Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Diamante vs Toyota Camry
How the Mitsubishi Diamante and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The Diamante averaged 55.8 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Camry averaged 214.3 over 10 years. The Diamante had 2 deaths and 26 injuries; the Camry had 1 death and 163 injuries. Both have serious reported issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Diamante or Toyota Camry 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, so a buyer should expect to check for coolant leaks and transmission behavior.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a sedan that averaged about 214 complaints per year over ten years, with 31 recalls. Owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission grinding and sudden acceleration to brake failure and air conditioning odors. The higher complaint volume means more potential problems, but also more information available to buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Diamante | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 335 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 11 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 11 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 55.8 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 26 Better | 163 |
| 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 smell. This can severely reduce visibility, especially in rain or humidity, and may lead to crashes.
Complaints include antifreeze fumes fogging the windows, engine stalling, and a burning oil smell with the check engine light on. These issues can leave a driver stranded or cause poor visibility.
Owners describe losing forward power, the check engine light coming on, and the transmission locking into third gear. A sweet coolant smell and windshield haze often accompany these problems, indicating a possible internal coolant leak.
Reports include a pulsing feeling in the brakes and, in one case, the car stalling during a hard right turn, which eliminates power steering and brakes. This is a serious safety concern that needs immediate attention.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission damage that requires replacement. Some also describe sudden acceleration incidents, including one that led to a crash.
Complaints include air conditioning condenser damage from road debris and a persistent mildew or vinegar odor from the vents. These are comfort and potential cost issues rather than immediate safety risks.
Reports include uncontrollable sudden acceleration and a coolant valve bypass issue that may not be covered by recall for some VINs. Sudden acceleration is a severe safety hazard.
One owner reported no brake response while driving down a steep hill, requiring emergency action. Brake failure is a critical safety concern.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Diamante or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Diamante has far fewer complaints per year (about 56) than the Toyota Camry (about 214), but the Diamante's complaints often involve serious visibility and stalling issues. The Camry's higher volume means more reported problems overall, but many are less severe, such as AC odors. In practice, the Diamante may have fewer total issues, but the ones it has can be dangerous.
Key differences
- The Diamante's top complaint is visibility (185 reports), often from coolant leaks fogging the windshield, while the Camry's top complaint is power train (395 reports), including transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- The Diamante has 2 deaths and 26 injuries reported, while the Camry has 1 death and 163 injuries, indicating different patterns of harm.
- The Camry has more recalls (31 vs 11) and a higher complaint rate per year, but the Diamante's complaints are concentrated in a few serious areas.
- Owners of the Diamante frequently mention a sweet coolant smell and fogged windows, while Camry owners report AC odors and brake failure.
- Check for a sweet smell inside the cabin and foggy windows that won't clear, which can indicate a coolant leak from the heater core.
- Test the transmission for slipping, delayed engagement, or locking into third gear, and look for a check engine light.
- Listen for grinding noises from the front during acceleration, which may indicate transmission damage requiring replacement.
- Test the brakes on a downhill slope for any lack of response, and check for sudden acceleration during a test drive.
Before you buy
- Ask for a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the specific model.
- Check for open recalls by providing the VIN to a dealer.
- Test drive in various conditions, including rain and hills, to check visibility and brakes.
- Inspect the coolant system for leaks and the transmission for smooth shifting.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for the exact model year you are considering.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Diamante vs Toyota Camry
- Mitsubishi Diamante total complaints
- 335
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mitsubishi Diamante total recalls
- 11
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mitsubishi Diamante avg complaints/year
- 55.8
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Diamante
- Mitsubishi Diamante top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN