RoadVitals

2002 Mitsubishi Galant Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Sep 6, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 135 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 6, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE HORN WOULD ENGAGE SPORADICALLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 110,218.

NHTSA ID
10423979
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 7, 2009

OWN A 2002 MIT. GALANT ES V6... HEATER CONTROL MOTOR IS BAD DEALER WANT 450 DOLLARS TO REPLACE GOT ONLINE AND THIS IS A PRODUCTION PROBLEM. MANY OTHERS WITH 02-03 GALANTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM.. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE DUE TO DEFROST NOT WORKING PROPER AND THIS COULD CAUSE PEOPLE TO CRASH AND DIE..... *TR

NHTSA ID
10264409
Incident
Mar 10, 2004
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 10, 2008

A/C HEATER BLEND MOTOR WORN OUT. VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, BECAUSE THE WHOLE DASHBOARD HAS TO BE RIPPED APART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10248341
Incident
Jan 4, 2007
Mileage
42,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 3, 2008

MITSUBISHI GALANT ES, HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT/AC CONTROL, MAKES A GRINDING NOISE, IT ALSO LOCKS INTO A POSITION WHICH ONLY ALLOWS COLD AIR TO BE VENTED...BAD IF IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. MITSUBISHI WON'T REPLACE THE DEFECTED PARTS, THEY ASK THE CUSTOMER TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT WAS NEVER REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247528
Incident
May 28, 2004
Mileage
43,754 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 14, 2008

MITSUBISHI HEATER CORE LEAKING ALL OVER. CARPET SOAKING WET!! *TR

NHTSA ID
10238108
Incident
Jun 13, 2008
Mileage
123,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 4, 2008

I BOUGHT THE CAR, AN 02 MITSUBISHI GALANT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER WHO POINTED OUT TO ME THE KNOCKING SOUND IN THE DASH WHEN SWITCHING FROM COLD TO HOT AIR. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM. YESTERDAY MINE STOPPED KNOCKING AND BLOWING ANY HOT AIR AT ALL. IT SOUNDS ONLINE LIKE MANY PEOPLE HAS BEEN MISTREATED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER. NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE I HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST DEFROST IN MY COMMUTER CAR! PLEASE REVIEW THIS CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226602
Incident
May 3, 2008
Mileage
104,000 mi
Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Jan 2, 2008
Fire reported

TWO WEEKS AGO OUR CARS? PASSENGER FRONT PANEL STARTED TO SMOKE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. AT THE TIME IT HAPPENED WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. WHEN I WENT TO GET CLOSER TO THE SMOKE IT WAS THE PANEL WHERE THE WINDOW AND DOOR BUTTONS ARE. THE SECURITY GUARD IN OUR BUILDING HAD A FLASHLIGHT AND SAW THE TOP PART OF THE PANEL WAS MELTING, HE WAS ABLE TO LIFT THE MELTING PLASTIC AND INSIDE THE DOOR THE SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED AND WE PULLED THE FUSE. NOW WE HAVE NO POWER WINDOWS ON ALL SO WE ARE DRIVING WITHOUT THE ABILITY OF OPENING THE WINDOWS. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED. I CALLED MITSUBISHI AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM YET ON YOUR SITE THERE WERE TWO OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE IT?S PASSED THE WARRANTY TIME THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. I DO UNDERSTAND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR IT BUT SINCE I HAVE A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 I MUST PAY FOR IT. MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY FINDS THE PIECE TO BE A DEFECT, THEY WOULD NEED TO PUT IN A CLAIM FOR IT. I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY A CAR OF ONLY 5 YEARS OLD HAD THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS TO MENTION SINCE WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS SITE I TOO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CLICKING SOUND WHEN I PUT ON THE HEATER. SOMETIMES THE HEATER DOESN?T WORK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC SITUATION. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THESE PROBLEMS TO GET FIXED. I AM NOW WORRY SINCE I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CAR THE SAME MAKE , MODEL AND YEAR. PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT ELSE I NEED TO DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*CN

NHTSA ID
10213517
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Visibility
Filed Nov 7, 2007

ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO I GOT THIS CLICKING NOISE BEHIND MY DASH AND MY HEAT QUIT WORKING. WELL IF IT WOULD CLICK AGAIN IT WOULD WORK. WELL IT FINALLY QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH MITSUBISHI SEEMS TO BE PUTTING BAD HEAT CONTROL MOTORS IN THEIR CARS. MY CAR 2002 AND IT STARTED THIS IN 2004. AS MUCH AS I'VE PAID FOR THIS CAR THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS NOT A CHEAP PART TO HAVE FIXED AS I HAVE FOUND FROM MY RESEARCH. IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE IT HAPPENED TO BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MITSUBISHIS AND I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEIR FAULTY PART. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ID
10208201
Incident
Jan 16, 2004
Mileage
98,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 1, 2007

HEATER NO LONGER WORKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10207687
Incident
Sep 15, 2007
Mileage
74,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 29, 2007

2002 MITSHUBISHI GALANT- HEAT STOPPED WORKING AT 75,000 MILES. WHEN TURNING ON HEAT CAR BEGAN MAKING A "GARGLING" NOISE AND THEN EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. A/C WORKS FINE JUST THE HEAT WILL NOT COME ON! *TR

NHTSA ID
10207264
Incident
Oct 20, 2007
Mileage
75,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 26, 2007

THE HEATER CONTROL MOTOR ON MY CAR HAS FAILED TWICE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10206996
Incident
Oct 24, 2007
Mileage
68,450 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 24, 2007

THE FANS MAKES NOISE AND THERE IS NO A/C - HEAT. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT MAY BE THE HEATER CONTROL UNIT. SEARCHED THE WEB AND ALOT OF MITS. GALANTS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10206743
Incident
Nov 30, 2003
Mileage
1,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 20, 2007

CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE AIR FROM HOT TO COLD OR COLD TO HOT. CLICKING NOISE STOPPED AND HEAT NO LONGER WORKS. I HAVE NO DEFROST/DEFOG WHICH CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH VISIBILITY. I AM TAKING THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THIS WEEK. PAINT FADED AND CORRODED ON THE HOOD, TRUNK, ROOF, QUARTER PANELS, AND DOOR PANELS IN 2004. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN IT TO A BODY SHOP AND HAD IT REPAINTED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10206396
Incident
Dec 28, 2004
Mileage
28,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 19, 2007

2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT 3.0 V6, HEATER CONTROL MOTOR FAILED AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF SERVICE. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER WAS CONSISTANTLY 4 MPH FAS, ALWAYS HAS BEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10191227
Incident
May 1, 2007
Mileage
105,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Apr 3, 2007

ON MY 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT WITH THE 3.0 LITER ENGINE, THE HEAT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO PROVIDE WARM AIR. THE FAN WORKS, THE CAR IS AT A NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE, AND ALL HOSES ARE WARM. THE HEATER CONTROL MOTOR IS FAILING. THE PART IS CHEAP BUT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE MOST OF THE DASH BOARD TO REPLACE IT. THE DEALER CHARGES AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT TO FIX IT, ANYWHERE FROM $300 - $600. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186807
Incident
Apr 3, 2007
Mileage
85,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 25, 2007

HEAT STOPPED WORKING.. CONTROL MOTER FOR THE HEATER CORE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10186127
Incident
Mar 22, 2007
Visibility
Filed Nov 6, 2006

AS SEEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THIS COMPLAINT PAGE MY MITSUBISHI GALANT 2002 MODELS HEATER HAS GONE OUT DO TO WHAT I DO NOT KNOW. I ALSO HAD A CLICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN THE DIAL FROM COLD TO HOT. THEN FINALLY ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO IT JUST STOPPED AND SINCE HAVE NOT HEAT TO COME BACK ON! *JB

NHTSA ID
10172703
Incident
Jan 28, 2006
Mileage
89,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 9, 2006

NO HEAT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10170273
Incident
Sep 28, 2005
Mileage
98,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jun 14, 2006

I PURCHASED MY 2002 GALANT IN AUGUST 05. WHEN I FIRST TURNED THE DIAL TO HEAT, IT MADE A "CLICKING" SOUND AND THEN STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR. I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I TURNED THE HEATING/COOLING DIAL IT MADE THE "CLICKING" SOUND. IN APRIL 2006, THE "CLICKING" SOUND QUIT AND SO DID THE HEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEATER CORE. I PURCHASED A HEATER CORE FROM THE NEAREST MITSUBISHI DEALER APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AWAY ONLY FOR THE CLICKING SOUND TO COME BACK ONCE AND TO FIND OUT THE HEATER CORE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE THE $200. PART BACK SAYING MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ACCEPT IT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHERS THAT OWN 2002 GALANTS WHO HAVE THE SAME "CLICKING" SOUND. CORPORATE MITSUBISHI WAS NOT ANY HELP IN THIS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10159828
Incident
May 1, 2006
Mileage
77,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 6, 2006

NO HEAT. WENT TO NIAGARA FALLS IN THE END OF APRIL 2005 AND WAS STUCK WITH NO HEAT ON A FRIGID RAINY NIGHT. DUE TO THE LACK OF HEAT, THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE PROPERLY DEFOGGED AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS DANGEROUSLY COLD. ONE OCCUPANT BECAME ILL (MINOR). WHILE OPENNING THE WINDOWS A CRACK HELPED, THE WINDSHIELD STILL FOGGED. THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENNED MUCH DUE TO THE RAIN AND COLD. LUCKILY A NAPKIN WAS AVAILABLE TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD , OTHERWISE WE MAY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE AND STRANDED ON A REMOTE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 35,000 MI. *NM

NHTSA ID
10152025
Incident
Apr 25, 2005
Mileage
35,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 1, 2006

NO HEAT COMING FROM HEATER. FAN STILL WORKS, BUT NO HEAT. CLICKING NOISE FROM DASHBOARD PRECEDED FAILURE OF HEATER. TAKING CAR TO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151567
Incident
Feb 28, 2006

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .