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2003 Mitsubishi Diamante

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mitsubishi Diamante do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 31.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

44 reports with mileage · 12 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

56 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2007
Electrical System

VARIOUS INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO INCLUDE, CAR LOCKING ON ITS OWN, HEADLIGHTS NOT GOING OUT WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, CAR NOT DINGING WHEN KEYS LEFT IN IGNITION, AND WINDOW FUSE BEING BLOWN WHEN WINDOWS ARE NOT BEING RAISED OR LOWERED. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER AND AN ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST. BOTH HAVE SAID THEY CAN'T FIX IT SINCE T…

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VARIOUS INTERMITTENT FAILURES TO INCLUDE, CAR LOCKING ON ITS OWN, HEADLIGHTS NOT GOING OUT WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF, CAR NOT DINGING WHEN KEYS LEFT IN IGNITION, AND WINDOW FUSE BEING BLOWN WHEN WINDOWS ARE NOT BEING RAISED OR LOWERED. HAVE TAKEN CAR TO DEALER AND AN ELECTRICAL SPECIALIST. BOTH HAVE SAID THEY CAN'T FIX IT SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182516

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2007
Visibility

I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGED, AND THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT CLEAR THE FOG. BLAMED IT ON THE HUMID FLORIDA WEATHER UNTIL ONE EVENING I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND ALL OF MY WINDOWS WERE FOGGED. HAD TO KEEP WIPING THE WINDOWS WITH MY HAND IN ORDER TO SEE OUT THE WINDOW. TOOK THE CAR TO TO BE CHECKED, AND IT WAS THE…

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I NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FOGGED, AND THE DEFROSTER WOULD NOT CLEAR THE FOG. BLAMED IT ON THE HUMID FLORIDA WEATHER UNTIL ONE EVENING I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND ALL OF MY WINDOWS WERE FOGGED. HAD TO KEEP WIPING THE WINDOWS WITH MY HAND IN ORDER TO SEE OUT THE WINDOW. TOOK THE CAR TO TO BE CHECKED, AND IT WAS THE HEATER CORE. THIS CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THE HEATER CORE TO HAVE GONE BAD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182514

35,800 miles · Feb 9, 2007
Visibility

HEATER CORE ISSUE WITH MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 2003 SUMMARY: NOTICE CONSISTENT AND VERY NOTICEABLE FOUL ODOR WHEN HEATER IS ON. . FOGGING OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AS CONSISTENT WITH HEATER CORES ISSUES BY OTHER DIAMANTE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CAR SERVICED AT A MITSUBISHI DEALER. HAVE NOT REPLACED AN…

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HEATER CORE ISSUE WITH MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 2003 SUMMARY: NOTICE CONSISTENT AND VERY NOTICEABLE FOUL ODOR WHEN HEATER IS ON. . FOGGING OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IDENTIFIED AS CONSISTENT WITH HEATER CORES ISSUES BY OTHER DIAMANTE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR CAR SERVICED AT A MITSUBISHI DEALER. HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING YET BECAUSE THE PARTS AND LABOR QUOTES HAVE BEEN ANYWHERE FROM $600-$1000. CAR HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182117

73,000 miles · Jan 29, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

ON FRIDAY, JAN 19, 2007, I WENT TO MY 2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE VRX AFTER WORK TO GO HOME. WHEN I GOT TO IT, ALL WINDOWS WERE TOTALLY FOGGED OVER, WHICH IS ABNORMAL. WITH HIGH HEAT, I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR A PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD, RELYING ON A PAPER TOWEL TO CLEAR THE REMAINDER. I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER ARR…

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ON FRIDAY, JAN 19, 2007, I WENT TO MY 2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE VRX AFTER WORK TO GO HOME. WHEN I GOT TO IT, ALL WINDOWS WERE TOTALLY FOGGED OVER, WHICH IS ABNORMAL. WITH HIGH HEAT, I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR A PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD, RELYING ON A PAPER TOWEL TO CLEAR THE REMAINDER. I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER ARRIVING AT HOME AND HAD TO RELY ON PAPER TOWELS TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME, I NOTICED A DISTINCT ANTIFREEZE SMELL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SUNLIGHT SHOWED THE FILM TO BE OF A GREEN COLOR. AT THIS TIME, I REALIZED THAT THE WINDOWS WEREN'T FOGGY, BUT IT SEEMED THAT ANTIFREEZE VAPORS WERE BLOWING INTO MY CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE DIAMANTE OWNERS' GROUP WEBSITE, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE HEATER CORE OR O-RINGS WERE CAUSING THIS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LAWSON MITSUBISHI, WHERE IT IS BEING REPAIRED. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITH LITTLE IDENTIFIABLE WARNING. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD, AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE SURELY ENSUED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10180963

65,000 miles · Nov 8, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility

2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE WITH 65000 MILES. NOTICED FOG COMING OUT OF VENTS AROUND THE RADIO. IT SMELLED LIKE ANTI-FREEZE AND CREATED A FOG ON MY WINDOWS THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH TO RENDER THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. I WAS ALSO GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE OF P-1751. THIS REFERS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION RELAY CONTROL. I TOOK THE CAR TO…

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2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE WITH 65000 MILES. NOTICED FOG COMING OUT OF VENTS AROUND THE RADIO. IT SMELLED LIKE ANTI-FREEZE AND CREATED A FOG ON MY WINDOWS THAT WAS BAD ENOUGH TO RENDER THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE. I WAS ALSO GETTING AN ERROR MESSAGE OF P-1751. THIS REFERS TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION RELAY CONTROL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND AFTER DIAGNOSING FOR TWO DAYS, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD DISCOVERED A LEAKING HEATER COIL THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE DAMAGED THE PCM. WORST CASE SCENARIO, $1600. IT WILL AT LEAST COST $500, BEST CASE SCENARIO. I UNCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM DIAMANTE OWNERS WITH MODELS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF YEARS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE AND I PERSONALLY REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION TO RESEARCH HOW MISTUBISHI HAS BEEN GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, FOR SO LONG. THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS ARE OCCURRING ON A FREQUENT BASIS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10172928

55,000 miles · Aug 23, 2006
Visibility

2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE LS 58,000 MILES. I NOTICED A 'MAPLE SYRUP' SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WERE RUNNING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL. NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WERE FOUND, BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST…

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2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE LS 58,000 MILES. I NOTICED A 'MAPLE SYRUP' SMELL IN THE CABIN WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WERE RUNNING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL. NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WERE FOUND, BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE HEATER CORE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $1,000. THEY WILL NOT KNOW FOR SEVERAL DAYS IF THE LEAKY HEATER CORE HAS AFFECTED THE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE CONTROLS. THE HEATER CORE WAS LEAKING POTENTIALLY TOXIC COOLANT INTO MY PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE CAR. DEALER ADVISED ME THAT THEY EXPECT EVERY DIAMANTE FROM 1997-2003 WILL NEED THIS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. MITSUBISHI ALSO RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ALL DEALERS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE VEHICLES, OTHERWISE AT LEAST ADVISE ALL OF THE OWNERS OF SAID VEHICLES THAT THE UNITS SHOULD BE REPLACED IN THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166323

61,145 miles · Aug 16, 2006
Visibility

MAKE : MITSUBISHI MODEL : DIAMANTE LS YEAR: 2003 JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM DEALER STATING CAR IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. UPON DELIVERY OF CAR FROM TRANSPORTER, GOT IN THE CAR KNEW IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS FILM ON WINDOW AND COULD SMELL COOLANT IN THE AIR. TURNED CAR ON, STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT COMING THROUGH VENTS WITH …

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MAKE : MITSUBISHI MODEL : DIAMANTE LS YEAR: 2003 JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM DEALER STATING CAR IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. UPON DELIVERY OF CAR FROM TRANSPORTER, GOT IN THE CAR KNEW IMMEDIATELY THERE WAS FILM ON WINDOW AND COULD SMELL COOLANT IN THE AIR. TURNED CAR ON, STRONG SMELL OF COOLANT COMING THROUGH VENTS WITH COOLANT LEAKING ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR. TEXAS AUTO GROUP, THE SELLER, REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY DESPITE REPRESENTING CAR IN EXCELLENT MECHANICAL CONDITION. TOOK TO A MITSUBISHI REPAIR SERVICE AND HAD TO HAVE HEATER CORE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1167.92. THIS REPAIR SERVICE 40 MILES AWAY AND IT TOOK 7 DAYS TO COMPLETE. HAD TO HAVE CARPET AND CAR DETAILED TO GET RID OF COOLANT SMELL. RESEARCHED ON INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1998 WITH THESE HEATER CORES WITH MITSUBISHI VERY MUCH AWARE OF IT, AND OBVIOUSLY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CHANGE THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 61145 MILES ON IT AND THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS IRRESPONSIBILITY OR COSTS TO THE CONSUMERS OF THESE CARS,INCLUDING PROPERTY DAMAGE AS WELL AS HEALTH RISKS TO THE CONSUMERS AS COOLANT IS TOXIC TO BREATH. MITSUBISHI SHOULD BE FORCED TO DO A RECALL AND REIMBURSE THEIR CUSTOMERS AS THEY HAVE KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. UPON RESEARCHING MORE, HAVE FOUND THAT SOME FOLKS HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED MORE THAN ONCE. THERE IS NOW STARTING TO SHOW COMPLAINTS OF THE 2003 MODELS. VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMER AND FEEL TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AND HAVE NOW PAID MORE FOR THIS CAR THEN IT IS WORTH. HOPE THIS WILL HELP ANOTHER UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER OF THE MITSUBISHI DIAMANTES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165646

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 2006
Visibility

I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE VRX AND HAVE A BAD HEATER CORE AT 43,000 MILES. I HAVE READ ON THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.DIAMANTEOWNERS.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=3615&ST=60 THAT THE HEATER CORE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS LEAKING FLUIDS ONTO THE COMPUTER CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO …

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I OWN A 2003 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE VRX AND HAVE A BAD HEATER CORE AT 43,000 MILES. I HAVE READ ON THIS WEBSITE HTTP://WWW.DIAMANTEOWNERS.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=3615&ST=60 THAT THE HEATER CORE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS LEAKING FLUIDS ONTO THE COMPUTER CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. PERHAPS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10160410

64,000 miles · May 3, 2006
Visibility

HEATER CORE LEAKING CAUSING FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND FOGGING OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156684

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2006
EquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. MECHANIC SAID ROTORS WERE TOO DAMAGED TO TURN. AFTER 6 MONTHS AND 20,000 MILES, THE CAR IS SHAKING AGAIN WHEN BRAKING. TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC, WHO CHECKED THE ROTORS AND SAID THEY NEED TO BE TURNED. I OWN A 1998 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE, AND THAT CA…

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CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. HAD BRAKES & ROTORS REPLACED AT 50,000 MILES. MECHANIC SAID ROTORS WERE TOO DAMAGED TO TURN. AFTER 6 MONTHS AND 20,000 MILES, THE CAR IS SHAKING AGAIN WHEN BRAKING. TOOK BACK TO MECHANIC, WHO CHECKED THE ROTORS AND SAID THEY NEED TO BE TURNED. I OWN A 1998 MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE, AND THAT CAR DOES NOT NEED THE ROTORS REPLACED EVERY TIME I REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS. MY DRIVING IS MOSTLY HIGHWAY, SO I DON'T USE THESE BRAKES MUCH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10155554

Official recalls

2

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: 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 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

04V067000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual

Feb 11, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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 BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.