Model year guide

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints27
Combined18 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante recalls 1

Equipment:other:labels NHTSA Campaign #04V428000 · 01/09/2004

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.

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 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPE…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Visibility/wiper
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City16 mpg
Highway23 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,550
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Passenger volume101 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$10,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$22,750
Fuel only$22,750
Per mile$0.30

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 51

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 51.

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part.

Bulletin TSB-22-54-003 · Exterior Lighting · Apr 2022

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT253 · Equipment · Nov 2019

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

Bulletin TSB-19-00-008 · Equipment · Jul 2019

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT237 · Equipment · Feb 2018

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT218 · Engine And Engine Cooling, Wheels, Power Train · Aug 2015

This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio system speakers in Mitsubishi vehicles equipped with original equipment audio components.

Bulletin TSB-15-54-004 · Equipment · Jul 2015

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT217 · Seats, Power Train, Fuel System, Gasoline · Jul 2015

This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012.

Bulletin TTIndex12 · Equipment · Mar 2013

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT195 · Wheels, Steering, Power Train · Mar 2013

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT194 · Power Train, Electrical System, Back Over Prevention · Feb 2013

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the DIAMANTE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Mitsubishi Diamante

The Mitsubishi Diamante is an automobile that was manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors from 1990 to 2005. The first series was a hardtop introduced to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1989. It went on sale in Japan exclusively in May 1990 and won that year's Japan Car of the Year award. It was created by splicing an extra 6.6 cm (2.6 in) right down the middle of the Mitsubishi Galant, which itself had won the Japan Car of the Year award in 1987. The Diamante's platform was also used for the sporty Mitsubishi 3000GT.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante trims & engines on record

Trims
ES
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 205 hp

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante vehicles on record

Other Mitsubishi Diamante model years

1998 Mitsubishi Diamante — frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante?

Across all 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are visibility, vehicle speed control, service brakes.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante get?

The 1998 Mitsubishi Diamante has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (16 city / 23 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.