1998 Mitsubishi Diamante Owner Complaints

THE HEATER CORE HAS FAILED (ONCE AGAIN) I AM NOT SURE OF ANY COMPANY THAT HAS REALEASED THEIR CARS WITH SUCH A MAJOR FAILURE WITHOUT TAKING SOME KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY TO RECALL THIS ITEM IN THE CAR. NEARLY ALL OF THE HEATER CORES FROM MITSUBISHI DIAMANTES THAT I HAVE SEEN ARE ALL BAD. LEAKS ONTO THE ECU AND CAUSES A WHOLE HECK LOAD OF PROBLEMS. PLEASE DOT HAVE MITSUBISHI RECALL THIS. AS TO THIS CAUSES IMMENSE DAMAGES AND PEOPLE LIKE ME DRIVING AROUND WITH THIS FAULTY PIECE ARE BREATHING IN THE FUMES AND DRIVING WITH NEARLY FULL FOGGED WINDSHIELDS CAUSING REALLY POOR VISIBILITY WHICH IS AN EXTREME HAZARD TO OUR ROADS AND FELLOW PEDESTRIANS PLEASE I URGE YOU TO TAKE THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUS AND USE YOUR DOT POWERS TO MAKE THIS MANUFACTURER DO WHAT IS RIGHT! THANKS FOR YOUR TIME

NHTSA ID

10715681

Incident

Feb 8, 2013

Mileage

171,000 mi

WE JUST CLEARED CANADIAN CUSTOMS AT BLAINE WA, PACIFIC CROSSING, AND WERE ACCELERATING TO SPEED LIMIT ON I 5 FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED TO NEAR 100 MILES AN HOUR. THE TACH AT SOME POINT WAS 7500 AND INCREASING. THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AND EVENTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AREA AND TURNED OF THE IGNITION KEY. FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW IT DOWN MUCH. *TR WE WERE TOWED 21 MILES TO DAVIS AUTOMOTIVE IN BELLINGHAM, WA, WHERE A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE CABLE AND ASSOCIATED STRUCTURE WAS SEVERELY BENT AND THE CABLE HAD CUT THRU IT AND STUCK. *MEC THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED WHERE A REPLACEMENT THROTTLE CABLE WAS INSTALLED. UPDATED 10/10/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10243812

Incident

Sep 16, 2008

Mileage

31,385 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE HEATER CORE HAS STARTED TO LEAK. IT WAS REPLACED 40K MILES AGO AND I WAS CHARGED $ 1,000 FOR REPAIR COSTS. HAVING RESEARCHED THIS, IT IS DUE TO FAULTY HEATER CORE GASKETS WHICH MITSUBISHI REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE GASKETS WITH A REDESIGNED ONE. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE DUE TO THE TOXIC FUMES FROM THE ETHYLENE GLYCOL COMING OUT OF ALL THE VENTS AND I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT REPAIRED. MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND NEARLY EVERY DIAMANTE ON THE ROAD HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN. THE CARPET IS RUINED FROM THE COOLANT LEAK AS WELL, AND MANY HAVE HAD THE ECU FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAIL DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242656

Incident

Aug 21, 2008

Mileage

132,000 mi

WILL NOT PASS EMISSION THERE ARE NO READINESS CODES STORED IN COMPUTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225765

Incident

Dec 30, 2007

Mileage

900,000 mi

EVERYTIME THE HEATER IS SWITCHED ON, I CAN FEEL A WEIRD SMELL WHICH WILL LAST FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. THIS SMELL SEEMS LIKE SUFFOCATING AND HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS FOR THE FRESH AIR TO ENTER. THERE IS SOME KIND OF LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I AM NOT SURE WHERE THE LEAK IS FROM. I AM BIT WORRIED ABT THE SMELL. THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10208520

Incident

Nov 7, 2007

FAILURE OF HEATER CORE GASKETS RESULTING IN FUMES INSIDE THE CAR FROM ANTI-FREEZE; THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE IN THE LAST 35,000 MILES AND THE REPAIR LABOR IS ESTIMATED AT 6 HOURS, WHICH IS AROUND $1,000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156551

Incident

Jan 2, 2006

Mileage

131,000 mi

1998 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE HEATER CORE LEAKING FOGGING WINDSHIELD DURING FREEWAY TRAVEL. HAZARD TO HEALTH WITH WHILE OPERATION AUTO. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147032

Incident

Dec 25, 2005

Mileage

74,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED A BAD ODOR COMING FROM THE HEATER CORE. HEATER SYSTEM WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE'S HEATER CORE AND REFRIGERANT WERE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10109306

Incident

Sep 27, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

WINDOWS FOG UP AND CANNOT BE CLEARED BY THE DEFROSTER. VERY STRONG SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE INSIDE THE CAR. SMOKEY VAPORS COME OUT OF THE HEATING VENTS. I'M HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, AND BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF MY NAUSEA AND HEADACHE IS DUE TO BREATHING ANTI-FREEZE VAPORS. STAIN ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CARPET. ALL THESE SYMPTOMS INDICATE A HEATER CORE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112060

Incident

Feb 7, 2005

Mileage

78,000 mi

I OWN A PREOWNED 1998 MISTUBISHI DIAMANTE LS. WHEN THE CLIMATE CONTROL, PARTICULARLY THE HEATER IS ENGAGED, THE SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE BECOMES QUITE APPARENT. DEALER CLAIMED 2 YEARS AGO WHEN I BOUGHT IT THAT IT WAS THE SMELL OF THE CHEMICALS USED TO CLEAN THE CAR DURING "MAKE-READY." ETHYLEN GLYCOL FUMES ARE TOXIC AND THIS IS A REOCCURING DEFECT IN THIS MODEL CAR FROM POSTS I HAVE SEEN ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WILL COST CLOSE TO $1000 SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MITSUBISH ISSUED A TSB ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM, OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD IS COVERED WITH A FILM THAT CANNOT BE WASHED OFF FROM THIS LEAK. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT ON YOUR WEBSITE. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100757

Incident

Nov 30, 2004

Mileage

58,000 mi

1998 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. COOLANT LEAK FROM HEATER CORE O RING FAILURE. COOLANT LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSING EYE AND THROAT IRRITATION, FOGGING OF WINDOWS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. LEAKING ONTO KEY CAR ELECTRONICS WHICH COULD CAUSE OTHER CAR COMPONENTS TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. HEATER CORE O RING WAS REPLACED AT 55,000 MILES AT A COST OF $560.00. NOW AT 106,000MILES LEAKING HAS STARTED AGAIN AND MITSUBISHI WANTS $650.00 TO FIX WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT FIX IS PERMANENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10098067

Incident

Oct 22, 2004

Mileage

56,231 mi

HEATER CORE PROBLEM. WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG UP AND VERY STRONG SMOKE TYPE ORDER FROM THE VENTS. COMPUTER WAS COVERED WITH BROWN BURNT SUBSTANCE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10093396

Incident

Jan 27, 2003

Mileage

52,300 mi

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME SINCE DECEMBER 2003 THAT THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WHILE IN REVERSE AND THE BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURIES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I THANK GOD THAT NO LITTLE KIDS WERE KILLED!!! THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I CALLED MITSUBISHI AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM AND NEVER GOT A RESPONSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088452

Incident

Aug 23, 2004

THIS IS A MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 1998 ES. I'M EXPERIENCING PUNGENT SMELL OF ANTI-FREEZE INSIDE THE CAR AS SOON AS I TURN ON HEATING. THE DEALER I GOT THE PREOWNED CAR FROM WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNLESS I CAN SHOW THEM THE LEAK IN HEATER CORE. ANTI-FREEZE CONTAINS ETHYLENE GLYCON AND THE FUMES ARE HIGHLY TOXIC. FIXING THE THE HEATER CORE WILL COST $1000. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TO ASCERTAIN THAT THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE AND MITSUBISHI MOTORS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THREE MAIN RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THIS: (1) THE DEFECT EXPOSES CUSTOMERS TO UNUSUAL LEVEL OF TOXIC ETHYLENE GLYCOL WHICH SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10-25 PPM LEVELS (CONSULT MSDS FOR ETHYLENE GLYCOL) (2) THE LEAK CAN AFFECT THE CAR'S MICROPROCESSOR AND POSES A SEVERE HAZARD FOR DRIVERS. (3) FAULTY HEATER CORE MAKES THE VISIBILITY DIFFICULT DUE TO FOGGING OF WIND SHIELD THUS PUTTING THE DRIVER AT GREATER RISK. I WILL EVENTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM BY SPENDING $1000 AFTER THE SUMMER IF MITSUBISHI REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. RIGHT NOW I AM TRYING SOME RADIATOR ANTI-LEAK TO DELAY THE COSTLY REPAIR. BUT I WANT NHTSA TO BE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS THAT HAS BEEN IGNORED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *LA

NHTSA ID

10082271

Incident

May 15, 2004

Mileage

91,000 mi

REAR PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE COULD NOT BE UNLATCHED. THIS CAUSED CHILD TO BE LOCKED IN THE SEAT BELT AND UNABLE TO MOVE. SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT NEAR THE WAISTLINE AREA TO FREE THE CHILD. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

10037859

Incident

Aug 25, 2003

Mileage

69,500 mi

KUMHO 716 HP4 P215-60-16 94H DOT # 4TL1-YP71-2501 H-RATED TIRES WERE NOT THE CORRECT RATING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PUT ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT CD PLAYER IS INOPERATIVE, NO RADIO CODE STORED, ARMREST COMPARTMENT HOOK LOCK BROKEN, POWER STEERING FLUID ON MINIMUM LEVEL. *TT

NHTSA ID

8007265

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

BRAKE PADS PREMATURE WEAR, AND BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED AT LEAST 10 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

747642

Incident

Dec 12, 1999

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. DEALER HAS REPLACED PADS AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES . *AK

NHTSA ID

889442

HEATER CORE FAILED, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE ANTIFREEZE HAD ALSO STARTED LEAKING ON COMPUTER COMPONENTS UNDER THE CONSOLE. NEW HEATER CORE WAS ON BACK ORDER. *YH

NHTSA ID

887358

Incident

Apr 1, 2001

HEATER CORE FAILED TO WORK, AND FUMES ENTERED PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

885310

Incident

Mar 25, 2001

THE HEATER CORE FAILED CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH AN ODOR COMING OUT OF THE VENTS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR WHERE THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE HEATER CORE AND ADDED COOLANT, A FEW MONTHS LATER THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE STEREO WAS NOT WORKING AND WHEN SHE REMOVED IT SHE FOUND THAT THE HEATER CORE BOX WAS CRACKED, HAD DUCT TAPE AROUND IT AND ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING AGAIN. NLM

NHTSA ID

559796

Incident

Dec 12, 2000

HEATER CORE FAILED TO WORK FOR SIX WEEKS, FUMES WENT THROUGH THE VENTS AND ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CARPET AND PADDING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/12/00, VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP ON 1/3/01 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, ON 1/10/00 OWNER WENT INTO RESPIRATORY ARREST, ON 2/3/00 OWNER FOUND HEATER CORE DUCK TAPED, HEATER CORE BOX CRACKED, PUNGENT ODOR STILL EXISTS WHICH HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH. CJ

NHTSA ID

559664

Incident

Dec 12, 2000

VEHICLE WOULD STOP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. ( ECU) ELECTRONIC COMPUTER UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

NHTSA ID

865523

Incident

May 1, 2000

AT ONE TIME LEFT FRONT TIRE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. THIS SITUATION HAPPENED ON A ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

857144

Incident

Feb 5, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AND AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP , VEHICLE VIBRATED EVEN WHEN TAKING OFF VERY SLOWLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

846125

Incident

Oct 5, 1998