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, while the F-150 averaged 1,131.1 per year over 10 years. The Diamante had 11 recalls and 26 injuries; the F-150 had 145 recalls and 287 injuries. 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 averaged about 56 complaints per year over six years, with 11 recalls. The most common owner-reported problem is visibility, often linked to coolant leaks that fog the windshield and cause a sweet smell inside the cabin. Engine and power train complaints also appear, including stalling and transmission issues. With 26 injuries and 2 deaths reported in crash-related complaints, these are not minor annoyances.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged over 1,100 complaints per year over ten years, with 145 recalls. Owners most often report power train problems, especially hard or delayed shifts and sudden loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission. Electrical issues like camera malfunctions and battery cable problems are also frequent. Despite the high complaint volume, the F-150 remains a popular truck, but buyers should be aware of these patterns.
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 | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 55.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 26 Better | 287 |
| 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 that the windshield becomes increasingly difficult to clear, often due to a coolant leak that fogs the glass and creates a sweet odor. This can severely reduce visibility, especially in rain or humidity, and may lead to crashes.
Complaints describe antifreeze fumes fogging the windows, overheating, and a burning oil smell with the check engine light on. In some cases, the car loses power and won't accelerate beyond a few miles per hour, which is dangerous in traffic.
Owners report a sweet smell inside the car, windows fogging, and losing forward power while driving. The check engine light may come on and the transmission can lock into third gear, requiring dealer diagnosis and repairs.
Some owners notice a pulsing feeling in the brakes and intermittent issues. Another complaint describes the car stalling during a hard right turn, causing loss of power steering and brakes, which is a serious safety concern.
“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 TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard and delayed shifts, especially between 7th and 8th gear, and sometimes a complete loss of power while driving. The transmission may jerk or clunk, and in some cases the vehicle shuts off and drifts, which is very dangerous.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing on the dash. These electrical glitches can affect safety features and are frustrating for owners.
This category captures a variety of issues that don't fit elsewhere, but many relate to overall build quality or intermittent problems. Buyers should be aware that some complaints may indicate broader reliability concerns.
There are complaints about exterior lighting, particularly headlights, which may fail or flicker. This can reduce visibility at night and increase crash risk, so it's worth checking the lighting system thoroughly.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
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 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
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 (over 1,100), but the Diamante's issues often involve serious safety problems like sudden stalling and brake loss. The F-150's higher volume means more reported problems overall, but many are transmission and electrical glitches that may be addressed with repairs. In practice, the Diamante may be cheaper to buy but could require more urgent attention to safety defects.
Key differences
- The Diamante's top complaint is visibility (185 complaints), often from coolant leaks fogging the windshield, while the F-150's top complaint is power train (3,553 complaints), mainly transmission shifting problems.
- The Diamante has 11 recalls over 6 years, many for owner's manual issues, whereas the F-150 has 145 recalls over 10 years, covering major systems like engine, electrical, and lighting.
- The Diamante reports 26 injuries and 2 deaths in crash-related complaints, while the F-150 reports 287 injuries and 1 death, but the F-150 has a much larger number of vehicles on the road.
- The Diamante's engine issues include antifreeze fumes and loss of power, while the F-150's electrical issues include camera malfunctions and battery cable problems.
- Check for a sweet smell inside the cabin and foggy windows that won't clear, which could indicate a coolant leak from the heater core or engine.
- Test the brakes for pulsing and take a hard right turn in a safe area to see if the car stalls or loses power steering, as some owners reported.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard or delayed shifts, especially between 4th and 8th gears, and listen for clunks or bangs from the transmission.
- Start the truck and check for warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the cooling system and transmission for leaks or shifting issues.
- Test all electrical features, including cameras, lights, and infotainment, to ensure they work properly.
- For the Diamante, specifically check the heater core and windshield defroster operation; for the F-150, scan for transmission error codes.
- Take a lengthy test drive that includes highway speeds, hard turns, and braking to reproduce potential symptoms.
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
- 11,311
- Mitsubishi Diamante total recalls
- 11
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mitsubishi Diamante avg complaints/year
- 55.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Diamante
- Mitsubishi Diamante top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN