Research · Midsize Cars

1999 Mitsubishi GalantRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 218 owner complaints for the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant. Most complaints involve service brakes, hydraulic (87) and suspension (26). The EPA rates it 20–23 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
20–23mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest May 2009
Owner complaints
218
Top: service brakes, hydraulic
Fuel cost / yr
$2,700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported May 11, 2009NHTSA 09E025000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

EquipmentReported Sep 1, 2004NHTSA 04V428000

Power train: cooling unit and lines

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED AND COULD WEAKEN OVER TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Power trainReported Jan 16, 2001NHTSA 01V011001
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

218 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 1998 – May 2019
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic87
  2. Suspension26
  3. Electrical system20
  4. Power train16
  5. Steering15
  6. Structure15
  7. Engine and engine cooling13
  8. Air bags12
  9. Vehicle speed control9

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Galant model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996144
199786
199857
1999218
2000139
2001161
2002142
2003139
200461
200526
200624
200724
20086
200916
20109
20113
20129
Crashes reported
30
Fires reported
10
Injuries reported
17
Deaths reported
1
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes, hydraulic

87 reports12 crashes
“I OWN A GREEN 99 MITSUBISHI GALANT AND THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF CAUSING MY CAR TO LOOK LIKE IT HAS ALLIGATOR SKIN IT STARTED ON THE ROOF AND HAS NOW SPREAD TO THE TRUNK AND HOOD. I CALLED MITSUBISHI TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE PAINT AND I WAS TOLD NO. THE OPERATOR THEN ASKED WHAT STATE I LIVE IN AND WHEN I TOLD HER THAT I LIVE IN TEXAS, SHE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED TO HAVE PAINT PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE TEXAS SUN IS SO HARSH. I HAVE ALSO BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS IN THE VEHICLE AND MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM KEEPING WHEEL COVER ON ALL IT TAKES IS A SLIGHT BUMP IN THE ROAD AND OFF THEY COME. THIS YEAR MODEL ALSO HAS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE ROTORS WARPING. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 10, 2006Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10161945

Suspension

26 reports
“MY GALANT HAS HAD WHEEL VIBRATION PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 2000. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY ALWAYS TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED TO BE BALANCED AND THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ROTORS, PADS AND BUSHINGS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL. I STILL HAD THE WHEEL VIBRATIONS AND CONTINUED TO ARGUE WITH THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHILE LOOSING TIME AT WORK AND SPENDING MY WEEKEND MORNINGS AND AFTERNOONS AT THE DEALERSHIP. EVERY SIX MONTHS I'VE BEEN TAKING MY CAR TO GET THE TIRES BALANCED AND ALIGNED TO AT LEAST LIMIT THE VIBRATIONS TO A MINIMUM. THE CAR VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS MORE TIRE WEAR ON THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE THAN ON THE REST OF THE CAR. 68,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS WITH ONLY 8 MORE PAYMENTS LEFT TO GO AND I FEEL THAT I'VE BEEN MISTREATED BY MITSUBISHI AFTER THIS BEING MY SECOND MITSUBISHI CAR. DUE TO MITSUBISHIS' POOR SERVICE AND UNWILLFULNESS TO HELP A 2 TIME BUYER OF THEIR CARS I AM NO LONGER LOYAL TO MITSUBISHI. I OWN A 1996 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT RUNS 2 TIMES BETTER THAN MY GALANT THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 26, 2005Suspension, Service brakes, airODI 10126610

Electrical system

20 reports6 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V333001, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY: CABLES RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2011Electrical systemODI 10414980
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.0L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 7, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Galant
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
202823$2,700386
Galant
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192621$2,950423
Galant
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
172520$3,100444
  • Galant
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Galant
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 26 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
  • Galant
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L
    17 city · 25 hwy · $3,100/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 7, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant as of Nov 7, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 7, 2026Vehicle 3988
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1999 Galant questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 7, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1999 Mitsubishi Galant problems?

Owners filed 218 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes, hydraulic (87), suspension (26), electrical system (20). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant at 20–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 7, 2026