Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Owners filed 61 complaints about the 2004 Mitsubishi Galant with NHTSA between Aug 2004 and Jul 2022. The most-cited component is structure (16).

Complaints
61
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure16
  2. Visibility8
  3. Air bags6
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  5. Engine and engine cooling5
  6. Electrical system4
  7. Visibility/wiper3
  8. Seat belts3
  9. Power train3
  10. Equipment3
  11. Fuel system, gasoline2
  12. Vehicle speed control2
  13. Suspension1
  14. Fuel/propulsion system1

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
20041
20057
20062
20075
20087
20097
20104
20115
20125
20132
20142
20157
20163
20171
20180
20190
20201
20210
20222

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

Structure

16 reports
“DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR PANEL LOOSE; PANEL RE-ATTACHED WITH CLIPS BY COOL SPRING MITSUBISHI SECOND INCIDENT JULY 25, 2008; DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR LOOSE AGAIN, RE-ATTACHED WITH CLIPS BY HALLMARK MITSUBISHI THIRD INCIDENT SEPTEMBER 12, 2012 DRIVERS INSIDE DOOR PANEL LOOSE, COULD NOT RE-ATTACHED WITH CLIPS; NEED TO ORDER NEW INSIDE DOOR PANEL. PANEL ORDERED AND RE-INSTALLED BY (NTB) NATIONAL TIRE AND BATTERY FOURTH INCIDENT, JULY 2014, PASSENGER INSIDE DOOR PANEL LOOSE; NTB AND FIRESTONE COULD NOT FIX, NEED PANEL REPLACED. I HAVE RECEIPT FOR ALL THESE INCIDENTS. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DOOR PANELS WILL NOT STAY ATTACHED ON THIS CAR. MITSUBISHI SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL THE EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH PREVIOUS REPAIR OF THESE PANELS AND FIX THE PANEL FOR THE REAR DOOR. I ALSO NEED ASSURANCE AND PROOF THAT THEY WILL REPAIR AT NO COST ANY FUTURE PANELS THAT COME LOOSE AS LONG AS I OWN THIS CAR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT YOU CANNOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR BECAUSE THE PANEL CATCHES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2014StructureODI 10629649

Visibility

8 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FAILED TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2015VisibilityODI 10758784

Air bags

6 reports1 crash
“After spending money on drained battery and ruined alternator the mechanic noticed the security system being at fault . Pep Boys did not offer refund of almost $500.00”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2022Air bagsODI 11473098

Service brakes, hydraulic

6 reports1 crash
“I BOUGHT MY 2004 GALANT ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT TILL ONE DAY I TRIED TO STOP AND I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM MY BRAKES. THEN MY TRACTION LIGHT AND MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR 1 DAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE CAR, BUT I GUESS NOT. I GUESS SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THE WILL GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2007Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10212947

Engine and engine cooling

5 reports
“AT ABOUT 50K MILES BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED, WENT DOWN ON THEIR OWN AND WON'T GO BACK UP, I HAD TO WEDGE THEM UP TO KEEP THE IN PLACE. THE PAINT ON THE REAR BUMPER IS OXIDIZING RAPIDLY, THIS CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IN A GARAGE FOR THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT. AT ABOUT 90K MILES I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, IT WAS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1100 TO REPLACE THE PART. I SENT AN EMAIL TO MITSUBISHI THAT WAS UNRETURNED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2010Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10364041

Electrical system

4 reports1 related recall
“ELECTRICAL - I HAVE REPLACED MY RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT ABOUT 20 TIMES BEFORE I WAS INFORMED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. I PURCHASED A NEW SOCKET THE LIGHT WORK FOR 2 WEEKS AND NOW ITS OFF AGAIN. *TR UNKNOWN - EVERYTIME IT RAINS HARD MY FRONT PASSENGER FLOODS WITH A POOL OF WATER. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW MY CAR SMELL LIKE MOLD. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WERE LEAVES CLOGGING THE HOSE, OUT OF EVERYONE I KNOW WITH A CAR THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO THEM. I CAN'T WAIT TO TRADE THIS CAR IN. I WILL NEVER EVER GET A MITSU AND I WILL STOP ANYONE I KNOW FROM PURCHASING ONE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2011Electrical systemODI 10430556
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.