2003 Mitsubishi Galant Owner Complaints

Check engine light suddenly came on and the vehicle lost all engine power and driving capabilities while driving at a low speed, turning a corner. There had been no other issues or indication of a failure of any kind. The car was pulled over on the roadside out of traffic and was able to be restarted with no problem. It was taken to a nearby auto parts store where they performed a free diagnostic check. The result that came back was generally regarding a vacuum issue in fuel system or lines. The gas cap lid and door were checked for proper closure and it was established they had been closed and sealed properly at the time the engine power failure occurred.

NHTSA ID

11458494

Incident

Mar 26, 2022

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR QUIT ON ME WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT

NHTSA ID

11390079

Incident

Jun 16, 2020

Mileage

188,037 mi

FREQUENT CLOGGING OF A/C DRAIN AND DRAINAGE INTO DRIVER SIDE FOOT HOLD. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS UNABLE TO CLEAN DRAIN TUBE AT THIS POINT. THE CAR IS NOT PARKED UNDER OR NEAR TREES.

NHTSA ID

10777954

Incident

Sep 22, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE HORN WHICH IS PART OF THE AIRBAG STAYED ON WHEN I USED MY KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE TO LOCK THE CAR. I HAD TO HIT THE HORN BUTTON IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE IT STOP. THE HORN ONCE AGAIN BECAME STUCK THE NEXT DAY WHEN I HONKED MY HORN ON THE FREEWAY TO PREVENT A CAR FROM COLLIDING WITH ME AS THEY TRIED TO SWITCH LANES. I COULD NOT GET THE HORN TO SHUT OFF THIS TIME AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO PULL OUT THE FUSE. I PLUGGED IN THE FUSE WHEN I ARRIVED HOME AND THE HORN CAME RIGHT BACK ON. I THEN USED A RUBBER MALLET TO TAP AROUND THE HORN BUTTON AND STEERING WHEEL WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE HORN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AS MY HORN WILL NOW NOT SOUND AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10712563

Incident

Apr 20, 2015

Mileage

111,126 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DEFROSTER FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLS AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE DEFROSTER, A/C, OR HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

NHTSA ID

10618612

Incident

Aug 2, 2014

Mileage

87,000 mi

AIR BAGS DIDN'T COME OUT WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THERE IS SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST NOT SOMETHING IS EATING THE GAS UP THERE IS LEAKAGE COMING FROM ENGINE, OIL, AND RADIATOR (UNKNOWN AREAS). *TR

NHTSA ID

10586268

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

Mileage

177,759 mi

APRIL 11, 2014 I WAS TRAVELING UP 85 NORTH TO ATLANTA BETWEEN 9:30 PM & 10:00PM. JUST OUTSIDE OF MACON COUNTY ON MILE MARKER 45 THERE WAS A CAR SPEEDING IN THE WORK ZONE WHERE SIGNS WERE UP SAYING UNLEVELED ROAD. I EXCHANGED LANES TO THE RIGHT SIDE WHICH WAS THE PAVED SIDE AND CAME NEAR THE BRIDGE AND HIT A HARD BUMP WHICH MADE MY CAR HOP UP AND SLAM DOWN HARD. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP BECAUSE MY TIRES WERE SMOKING. MY STRUT BOTTOMED OUT AND WAS SITTING ON MY TIRE MAKING IT NOT DRIVABLE BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE STRUT. TWO OTHER CARS HIT THE SAME BUMP INCLUDING THE STATE TROOPER THAT CAME TO ASSIST ME. I CALLED MY INSURANCE BUT THE COULDN'T PINPOINT WHERE I WAS. SO I ENDED UP CALLING THE STATE TROOPER AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF THE POCKET FOR TOWING BACK TO MONTGOMERY. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR CONES IN THE ROAD TO NOTIFY THAT THERE WAS A ROUGH BUMP IN THE ROAD. I NEED HELP WITH THIS CAUSE I SPENT MONEY ON THIS DAMAGE AND FEEL USELESS BECAUSE OF A BUMP THAT DISABLE MY ONLY CAR FOR WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10583474

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE HEAT CONTROL MODULE WAS ACTIVATED BUT COLD AIR BEGAN TO CIRCULATE OUT OF THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10560747

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

AFTER REPLACING FRONT/REAR BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS PLUS APPLYING THE PROPER LUBRICANT BRAKES NOT ONLY STILL SQUEAL BUT I AM HAVING OCCASIONAL GRINDING MAINLY COMING FROM THE FRONT DISC. HAVE HAD THEM INSPECTED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS. THEY SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. DIAGNOSIS HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED NOT ONLY BY MECHANICS BUT APPARENTLY BY MITSUBISHI. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION AFTER JUST HAVING TO LEASE THIS VEHICLE TO FIND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT HAS NOT HAD ATTENTION FROM MITSUBISHI. I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES BECAUSE OF TOO MANY FEARS FROM FOREIGN MANUFACTURES. I CHOSE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE MITSUBISHI HAS GREAT DESIGNS. AS FOR PRODUCING A RECALL FOR THIS VERY KNOWN PROBLEM. IT SEEMS LIKE PRODUCING THIS RECALL WOULD ONLY PUT MITSUBISHI FURTHER IN DEBT. IF HONOR IS WHAT YOUR CULTURE LIVE BY, THEN HONOR THIS MISTAKE BEFORE MANY LIVES ARE LOST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557571

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

107,000 mi

I STARTED MY CAR IN THE AFTERNOON, THEN I TURNED ON MY RADIO 3 MINUTES LATER. THEN, I SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING BURNT, THAT'S WHEN I SAW SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT DOOR. I STOPPED IN A RANDOM TIRE SHOP TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I SAW FIRE COMING OUT OF THE LOUDSPEAKER ON THE FRONT RIGHT DOOR. A GUY FROM THE TIRE SHOP HELPED ME TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. AFTER I MADE SURE THAT IT WAS SAFE ENOUGH FOR ME TO DRIVE, I DROVE MY CAR TO MY REGULAR AUTO SHOP TO GET IT CHECKED. THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR WAS MELTED (HALFWAY MELTED, BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS HANDLED EARLY) AND BLEW THE FUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536949

Incident

Aug 21, 2013

I WAS DRIVING AT 33 MPH ON A MAIN STREET WHEN CAR ON MY RIGHT GOES THROUGH STOP SIGN AND DRIVES INTO MY CAR. HE HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR NEAR, BUT NOT INCLUDING, THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER IMPACT (HE NEVER BRAKE) HE CONTINUED TO MOVE MY CAR WITH HIS THEREBY FOLDING THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN HALF, TAKING OFF FRONT WHEELS, FENDERS AND BUMPER, GAS TANK (SMOKING BUT NOT ON FIRE), AND MOVING MY CAR TWO LANES TO THE LEFT VIA IMPACT AND PUSH. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S DOOR, MINE, WOULD NOT OPEN. SEAT BELT PULLED IN VERY TIGHT. IMPACT SLAMMED MY CHEST, KNEE AND ANKLE. FRACTURED STERNUM, CUTS AND BRUISES ON LEG AND FOOT. BACK PAIN AT SITE OF CRASH. COULD NOT WALK UP AMBULANCE STEPS. HOSPITAL STAY 2 DAYS WITH MULTIPLE TESTS. DRS. VISITS REQUIRED THIS WEEK, ONE DAY AFTER RELEASE. CAR TOTALED. PHYSICAL THERAPY AND PAIN MANAGEMENT PUT INTO PLACE UPON HOSPITAL DISCHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10534802

Incident

Aug 9, 2013

Mileage

22,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VENTS AFTER SWITCHING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE FROM COLD TO HOT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE HOT AIR FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523697

Incident

Nov 13, 2012

Mileage

128,000 mi

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER LEFT /RIGHT FRONT SIDE TIRES ARE DISFUNCTIONAL WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE I HERE THE BEARINGS POPPING AND THE TIRES ALSO DIS FUNCTIONAL AND THE THIS CAR IS BURNING A LOT OF OIL THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I'M BUYING IT FROM SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE THE CAR WAS WELL TAKING CARE OF THE BELT ON THE CAR IS CRACKED IT HASN'T HAD A TUNE UP AT ALL THE AIR CONDITIONER ISN'T BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469289

Incident

Aug 5, 2012

Mileage

15,229 mi

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE IN 2007, THE PAINT BEGAN TO WEAR OFF. IT STARTED CHALKING AND CHIPPING AND I'VE NOTICED PRETTY MUCH EVERY MITSUBISHI I SEE ON THE ROAD HAS THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO PUT OUT SUCH CARS AND BE NEGLEGENT ON THE PAINT JOB. WE ALL PAY GOOD MONEY FOR THESE AND MITSUBISHI ONLY RECALLED THE "BLACK PAINT" THEY NEED TO RECALL THEM ALL BECAUSE ALL OF THEM ARE IN HORRIBLE SHAPE. MITSUBISHI NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.!!!!!!! I SHOULDNT HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO GET MY CAR PAINTED...IT SHOULDNT EVEN NEED PAINTED YET. I'LL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER. *TT

NHTSA ID

10462746

Incident

May 7, 2008

Mileage

57,000 mi

TURNED HEAT ON AND HEARD A RATTELING NOISE UNDER DASH, WHEN HEAT CAME ON NOISE STOPPED. TURNED HEAT ON A WEEK LATER, NOTHING, ONLY COLD AIR. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SAYS HEATER CORE, AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT SENSOR. DEALERSHIP SAYS HEATER CONTROL VALVE, EITHER WAY, WITH SEEING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING, THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM AT THE MANUFACTURING LEVEL. MAYBE MITSUBISHI SHOULD LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING LIKE ACCEPTING FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIRING THESE CARS. WITH THE ECONOMY WHAT IT IS THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO AFFORD THIS EXPENSE, MYSELF INCLUDED. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP US! WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER ALWAYS GET THE SHORT END OF THE STICK? *TR

NHTSA ID

10434913

Incident

Oct 1, 2011

I PURCHASED MY 2003, MITSUBSHI, GALANT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT FADING ON THE DOORS AND THE HOOD OF THE CAR. AFTER 1 YEAR OF HAVING THE CAR IT STARTED TO FADE. MY CAR IS A BLACK MITSUBSHI AND WITH THIS BEING A BLACK CAR THE FADING REALLY STANDS OUT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10425665

Incident

Feb 16, 2011

IN THE LATE WINTER OF 2011 MY CAR HEATER BEGAN TO MAKE STRANGE NOISES THEN WOULD WORK FINE. SOON AFTER THAT HAPPENED, THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING. ONLY COLD AIR WOULD PUSH THROUGH THE SYSTEM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AC IS NOT CONSIDERED A NECESSITY, BUT I BEG TO DIFFER ON HEAT, CONSIDERING OUR TECHNOLOGICAL STATE. A HEATER KEEPS WINDOWS DEFROSTED AND CLEAR OF HUMIDITY THAT WOULD OTHERWISE CLOUD VISION OR WORSE, COMPLETELY HINDER TOTAL VISIBILITY. THE IDEA OF HAVING HEAT IN A CAR SEEMS LIKE A LUXURY BUT, IN REALITY IT IS REALLY A BASIC DRIVING NEED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE AS TO WHY A CONSUMER SHOULD PAY $20,000, BRAND NEW, FOR A CAR THAT'S HEATER IS ALL TOO OFTEN BROKE BEFORE 60,000 MILES. THE COST OF REPAIR CAN EASILY COST $1000, DUE TO THE LABOR. THERE HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTS OF THEM BREAKING AGAIN, ONE YEAR LATER. THE HEATER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED AND ADDRESSED IN THE 03' GALANTS. IT KEEPS THE WINDOWS CLEAR SO CONSUMERS CAN SAFELY DRIVE THEIR CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424373

Incident

Feb 4, 2011

HEATER CORE IN 2003 GALANT HAS GONE OUT, WHICH MEANS NO HEAT IN VEHICLE. QUOTES FOR REPAIR ARE BETWEEN 900-1300, LABOR BEING 5-6 HOURS. I WAS TOLD THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE GALANT. THERE WAS AN IDENTICAL VEHICLE AT THE REPAIR SHOP WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM. FURTHER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM & SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A DEFECT THAT MITSUBISHI MOTORS SHOULD CONSIDER INVESTIGATING. *LN

NHTSA ID

10378316

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

Mileage

112,000 mi

HEAT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO A FAULTY HEAT CONTROL VALVE. FIRST IT STARTED MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND NOW I HAVE NO HEAT AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369597

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

I WAS WITH MY SON LEAVING A STORE, WHILE IT WAS 38 DEGREES OUTSIDE. AFTER WE GOT IN THE CAR AND I TURNED ON THE HEATER, IT BEGAN MAKING A FLUTTERING SOUND UNDER THE DASH AS IF THE VENTS WERE OPENING UP. WITH THE KNOB ALL THE WAY TO THE RED POSITION AND THE OTHER KNOB IN THE WINDOW DEFROST POSITION, I WAITED FOR THE WINDOWS TO DEFROST AND THE HEAT TO MAKE THE CAR WARM. THE WINDOWS NEVER DEFROSTED AND THE HEAT NEVER CAME ON. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH THE WINDOW DOWN IN THE COLD, AND MY SON FREEZING IN THE BACK SEAT. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS IS A VERY POPULAR PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA ID

10370133

Incident

Nov 20, 2009

Mileage

175,000 mi

THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE BEGAN MAKING CLICKING NOISES ABOUT A MONTH AGO IN MY 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT V6 LS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 59,000 MILES ON IT. THEN THIS MORNING WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATE OF 41 DEGREES HERE IN MINNEAPOLIS THE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE IS NOW STUCK IN THE COLD MODE. I HAD TO DRIVE MY 2 YEAR OLD TO DAY CARE IN A COLD CAR. THE REPLACEMENT COST BY THE DEALER IS $1000. THE INTERNET FINDING SHOWS MOST GALANT OWNERS HAVE HAD FAILED HEATER CONTROL VALVE. THIS CAN PUT DRIVERS IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE WE CAN NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WHEN ITS COLD OUTSIDE.

NHTSA ID

10360226

Incident

Oct 13, 2010

Mileage

59,600 mi

2003 GALANT ES. V-6 MOTOR. HAD TO REPLACE HEATER CONTROL VALVE DUE TO NO HEAT. CLICKING NOISE FROM TIME TO TIME THEN NOTHING AS WELL AS NO HEAT. NO SOONER DID I REPLACE THAT AND THEN HEAT SELECTOR QUIT WORKING. CAN NOT CHANGE FROM VENTS TO DEFROST. MECHANIC SAID HEATER BOX WARPED AND COST ABOUT 2500.00 TO FIX THIS. NOW PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE RADIATOR BURST OPEN ON THE FRONT SIDE. ABOUT A 4 INCH OPENING JUST TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF CAP IF YOU ARE FACING THE CAR. MECHANIC HAS SAID ALL OF THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THESE CARS AND MITSUBISHI SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO TAKE CARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AS EVERY GALANT MADE HAS HAD SAME ISSUES.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356713

Incident

Sep 18, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 BLACK MITUSBISHI GALANT ES. THE PROBLEM WITH IT IS THE PAINT...THE TOP OF MY HOOD IS DISGUSTINGLY WHITE AND FADED, ALSO THE ROOF OF THE CAR, AND THE TOP OF THE TRUNK. THE FADE IS SPREADING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE..I SEARCHED FOR THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MITSUBISHI PAINT. THERE HAS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS. IT'S EMBARRASSING DRIVING AROUND WITH THE PAINT THAT HIDEOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342181

Incident

Apr 6, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

I HIT A DEER DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP BECAUSE MY SEAT UNLOCKED AND SLID BACK ALL THE WAY, THAN I HIT THE DEER AND WRECKED MY WHOLE FRONT END. HAVE DODGED SOME MAJOR CRASHES DUE TO MY SEAT SLIDING. EVER SINCE I GOT MY CAR WHEN IT CAME OUT IN 03' THE DRIVER SEAT SLIPS WHEN IT SHOULD BE LOCKED HAPPENS RANDOMLY (EXTREMELY UNSAFE) MITSUBISHI SHOULD FIX OR REPLACE THE SEAT MECHANISM BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET INJURED. FEELS LIKE IT DECIDES WHEN TO LOCK AND WHEN TO "LET GO" SENDING ME INTO A SLIDE TOWARDS THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S PRETTY MUCH A DEATH TRAP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313815

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 GALANT AND MY HEATER HAS FAILED THERE IS AIR BLOWING BUT IT'S NOT HOT. WHEN I TURN THE DIAL FROM COLD TO HOT IT WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND WHICH I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE IN THE VENT AREA, THINKING MAYBE IT WAS JUST NOT TURNING. COME TO FIND OUT IT'S THE HEATER CORE AND IT'S OVER $500 TO REPAIR. I THINK THIS IS RIDICULOUS I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE DATING BACK TO 2006 AND I BELIEVE THAT MITSUBISHI SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10287416

Incident

Sep 29, 2009