2003 Mitsubishi Galant Engine Problems

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

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

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

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

THE CAR HAD AROUND 65,000 MILES ON IT, AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING. AIR WOULD BLOW, BUT IT WOULD BE COLD AIR. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, AS A MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TRY THAT, AND SEE IF IT HELPED, BUT THE HEAT WAS STILL NOT COMING OUT. EVENTUALLY, AS IT WAS GETTING REALLY COLD, WE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, AND IT COST $498.30 TO FIX! HE SAID THE WATER SHUT VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255359

Incident

Dec 15, 2007

Mileage

65,500 mi

WATER LEAKS INTO THE INTERIOR CAB ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT LOCATED UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE WATER POURS INSIDE CAB CAUSING WATER TO POOL UNDER THE CARPET. ALSO WETS THE WIRES AND HAS CAUSED THE RADIO TO SHORT OUT SO FAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237733

Incident

May 13, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

CLICKING NOISE FROM THE VENTS WHEN SWITCHING TEMPERATURE GAUGE FROM COLD TO HOT. NO HOT AIR COMING FROM VENTS. FAN CONTINUES TO BLOW COLD AIR WHILE CAR IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. HEAT WAS RESTORED AFTER A FEW MONTHS JUST IN TIME BEFORE THE WINTER LAST YEAR. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN THIS FALL AND COLD AIR CONTINUES TO BLOW AS WINTER APPROACHES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208581

Incident

Oct 15, 2007

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT PURCHASED NEW WITH 12 MILES. I HAVE KEPT UP MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR AND HAVE A MANUFACTURER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY (BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER) BOTH COVERING MY CAR UP TO 100,00 MILES. MY CAR HAS 91,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXITING THE FREEWAY TO THE RIGHT TO AT LEAST TRY TO REACH THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE THE CAR DIED ON THE FREEWAY. WHILE GETTING OVER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE HOOD ENTERING THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, BY THE TIME I CROSSED 4 LANES; MY CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I JUMPED OUT THE CAR DUE TO FEAR ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE BLOWN. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED (AFTER A WEEK OF GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM MITSUBISHI, THE DEALER, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY) THAT NONE OF THE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE COVERED. SO, I THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF $3500. I WAS TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR, (TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS STUCK) WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND SINCE THE RADIATOR IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEN NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED. IT TOOK THE DEALER 2 WEEKS TO START WORK ON MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197651

Incident

Jul 6, 2007

Mileage

91,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT PURCHASED NEW WITH 12 MILES. I HAVE KEPT UP MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR AND HAVE A MANUFACTURER AND EXTENDED WARRANTY (BOUGHT FROM THE DEALER) BOTH COVERING MY CAR UP TO 100,00 MILES. MY CAR HAS 91,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXITING THE FREEWAY TO THE RIGHT TO ATLEAST TRY TO REACH THE EMERGENCY LANE BEFORE THE CAR DIED ON THE FREEWAY. WHILE GETTING OVER SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT THE HOOD ENTERING THE CAR THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, BY THE TIME I CROSSED 4 LANES; MY CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I JUMPED OUT THE CAR DUE TO FEAR ONCE I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC SHOP WHERE THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE BLOWN. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AND WAS INFORMED (AFTER A WEEK OF GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM MITSUBISHI, THE DEALER, AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY) THAT NONE OF THE MAINTENANCE WOULD BE COVERED. SO, I THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE OF $3500. I WAS TOLD BY MITSUBISHI THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR, (TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS STUCK) WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND SINCE THE RADIATOR IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THEN NONE OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED. IT TOOK THE DEALER 2 WEEKS TO START WORK ON MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10197650

Incident

Jul 6, 2007

Mileage

91,000 mi

CLICKS FOR 10-20 SECONDS WHEN I SWITCH FROM AC TO HEATER AND BACK EVERY TIME. TWICE WHILE DRIVING I SWITCHED FROM AC TO HEATER AND HEARD NO CLICKING, BUT ALSO GOT NO HEAT (STILL BLOWING COLD AIR). STARTED HAPPENING AFTER ABOUT 5,0000, AND HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A FEW MONTHS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10193782

Incident

Jun 19, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT IN DECEMBER 2002. SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR THE BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED EVERY YEAR. ALSO, THERE IS A HUGE LIST OF OTHER PARTS AND REPLACEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE; THE MOST RECENTLY TIMING BELT, WATER PUMP, VALVE COVER AND GASKET, HEATER HOT WATER CONTROL, VALVE, THERMOSTAT FOR COOLING SYSTEM, ETC. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES, AND IT WORKS AS IF IT HAS OVER 200,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187647

Incident

Dec 27, 2002

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED AND THE THROTTLE WAS CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ON 8-10-06 A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED.

NHTSA ID

10167638

Incident

Sep 8, 2006

Mileage

64,000 mi

GALANT 2003, 55,000KMS, GRINDING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE HEATER TEMP DIAL, SOUNDS LIKE HEATER CONTROL MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10156448

Incident

Jan 10, 2006

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP TUNE UP WOULD FIX PROBLEM AND IT DIDN'T FIX IT. ALSO CAR IS UNSTABLE WHEN FIRST TURNED ON, LIKE IT'S GOING TO CUT OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10144319

Incident

Dec 2, 2005

DT: 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT - THE CAR STRUGGLES TO CHANGE GEARS. A NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE CAR, AND VEHICLE WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SHAKING. INFORMATION ON SERVICE PROVIDED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF PURCHASE. HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE - DIAGNOSIS WITH ENGINE CYCLE MISFIRED AND FAULTY SPARK PLUGS. EVERY FOUR TO SIX MONTHS THERE WERE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE. . ON 4/28/03 ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING ENGINE MISFIRED. REPLACED PISTON AND ENGINE HEAD. 9/1/04 SPARKS PLUG FAILED, AND CYLINDER MISFIRED. ON 9/10/04 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. 12/17/04 ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS REPLACED. 3/28/05 DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED HOT WATER VALVE. ON 9/2/05 CRANK CASE SENSOR REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10135958

Incident

Apr 28, 2003

Mileage

12,522 mi

THE LIFTERS ARE KNOCKING. AND AFTER 3 ATTEMPS IT HAS YET TO BE FIXED. I HAVE BEEN WAITING A WEEK NOW TO HEAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. THEY ARE WAITING FOR A FACTORY REP. TO CALL. HALF THE MOTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. THEY HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE WHOLE VALVE TRAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058170

Incident

Jan 13, 2003

Mileage

5,902 mi

WHEN EVER I CRANK THE CAR UP IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE THE EXHAUST SMELLS LIKE BAD EGGS. THE RADIO/CD WAS REPLACE THREE TIMES ALREADY AND THE CD PLAYER STILL SOUNDS STATICTY WHEN PLAYIND DISC AND THE SPEAKERS POP WHEN THE RADIO IS COMPLETELY OFF. ALSO WHEN EVER SOME GETS IN AND OUT OF THE CAR THEY GET SHOCKED BY IT TO THE POINT WHERE U CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SPARK FROM THE SHOCK. AND WHEN THE CAR IS JUST SITING RUNNING U CAN FEEL THE CAR SHAKE LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CUT OFF.

NHTSA ID

10005435

Incident

Jan 8, 2003