Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2006 Mitsubishi Galant with NHTSA between Oct 2006 and May 2020. The most-cited component is electrical system (9).

Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system9
  2. Air bags5
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  4. Exterior lighting3
  5. Structure3
  6. Visibility3
  7. Equipment2
  8. Steering2
  9. Fuel/propulsion system1
  10. Wheels1
  11. Suspension1
  12. Engine and engine cooling1
  13. Power train1
  14. Tires1

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
20061
20074
20081
20090
20105
20114
20121
20131
20144
20151
20160
20170
20181
20190
20201

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

Electrical system

9 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WIRE WAS MELTED. THE WIRE HARNESS WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS LATER, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WIRE HARNESS HAD ALSO MELTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 10778136

Air bags

5 reports4 crashes
“I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT I WENT DOWN A DITCH I HIT A TREE AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DISPLAY I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG BECAUSE MY AIRBAG DID NOT CAME OUT WHEN I WAS IN THAT BAD ACCIDENT AND I DIDN'T THE FRONT OF MY CAR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11144601

Service brakes, hydraulic

4 reports
“LAMP SOCKETS FOR BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE BRAKE LIGHTS BURNT OUT AT 5 YEARS, 2 MONTHS WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. IF ONE SIDE WENT OUT I'D CALL IT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. BOTH SIDES,...SEEMS MORE LIKE AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. ONLY THE CONTACT FOR THE BRAKE SIDE OF THE 2057 LAMP WAS MELTED AND RECESSED. THE TAIL LAMP SIDE OF THE SOCKET IS STILL CLEAN. PUT IN A GM REPLACEMENT SOCKET WHICH LOOKS BETTER MADE THAN THE OEM. JUST GLAD THE WIFE DID NOT GET REAR-ENDED. HUNG ONTO THE OLD SOCKETS JUST IN CASE SOMEONE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THEM. LOTS OF TAILGATERS IN MY STATE, SO BRAKE LIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT HERE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10401832

Exterior lighting

3 reports1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN SEPTEMBER 2009, SHE BEGAN REPLACING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULBS AND HEADLIGHTS EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. THE DEALER COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATIONS FOR THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE PERFORMED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 13, 2010Exterior lightingODI 10325424

Structure

3 reports
“IN HOT WEATHER THE DOORS STICK CAUSING THE OUTER DOOR AND INNER PANEL TO SEPARATE MAKING IT UNABLE TO BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE NOR INSIDE. HAVE TO KEEP PUSHING ON DOOR TO MAKE IT UNSTUCK BEFORE YOU CAN ENTER OR GET OUT. LARGE RISK OF BEING STUCK INSIDE CAR IN HEAT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2014StructureODI 10615413

Visibility

3 reports
“THE WHEEL COVERS ON MY CAR FLEW OFF RANDOM TIMES GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. TIRES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION BUT IT SEEMS THAT ANYTIME I WENT OVER 70MPH I WOULD LOSE A HUBCAP. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR CAR DAMAGE. HEADLINER IN BACK WINDOW HAS STARTED TO COME DOWN BLOCKING REAR VIEW. THE DASHBOARD PASSENGER SIDE HAS COME LOOSE FROM BEHIND GLOVE BOX. THIS HOUSES THE AIR BAG COULD PREVENT PROPER DEPLOYMENT OR DANGEROUS DEPLOYMENT IF ITS EVER NEEDED. LASTLY, THE CLEAR COAT ON THE TRUNK HAS CHIPPED AWAY. I KNOW AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A RECALL ON (BLACK) CARS FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON. EXCEPT MY CAR IS GOLD. :( ON THE POSITIVE NOTE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN GREAT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 5, 2012Visibility, Structure, WheelsODI 10464294
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.