1992 Mitsubishi Diamante

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

69/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	10	20%
Electrical system	7	14%
Air bags	5	10%
Service brakes	4	8%
Suspension	4	8%
Power train	3	6%
Visibility	3	6%
Seat belts	2	4%
Service brakes	1	2%
Visibility	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

MITSUBISHI HAS PRODUCED 3.0 LITER V6 ENGINES FROM ABOUT 1990 THROUGH 1996 THAT EXHIBIT CHRONIC EXHASUT VALVE GUIDE FUNCTION DETERORIATION AFTER APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES. THIS RESULTS IN HEAVY OIL CONSUMPTION AND EVENT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK HEAVILY.*JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

HELLO AND THANKS FIRST OF ALL FOR YOUR TIME, UNTIL JULY 5TH OF 1999 I TRUELY ENJOYED MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON I57 ON JULY 5TH AT 65 MPH AND MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I HAVING ROADSIDE SERVICE CALLED FROM MY CELL PHON
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

CONSUMER STATES THE FRONT AND REAR ENGINE SEAL AND PISTON RINGS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE VEHICLE SMOKES EXCESSIVELY.*JB
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

HORN BUTTON HAS FALLEN OFF 4 TIMES, HAS BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHENEVER CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TRIED TO START AGAIN IT WON'T START. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH WAS BAD. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

1. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT MILEAGE 82500 FOR PULSATION WHEN BRAKING. NEW ROTORS BEGAN TO PULSATE BEFORE 5000 MILES USE. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND TRUED BY DEALER AT 90,100 MILES, BUT BEGAN TO PULSATE AGAIN WIT
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Service brakes 96V143002

UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Risk: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.

Service brakes 96V143001

UNDER CONDITIONS OF FULL LOCK STEERING AND FULL SUSPENSION TRAVEL, THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSE CAN CRACK, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Risk: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE WILL CAUSE ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE WARNING LAMP AND REDUCTION IN BRAKING EFFICIENCY INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL-SIDE BRAKE HOSES WITH REVISED HOSE ASSEMBLIES.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	78	good
Depreciation	55	average
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	32	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 43% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 47% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 53% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 23% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 78: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante?

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 10 of them (20%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Mitsubishi Diamante?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.