2002 Mitsubishi Diamante recalls and problems

The 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante has 3 recalls and 123 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is visibility.

Pictured: a 2003 model; the 2002 may differ in details. Photo: 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante by Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2002 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 5 Diamante model years — the most of any year.

3recalls

123complaints

4crashes

0fires

11injuries

60,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

3 recalls

Equipment

Sep 1, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V428000 · 100,432 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This does not meet the requirements of the standard.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy & notes

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.

Equipment

Feb 11, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V067000 · 134,000 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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).

Electrical System

Apr 7, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V100001 · 3,885 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

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 text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine38

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2002 vs. other Mitsubishi Diamante years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante, the latest from Sep 1, 2004 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention visibility (71), engine (38), power train (10). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.