1994 Mitsubishi Diamante

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

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 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
Air bags	8	24%
Service brakes	6	18%
Tires	3	9%
Seat belts	3	9%
Engine and engine cooling	2	6%
Vehicle speed control	2	6%
Power train	2	6%
Exterior lighting	2	6%
Equipment	2	6%
Steering	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

INTERMITTENT BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

INTERMITTENT BRAKE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

CONSUMER STATES PURCHASED NEW TIRE ON 12/6/02. ON 12/24/02 WHILE DRIVING TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE INFO: B.F. GOODRICH PH P205/65R15 RIGHT FRONT TIRE 30 MILES ON TIRE
NHTSA complaint: Tires

PURCHASED WITH 14,000 FROM DEALER, HAD A MAJOR ENGINE FALURE DUE TO PISTON RING WEAR/FALURE. HAD IT REPAIRED 10,000 AGO MITS PAID FOR PARTS, I PAID $1,200 FOR LABOR. NOW 10,000 MILES LATER I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

THE TIMING BELT FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. NLM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

ROTORS WERE TURNED ON 6/17/98 DUE TO BEING WARPED, HOWEVER 6 MONTHS LATER ROTORS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, BRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKING, A MECHANIC ADVISED CONSUMER TO REPLACE, HOWEVER IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO DO SO.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1994 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	85	excellent
Longevity est.	79	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 46% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 54% 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 85: 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 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1994 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 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 8 of them (24%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1994 Mitsubishi Diamante?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.