. I am currently in the position of researching the best way to have problem fixed, whether at the dealer, another auto shop, or self repair. *tr

02 diamante with approx 42, 000 ml - upon starting the car the front window begins fogging up and the entire car then fills with steam that is sweet but overwhelming. It gets so bad it is nearly impossible to see out the front windshield and then the smell overwhelms you within about 5-10 minutes forcing the driver to pull over or drive with the windows down (not easy at 18 deg outside and 2 kids under 5 in the back). Symptoms indicate that this is a heater core problem that dealers are aware of and is a very common problem that they see approx 2-3 times a month with a charge of $1000.00 - $1400.00 to fix and that if not fixed then the main computer for the car would short out. So just looking at 1 dealer low end numbers: 2 heater cores per month * $1200= $2400*12months = $28,800 a year per dealer for a known problem. Also medically speaking breathing anti-freeze may cause irritation of the nose and throat with headache, particularly from mists. High vapor concentrations caused, for example, by heating the material in an enclosed and poorly ventilated workplace, may produce nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and irregular eye movements. For healthy people this is problem what about those with compromised immune systems. *tr

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 twice by the dealer with no long lasting success. I had to have the brakes and rotors replaced by a mechanic ( car had less the 10,000 miles when issue started happening) 2- rusted muffler--not sure if this issue happens often but after 23,000 miles i had to have my muffler replaced because there was a hole rusted through the top of it-i was told this could happen for not using the car very much in the winter time( road salt can cause the rust) 3- heater core- i know have a heater core problem in this car. I have antifreeze leaking in passenger compartment. I have an antifreeze smell in the cabin of the car. My windows fog and the defroster will not clear the windshield ( makes it worse). I am low in antifreeze because of this. My service engine light has now come on and i am told this can be caused by leaking antifreeze onto the computer which is positioned under the heater core. This issue is widely reported on the internet in many forums and seems everybody with a diamante will eventually have this problem. I am being told this repair can cost over 1,000 dollars 4-i have had to replace 3 sensors in the engine 2 egr and 1 idle sender (cost around 1,500 dollars). This may or may not be because of the heater core issues causing the cars computer to fail. *tr

I have a heater core failure in my 2002 diamante. I now have antifreeze leaking into my passenger side floor. I have an antifreeze smell and smoke coming from the vents in the car. I got low on antifreeze and almost overheated on the belt parkway. It is very hard to see at night because windows will fog up and defroster makes problem worse. I have been told the cars computer is positioned under the heater core so i have to hope i do not have a computer issue as my service light has gobne on as well> i have had to replace 3 engine sensors in the last few months ( the heater core issue could be the root cause). This is a very serious situation and needs to be addressed. I see alot of the complaints for this model are for this issue. There are many people with this issue. *tr

My heater core requires replacement. A few weeks ago my windshield became hazy and difficult to defrost. I did not realize it was from toxic anti-freeze leaking into the car. *tr

Symptoms: constant nauseating smell like "burnt syrup" inside cabin, fogging of windshield on dry, warm weather day. From the many other complaints filed with nhtsa, this is a classic heater core failure. Why has there not been a recall issued? This is potential serious health and vehicle operation safety issue! *tr

Heater core failure caused failure of power control module. Total repair bill > $2,500. Mitsubishi is fully aware of the problem and neglects to even inform customers that there are steps that can be taken to remedy the problem before a costly breakdown. Defective pcm causes severe drivable problems. *tr

Heating 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

Bad heater core, leaking o-rings. *jb

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

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.

2002 mitsubishi diamante heater core leakage. *tr

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 92000 miles, and is well main. *tr

Heater core failure. *jb

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 92000 miles, and is well main. *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

Windows will not defrost and odor coming from vents. Also puddle of anti-freeze on passenger floor. Did not think problems where related but they are. Heater core gasket leaking and causing the problems. $1 gasket and $700+ labor. This is a scam from the dealership, exploit a unsafe defect and then charge an arm and a leg to get it fixed. Next they will charge for the air we breathe. *jb

Heater core problem. Window fog. Anti freeze smell in side of cabin. Extended warranty is not cover.Only 28800 miles 2002 diamante. *jb

Leakage of antifreeze ( engine coolant) into the passenger compartment of vehicle. The coolant smell was apparent within the car. *nm

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

Noticed anti-freeze smell within the vehicle. Windshield fogging up and heater was not working properly. Took to dealership and was told o-rings needed replaced. Advised work was completed, charged $652.97, and the next day still experiencing the same problems. Contacted the dealership. They are going to investigate further. *jb

Heater leakage from faulty seals, complained of headache for 3 weeks as soon as leak was discovered and fixed headaches have been gone. *nm

2002 mitsubishi diamante - heater core, bought used from mitsu dealer, found heater core hoses disconnected & bypassed. Evidence of past leak on/near ecu. $1000.00 to repair at independent garage. *nm

At about 70,000 miles i started to see a very fine mist-like smoke coming from the dash while driving. There were no warning lamps illuminated on the dash. So after the temp gauge started to go up and i could also smell anti-freeze. I checked the radiator area and could find no leak but when i checked the coolant it was low. I topped off the coolant and a couple of months later it did the same thing. I then added stop-leak and the coolant level seems to be staying but i can still smell the anti-freeze and the windows fog up. I understand there is an issue with gaskets on the heater core. I am worried the coolant leaked into my vehicle in the area of the ecm. To me, this is a serious safety issue and mitsubishi should be correcting this problem because it is very common from what i have read on-line. *tr

Windows were not clearing properly and smell of anti-freeze was very strong. Upon calling the mitsubishi dealer, i was told, it's probably the heater core. I ask if this is normal for a car three years olds with approximately 45,000 miles. Dealer said they had seen a few. They haven't been much help yet. *nm

Windows fogged up, maple syrup smell coming from heater. Respiratory sickness after incident. *nm

Heater core in '02 mitsubishi diamante leaked causing windows to fog and anti-freeze to leak into passenger compartment. *jb

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

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

I have a 2002 mitsubishi diamante with a failed heater core. Smelled antifreeze for awhile, then one evening, it was coming out of my air vents and fogging up my windshield - except it wasn't "fog" but antifreeze mist that would not go away, so i have to drive with my head out the window till i got it home and wiped it down. Apparently this is a very common problem, and i believe mitsubishi is responsible for refunding my 800+ dollar shop bill for repairing this defect. *nm

Heater core leaking. *nm

Leaking antifreeze into the passenger compartment. Fogged windows, with a near miss on highway before i could get off. *nm

2002 mitsubishi diamante purchased from wallace mitsubishi in kingsport tn. In july 2006. Mileage 45000 miles. Foul odor from vents, windows fogged with greasy film, impossible to see through windows. Garage mechanic determined the cause to be heater core malfunction. Repairs to cost between $700.00 to $800.00 . I'm not the only one with this problem. The should be a recall. *jb

I noticed a maple-syrup type smell and fog coming out of the vents even when off. Upon investigation, coolant was found leaking onto drivers' side floor. Was told by garage that it was the heater core and it will cost $800 to repair. Was also told that if it's not repaired it could damage the computer. I will have to get it fixed soon as my son has asthma and breathing in antifreeze vapors is probably not a good thing. *nm

I have a mitsubishi diamante 2002. The car is leaking antifreeze in the passengers side due to a heater core gasket crack. I have suffer respitory distress duing the past couple of months due to this unknown leak. My 8 year old son has been having severe stomach aches the last couple of months as well. Due to this problem, we don't have defrosters as well. *jb

The heater core has been leaking for about 2 years on my 2002 diamante. This causes fumes to take over my car and i can not see out of my windshield. There is also some sort of electrical problem that causes my car to die when idle at stops or when i let off the gas. This is very dangerous for me. *nm

Heater core leaking....Check engine light came on....Well known and documented problem with the diamante....Paid close to 800 to have repaired...Coolant leaked on the computer and car went into fail safe driving mode. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated the defroster failed and would not defrost the windshield. The dealership determined a clip in the system came loose and the clip was reconnected. Now, six months later, the problem has returned and the dealership determined the clip needs to be replaced.

Heater core leaks into car steams up windows and leaks on the computer and changes the transmission shifting. *tr

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 gauge sending unit has been improved to eliminate condition. Improved parts have a white mark located above the lower fuel warning thermistor. *nm

Recently the windows keep fogging up in my 2002 mitsubishi diamante. I have found through complaints with you and other internet sites that this is a common complaint and very expensive to remedy. Is there nothing being done by nhsta to make the manufacture fix this dangerous problem? Every day it gets worse. So far i have not noticed a coolant leak, but from what i have read, it is forthcoming is a very dangerous problem that needs to be solved!! *ak

Heater core defective and leaked coolant underdash on to transmission ecm and neutral safety switch. Because of this very common manufacture defect i had to have my heater core, transmission ecm, neutral safety switch replace. And my transmission rebuild, none of which were warranted by the manufacture and were not cheap. *tr

Continual odd odor entering cabin of car. It smells sweet like maple syrup. It occurs when i use heater and odor is emitted through vents. I believe it is anti-freeze that has leaked, i am smelling anti-freeze and i'm concerned for my health. I have read numerous complaints in mitsubishi diamante online forums about this problem. There is a huge number of heater core hose o-ring gasket failures causing leaks near heater core. Apparently it also drips onto computer control unit also. *jb

Fuel level gauge stuck near half full. *nm

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

Noticed bad odor in the vehicle followed by the windows fogging up and the heater not working a few days later. Repair shop stated that the heater core needs to be replaced. This is unusual for cars that are only a few years old and have low mileage. Repair would be around $1000.00. I have the 2002 diamante and this part was very hard to find. Even the dealership had to order it. Can anything be done to help with this cost. Just a struggling man trying to provide for a family in a honest way. Please help!!*jb

Noticed recently purchased rear tires were balding on inside camber and a noise was detected when rounding corners. Went to replace tires and the mechanic "could not align the car within mfgr specs". Brought to the dealer service department and was advised the rear bushings needed to be replaced. Seems like and unusual repair for a car of its age and mileage. The repair is scheduled to be completed this week. *nm

Strong coolant (anti-freeze) smell in car. Windows fogged up and could not see and puffs of smoke coming from vents. Dealer informed me heater core needed replacing. Also stated that although it was known issue with vehicle mitsubishi would not take care of cost. Mitsubishi has even issued a tech pub on parts needed to repair this problem because they were experiencing a shortage. It took four days to get a heater core for my vehicle due to a critical shortage of heater cores. *nm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I am filing this complaint with the nhtsa department on behalf of myself and over 40 other owners of the 2002 mitsubishi diamante automobile. The back ground on all of these complaints can be viewed at www.Mycarstats.Com . It is my feeling that these mitsubishi customers were under the impression that filing a complaint on mycarstats.Com was the same as filing one with the nhtsa. If you would take the time to view the various stories under the complaints section, sub headings engine cooling systems and visual systems, you will see the magnitude and the similarities of the problem. You will also find a similar collection of complaints under other vehicle model years, as mitsubishi built this vehicle with the same problem, for many years. The main problem is in the faulty design of the o rings that were to seal the engine coolant from leakage as it enters the cabin heater core. This is a problem that mitsubishi recognized and actually issued a service bulletin advising dealers of a repair kit designed to eliminate the leaks that are sure to develop. As you will learn from reading the complaints of the many owners on the www.Mycarstats.Com web site, this leaking problem has cause these owners to spend in the area of $800 to $1200 in repairs on vehicles with relatively low miles. In many cases the miles are as low as 40,000. The lower costs of repair are usually found at independent repair shops with the higher costs normally attributed to mitsubishi dealerships. Most complaining owners only mention the accumulation of anti-freeze vapor on windows and the saturation of the vehicles floor covering. Some also report damage to the vehicles computer system. I ask only that you visit the www.Mycarstats.Com web site and review the extensive list of almost identical complaints. I feel that after doing so you will feel, as i, that mitsubishi owns their customers reimbursement for the problems their faulty design has caused. *jb

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

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

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.Mycarstats.Com website that this problem is very prevalent and i'm sure it has happen to others that don't know who to contact about the problem. It ended up costing me $1300 to get it fixed. The problem lies behind the dashboard which ends up creating a lot of labor charges to fix the problem. I hope that there is something done by the odi in response to this costly, unnecessary problem. *nm

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

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

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.

'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

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

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

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

Vents started to steam and antifreeze came through while consumer was driving at 50 mph. Consumer had to exit the vehicle and have it towed.*ak

Failure in the heater coil with less than 50000 miles antifreeze leakig into passenger compartment and fogging window.*ak

Had trouble defrosting windshield, build up of film on windshield, antifreeze on passenger side floor, headaches. *tr

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

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

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

The brake pedal pulsated while braking and making a grinding noise. Vehicle had been at the dealer shop on eight separate occasions. Dealer turned the rotors five times, and replaced both front rotors once, but problem recurred. *ak

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.

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

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

Making a right turn into a parking stall. Put on brake, to stop, car accelerated over curb into building. Mr

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 mitsubishi diamante. While driving 45 mph, the contact noticed leakage on the inside of the vehicle. In addition, she was unable to see out of the windshield due to the fog. The dealer stated that there was an a/c evaporator was cracked and they made the replacement. The contact stated that the failure occurred again immediately after the replacement. The dealer stated that the heater core caused the failure and they have replaced it on five occasions however, the failure continued to occur. As a result, the vents would disperse anti-freeze inside the vehicle when the heater or defroster was activated. As of january 2, 2008, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. The failure mileage was 100 and current mileage was 65,000.

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