2002 Mitsubishi Diamante: engine overheating

Filed Aug 3, 2009 · Engine · 78,000 miles · AL · 1 injury

My 2002 mitsubishi diamante has o ring failure in the heater coil. I have read many complaints that this is common on this model and would like a recall on these vehicles due to the extreme nature of the issue. With the failure of the o rings come potential anti freeze vapors entering passenger compartment and causing physical damage to all passengers. It may also cause the car to overheat in the middle of heavy stop and go traffic and cause accidents and/or death. It may also cause the heating element to no longer work and passengers in the extreme winter climates may be susceptible to physical harm or death. Lastly, this is a rampant known issue with these vehicles and should be corrected at dealer cost. My car cost originally $30,000. And I would expect the american government to make these companies back up the vehicles they are selling to the american public and make them safe and worth the money that is spent on them.

Filed Dec 6, 2008 · Engine · 60,000 miles · GA

At approx 60k (I am the original owner) the car began to emit mist from the vents. The first incident was a near overheating event which caused me to check the coolant. After topping off the level the car operated normally for a few months and then repeated the behavior. The tcl went off, the check engine light came on, the mist got heavier, and the car is a danger to both myself as an operator and others on the highway because the fog from the antifreeze damages visibility. The floor mat on the passenger side has also gathered moisture from the apparent leak. This scenario is well documented by others and demands a recall.

Filed Oct 28, 2008 · Engine · 70,000 miles · MN

At about 70,000 miles I started to see a very fine mist-like smoke coming from the dash while driving. There were no warning lamps illuminated on the dash. So after the temp gauge started to go up and I could also smell anti-freeze. I checked the radiator area and could find no leak but when I checked the coolant it was low. I topped off the coolant and a couple of months later it did the same thing. I then added stop-leak and the coolant level seems to be staying but I can still smell the anti-freeze and the windows fog up. I understand there is an issue with gaskets on the heater core. I am worried the coolant leaked into my vehicle in the area of the ECM. To me, this is a serious safety issue and mitsubishi should be correcting this problem because it is very common from what I have read on-line.

Filed Nov 24, 2007 · Visibility · NY

I have a heater core failure in my 2002 diamante. I now have antifreeze leaking into my passenger side floor. I have an antifreeze smell and smoke coming from the vents in the car. I got low on antifreeze and almost overheated on the belt parkway. It is very hard to see at night because windows will fog up and defroster makes problem worse. I have been told the cars computer is positioned under the heater core so I have to hope I do not have a computer issue as my service light has gobne on as well> I have had to replace 3 engine sensors in the last few months ( the heater core issue could be the root cause). This is a very serious situation and needs to be addressed. I see alot of the complaints for this model are for this issue. There are many people with this issue.

Filed Apr 4, 2007 · Engine · 55,000 miles · CO

Recently the windows keep fogging up in my 2002 mitsubishi diamante. I have found through complaints with you and other internet sites that this is a common complaint and very expensive to remedy. Is there nothing being done by nhsta to make the manufacture fix this dangerous problem? Every day it gets worse. So far I have not noticed a coolant leak, but from what I have read, it is forthcoming is a very dangerous problem that needs to be solved!!

Filed Nov 1, 2006 · Engine, Visibility · 70,000 miles · GA

Heater core leaking....check engine light came on....well known and documented problem with the diamante....paid close to 800 to have repaired...coolant leaked on the computer and car went into fail safe driving mode.

Filed Jul 21, 2006 · Engine · 79,000 miles · MD

This is the second time I am complaining about the same problem. The end of june 2006 I drove to work and reached down to pick some stuff up off the passenger side floor mat. It ended up being soaked. At first I thought some water had come in because the past few days our area had torrential rains. When I got home the next day I took up the floor mat to dry it out and notice all the liquid under it was greenish yellow. In my mind I went crazy because the same thing had happened to me a year and 2 weeks earlier. Once again the heater core became faulty and poured the engine coolant into the passenger spaces. Wonderful, since my wife was 8 months pregnant, great for her to be breathing those chemicals. I have to say I was fortunate that it didn't leak on any of the computer components, like has happened to others, especially while I was driving. Would have definitely caused a safety issue. It just blows my mind that I have had to pay for the same service twice in about a year, on a car that has less than 80,000 miles on it. I really hope the federal safety agency looks into making this a recall issue, because it is just happening to too many consumers. Just imagine all those people who don't even know they can file a complaint. Yes, I know there were no deaths or injuries in my case, but when the coolant leaks on the computer brain of the car, it could become a real issue if driving on the highway or navigating crowded streets in town. The power stearing or antilock brakes would shut down if the computer crashed from getting wet.

Filed Jan 8, 2006 · Visibility · 50,070 miles · CA

Could not clear the inside of the windshield. Smell like rotten eggs when I turn on the heater. The check engine light came on. The lights indicator on both the n and d were flashing. The automatic transmission shifting was difficult. Dealer's mechanic found that the automatic transmission relay had been damaged by coolant leaking onto the ecu from the heater core. Coolant was also found to have leaked under the passenger side carpeting. Replaced the heater core and the relay to a tune of $1,500 bill. Car has 50,000 miles .dh.

Filed Jan 3, 2006 · Visibility · 29,000 miles · NY

Dt: the contact stated while driving the windows would constantly be foggy. The vehicle was smoking under the dashboard. Also, coolant leaked inside the vehicle through the dashboard. The contact took the vehicle to a dealership to have the vehicle checked. They discovered the problem to be the heater core, it needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. No repairs were made.

Filed Oct 31, 2005 · Visibility · 68,500 miles · TX

Fog and mist on the inside of the windshield. Coolant levels dropped and refills were required, followed by a problem in the automatic transmission shifting and finally a check engine light warning. Mechanic found that the automatic transmission relay had been damaged by coolant leaking onto the ecu from the heater core. Coolant was also found to have leaked under the passenger side carpeting.

Filed Aug 12, 2005 · Engine · 50,000 miles · MD

My wife and I own a 2002 mitsubishi diamante vr-x. This past june 2005 I started noticing the car was overheating when I would stop at lights or in traffic. At first I figured it was the really hot weather we were having. After a day or so I noticed the engine temperature would fluctuate even at higher speeds, so I pulled into a gas station and checked the coolant. It was low. I bought some coolant and filled up the reservoir thinking I had found my problem. The next day I noticed I was having problems again and checked the fluid level, it was low again. I knew something was wrong then and I took it to my mechanic. Low and behold I come to find out that the antifreeze, which is poisonous, has leaked all over passenger side floor and was told that it probably had been blowing out of the vents also. This was very disconcerting not just for the health of my wife and myself, but also because we had, at the time, a five month old who also had been breathing this poison. I pray we don't end up having any respiratory problems, especially my daughter, from this in the future. What ended up being the problem was the heater core corroded and was leaking into the car. My mechanic said this is not something that should happen to a car with only 50k miles. Actually, they said it generally should never happen to a vehicle. I come to find out that the leak is just above the cars computer system. Fortunately the leak didn't affect these electronic components. I see from the http://www.mycarstats.com website that this problem is very prevalent and I'm sure it has happen to others that don't know who to contact about the problem. It ended up costing me $1300 to get it fixed. The problem lies behind the dashboard which ends up creating a lot of labor charges to fix the problem. I hope that there is something done by the odi in response to this costly, unnecessary problem.