Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 49 | 62% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 5% |
| Tires | 3 | 4% |
| Suspension | 2 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 1% |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1% |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I HAVE A 2001 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE, AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS THAT SEEM TO RUN RAMPANT AMONG THIS MODEL/MAKE. MY HEATER CORE WENT OUT AT ABOUT 100K MILES; MY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON (DUE TO A SPEED SENSOR FAIL), WHICH RENDERS THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WINDOWS ARE FOGGING UP DO T A FAULTY HEATER CORE. I REALLY DON'T MIND REPAIRING THE CAR SEEING THAT IT HAS 120K ON IT.. I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW AND THIS WILL BE THE 3RD HEATER CORE!!! WHAT'S GOING ON! *TR
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE INFAMOUS HEATER CORE PROBLEM ANTIFREEZE LEAKS INTO INTERIOR OF CAR. HORRIBLE SICKENING ANTI FREEZE SMELL, HAPPENS ON AN ABUNDANCE OF MITSUBISHI CARS. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
HEATER CORE IS CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP, THE CAR TO SMELL LIKE ANTIFREEZE AND MAY BE DAMAGING THE ECU. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF POSTS ONLINE ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER WITH THIS CAR. IT IS CLEARLY
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
2001 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE. WE HAVE HAD IT ABOUT SIX MONTHS. I HAVE HAD IT IN TO A VERY REPUTABLE SERVICE STATION AND HAVE COME UP EMPTY ON THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NEW TIRES, THIS OCCURRED BEFORE AND AFTER T
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
HEATER CORE WENT BAD AT 105,000 MILES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTORING PROBLEM AND MITSUBIHI SHOULD ADRESS THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
MY 2001 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE'S HEATER CORE WENT UP. I HAVE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF COOLANT LEAKING ON MY PASSENGER SIDE, THICK SMOKE COMING FROM MY VENTS AND A BAD ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. I HAVE READ THIS IS A VERY VERY C
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAVING REALLY FOGGY WINDOWS AND STARTED TO NOTICE SWEET SMELL COMING FROM CAR WHEN HEATER/DEFROST WAS TURNED ON. NOTIFIED DEALER OF PROBLEM AND DEALER QUICKLY IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS HEATER CORE DEFEC
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2001 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.
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.
Fix: 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 NATI
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.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and visibility is the most reported area with 49 of them (62%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
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.
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 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
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.