1997 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 1997 Mitsubishi Diamante, and it carries no 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
Service brakes	7	21%
Power train	3	9%
Visibility	2	6%
Engine and engine cooling	2	6%
Fuel system	2	6%
Electrical system	2	6%
Service brakes	2	6%
Tires	1	3%
Structure	1	3%
Fuel system	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II TIRES, SIZE 115/60/15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT
NHTSA complaint: Tires

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR LEAKED DUE TO THE HEATER CORE. THE RADIATOR LEAKED ONTO THE CARPET WHEN THE HEAT WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE AND HIS F
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE HEATER CORE GOING OUT. MINE WENT OUT A FEW DAYS AGO AND WAS INFORMED BY MITSUBISHI IT WILL COST ME 965 TO REPLACE. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MITSUBISHI DIAM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

HEATER CORE RANDOMLY CRACKED ONE DAY, CAUSING A TEAR-LIKE SPILL OF ANTI-FREEZE THROUGH THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND WE TRIED WELDING THE CRACKS. ANTI-FREEZE STILL SPILLED OUT AND ANTI-FREEZE S
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

THE PAINT ON THE ROOF AND TRUNK DECK OF MY 1997 DIAMANTE IS FADING WITH WHITE PATCHES. THE HOOD AND BODY PAINT LOOKS GOOD AS NEW. I WAXED MY VEHICLE AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR. IS THIS A DEFECT FROM THE FACTORY I HAVE NOTIC
NHTSA complaint: Structure

DT: CONSUMER HAD 1997 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER,. VEHICLE HAD A GAS LEAK, DEALER COULD NOT FIND HOLE IN GAS TANK, CONSUMER REPLACED GAS TANK, ABOUT 8 MONTHS AFTER GAS TANK WAS REPLACED THE VE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

SAFETY - TRANSMISSION: AT 9,500 MILES MY CAR STARTED LURCHING WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS FROM A STOP. IT SUPPOSEDLY WAS REPAIRED BUT HAS CONTINUED TO BE PROBLEM AND EACH TIME I BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE THE DEALER CAN NOT
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE MADE 5 TRIPS BACK TO THE DEALER DUE TO BRAKES, TIRES & ENGINE TAPPING AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRESIZE: P21560R16)
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	76	good
Depreciation	55	average
Performance	57	average
Efficiency	34	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 58% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 63% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 54% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 86: 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 1997 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 76: 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 1997 Mitsubishi Diamante?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 7 of them (21%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1997 Mitsubishi Diamante reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (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 1997 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 1997 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1997 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.