Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Owners filed 139 complaints about the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Mar 2022. The most-cited component is visibility (47).

Complaints
139
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Visibility47
  2. Structure23
  3. Electrical system17
  4. Engine and engine cooling17
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic13
  6. Air bags12
  7. Power train10
  8. Equipment5
  9. Seats5
  10. Fuel system, gasoline4
  11. Suspension4
  12. Engine2
  13. Tires2
  14. Service brakes2

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
200310
20049
200514
200616
200729
200816
200921
20106
20114
20122
20134
20144
20152
20160
20170
20180
20190
20200
20211
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

Visibility

47 reports1 fire
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 4, 2014Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10618612

Structure

23 reports1 crash
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2013Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10534802

Electrical system

17 reports1 crash2 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 27, 2022Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11458494

Engine and engine cooling

17 reports1 crash
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10586268

Service brakes, hydraulic

13 reports3 crashes
“IN 2007, HORN WOULD JUST BLOW ON IT'S OWN AT RANDOM TIMES. EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD AT THE TIME, I REPLACED IT AGAIN. LAST WEEK, 8/09/08 THE HORN JUST STARTED BLARING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO ANOTHER CAR SWERVING OUT OF THE LANE NEXT TO MY VEHICLE AND INTO MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE QUARTER-PANEL. SINCE THE FIRST INSTANCE, THERE SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AS THE RADIO AND CLOCK ALWAYS RESET, THE TRIP ODOMETER RESETS TO ZERO, AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THERE ARE NO BLOWN FUSES, AND NO DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NO ONE OR BUSINESS CAN SEEM TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. IT WILL TAKE OVER $5000 TO REWIRE THE CAR. AS A WORKING CLASS CITIZEN, AND UNEMPLOYED VETERAN, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY, NOR ACCESS TO IT. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH WARPING ON THE ROTORS (TWICE). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2008Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkagesCrash reportedODI 10238826

Air bags

12 reports11 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2015Electrical system, Air bagsODI 10712563
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.