Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Owners filed 142 complaints about the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant with NHTSA between Feb 2002 and Aug 2022. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (28).

Complaints
142
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic28
  2. Electrical system26
  3. Visibility21
  4. Structure20
  5. Air bags18
  6. Engine and engine cooling16
  7. Exterior lighting6
  8. Equipment6
  9. Suspension5
  10. Steering5
  11. Wheels4
  12. Tires4
  13. Power train3
  14. Fuel system, gasoline3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200213
200310
200422
200517
200619
200716
200814
200914
20103
20112
20125
20131
20141
20152
20161
20170
20180
20191
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

28 reports1 crash
“SINCE PURCHASE OF 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH SQUEAKING BRAKES, ROTORS REPLACED TWICE SINCE PURCHASED 7/05. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT SQUEAKING WAS FROM DRIVING HABITS; NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONING. HOT AIR BLOWS OUT BOTTOM VENTS BY FLOOR. AIR DOESN'T GET COLD EITHER. HAVE HAD VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER CHARGED BOTH LAST SPRING AND ALSO THIS SPRING. WITHIN 2 WEEKS AIR ONLY GETS SEMI-COOL AND FLOOR VENTS BLOW REALLY HOT AIR AT ALL TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS A DISGRACE. MORE TROUBLE THAN ENJOYMENT. ONLY GOOD THING IS APPEARANCE AND STYLE. MITSUBISHI HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH THE BRAKES AND AIR CONDITIONING ON THEIR 2002 GALANTES. POOR QUALITY AUTOMOBILE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2007Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10191859

Electrical system

26 reports8 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE SIGNAL LAMP FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V147000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2016Electrical systemODI 10855247

Visibility

21 reports1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2011Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10423979

Structure

20 reports
“THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR IS CONSTANTLY WET IN MY 2001 GALANT. IT STARTED HAPPENING IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I CHECKED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND DO NOT SEE ANY HOLES; THE UNDERCARRIAGE COATING LOOKS FINE. THERE IS A LITTLE SUPPORT BEAM UNDER THE FLOOR BOARD OF THE CAR THAT I CAN NOT PEER INTO. THE FLUID DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE COOLANT. IT DOES NOT LOOK OR SMELL LIKE COOLANT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2010StructureODI 10349710

Air bags

18 reports17 crashes
“The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated that while his son was being chased by another motorist at 40 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle as he attempted to brake. The vehicle veered off the road and initially hit a garbage can that ricocheted and broke another vehicle's taillight. The vehicle continued to move forward before it hit both an electrical box and a tree which stopped the vehicle's momentum. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. His son was treated at the scene for the soreness to his chest and back and for other minor cuts and bruises. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it remained in their possession. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 3, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11477368

Engine and engine cooling

16 reports
“I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT WANTING TO START. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT CENSOR AFTER A MONTH OR TWO THE STARTING PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. I THEN HAD THE COILS, WIRES AND BATTERY CABLE REPLACE AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS NO I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD. I ONLY HAVE 68000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 7, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10442783
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

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