Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Diamante vs FORD F 150
How the Mitsubishi Diamante and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Diamante vs FORD F 150: The Diamante averaged 55.8 complaints per year over 6 years, with 185 visibility issues, while the F-150 averaged 1,162.1 complaints per year over 10 years, with 3,648 power train issues. The F-150 has more recalls (151 vs. 11) and crash complaints (330 vs. 11). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Diamante or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Diamante
The Mitsubishi Diamante is a sedan that, based on owner complaints, demands attention to visibility and engine cooling. Over six years, it averaged about 56 complaints per year, with the majority (185) about visibility—often foggy windshields from coolant leaks or defroster issues. Engine and cooling complaints (82) frequently involve antifreeze fumes and power loss, suggesting a pattern of overheating and head gasket problems. Power train and brake issues also appear, including transmission failures and brake pulsation.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint volume—over 11,600 in ten years, averaging about 1,162 per year. Power train complaints dominate (3,648), often describing transmission limp mode and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts. Electrical system issues (2,100) include sensor failures and rear window defroster shorts that have led to shattered glass. While the F-150 is popular, these recurring problems mean owners should be diligent about maintenance and recall checks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Diamante | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 335 Better | 11,621 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 151 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 330 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 55.8 Better | 1162.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 26 Better | 297 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Diamante
- 01VISIBILITY185
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING82
- 03POWER TRAIN28
- 04SERVICE BRAKES20
- 05HYDRAULIC18
Owners report windshields becoming increasingly difficult to clear, often due to a failed defroster or coolant leaking inside and fogging the glass. This can severely reduce visibility, especially in rain, and may lead to crashes.
Complaints describe antifreeze fumes fogging windows, overheating, and sudden power loss with a burning oil smell. These symptoms point to cooling system leaks or head gasket failures that can strand a driver.
A recurring issue is a fragile wave spring in the transmission that can break, causing catastrophic failure and loss of forward power. Owners also note sweet smells and fogging before transmission failure.
Owners report a pulsing feeling in the brakes and, in some cases, stalling during hard right turns with less than a tank of gas, which can cut power steering and brakes. This poses a serious safety risk.
“FOR SEVERAL WEEKS IT WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD ON MY CAR AND I ATTRIBUTED IT TO HOT, HUMID WEATHER. COMING BACK ON THE FREEWAY ONE EVENING IT SUDDENLY BECAME MUCH WORSE AND MY HUSBAND AND I TRIED MANY DIFFERENT COMBINA…”
“FOR OVER 2 YEARS NOW I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH AN ODOR IN MY 2000 DIAMANTI AND THE DEFOGGER NEVER SEEMED TO WORK ON THE WINDOWS. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO I SAW SOMETHING LEAK ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE RUG BUT DIDN'T' T GUESS THAT THIS COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WIT…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,648
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,100
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,431
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,224
- 05ENGINE880
Many owners describe transmission problems, including limp mode, getting stuck in 5th gear, and lead frame failures that can cause sudden downshifts or loss of power. These issues often recur even after repairs.
Complaints include output speed sensor failures leading to limp mode and rear window defroster shorts that can cause the back window to shatter. These electrical glitches can disable safety features and create hazardous conditions.
Some owners report rear window defroster shorts that cause the glass to explode outward, posing a risk of injury or distraction. This is a less common but alarming issue.
While not detailed in the sample, exterior lighting complaints are frequent (1,224), suggesting issues like failing lights or wiring that can affect visibility and safety.
“This lead frame issue is never ending. Well over a decade without a proper remedy. I’m very familiar with it. but this one nearly ended my life. After the near collision I called my mechanic and bought a new ford lead frame from a dealership. It’s doing fine…”
“My 2017 Ford F-150 V8 with the 6-speed automatic transmission has been experiencing a serious and recurring transmission malfunction. The truck has consistently, almost on a daily basis, gone into limp mode and become stuck in 5th gear. It also frequently fai…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Diamante — 11 recalls
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The 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 BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD C…
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The 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 BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD C…
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The 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 BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD C…
The defect: 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.
The 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.
The 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 BEGAN ON MARCH 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD C…
FORD F 150 — 151 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater and previously remedied under recall 18V894. During the previous repair, the block he…
The risk: A damaged cable could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the engine block heater from being used. When replacement cables become available, a second notice will be mailed and dealers will replace the engine block heater cord, free of charge. The…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford F-150 Regular Cab and SuperCrew Cab vehicles. If a front seat belt pretensioner deploys as the result of a crash, the sparks may ignite materials such as carpeting or insulation within the B-pillar area.
The risk: A vehicle fire could result if materials ignite inside the vehicle.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove the B-pillar insulation material and wiring harness tape, and install heat resistant tape, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Ford F-150, and 2017 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty trucks. The doors on these vehicles may have a bent or kinked actuation cable or the door latches may freeze after water gets into the latch. Either condition can result in the do…
The risk: A door that opens while driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door latch actuation cables and repair if necessary, and install water shields over the door latches, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Diamante or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Diamante has far fewer complaints per year (about 56) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,162), but the Diamante's issues often involve severe visibility and engine failures. The F-150's higher volume means more reported problems, but many are recurring transmission and electrical faults that may be addressed by recalls. In practice, the Diamante may require more immediate attention to cooling and visibility, while the F-150 demands vigilance for transmission and electrical gremlins.
Key differences
- The Diamante's top complaint is visibility (185), often from coolant leaks fogging the windshield, while the F-150's top complaint is power train (3,648), with transmission limp mode and lead frame failures.
- Diamante owners report sudden power loss and stalling from transmission wave spring breaks and brake-related stalling, whereas F-150 owners describe recurring limp mode and sensor failures.
- The F-150 has far more recalls (151 vs. 11) and crash-related complaints (330 vs. 11), but the Diamante's fewer complaints include severe safety issues like fogged windows and brake pulsation.
- Electrical issues in the F-150 include rear window defroster shorts causing glass to shatter, a problem not reported for the Diamante.
- Check for a sweet smell inside the cabin or foggy windows that won't clear—this can indicate a coolant leak from the heater core or head gasket, a common complaint.
- Test the transmission for delayed engagement or slipping, especially when cold, as the wave spring failure can cause sudden loss of power.
- Scan for transmission trouble codes (like P0722) and test drive for limp mode or harsh shifting, as lead frame and sensor failures are frequent.
- Inspect the rear window defroster operation and look for any cracks or signs of overheating, as shorts have caused windows to shatter.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls, especially for the F-150's transmission and electrical recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the cooling system and transmission for the Diamante, and the transmission and electrical system for the F-150.
- During a test drive, pay attention to any unusual smells, warning lights, or shifting issues.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been performed, as some issues may persist even after recall work.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with these models to catch hidden problems.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Diamante or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Diamante vs FORD F 150
- Mitsubishi Diamante total complaints
- 335
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,621
- Mitsubishi Diamante total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 151
- Mitsubishi Diamante avg complaints/year
- 55.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1162.1
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Diamante
- Mitsubishi Diamante top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN