Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Mitsubishi Galant problems
Owners filed 16 complaints about the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant with NHTSA between Dec 2008 and Jan 2024. The most-cited component is air bags (10).
Complaints
16
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags10
- Structure4
- Wheels3
- Tires2
- Seat belts1
- Service brakes, hydraulic1
- Power train1
- Other / unknown1
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
2
2
1
0
1
1
3
1
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
10 reports3 crashes
“The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the front driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently and struck the contact’s face and chest. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately slammed on the brake pedal and then pulled into a parking spot. The contact stated there was no collision before the air bag deployment. The contact stated that she sustained pain in the face and on the chest but did not seek medical assistance. The dealer was contacted and advised the contact to cut the air bag off the steering wheel and to take the vehicle to their location. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive because the seat belt was inoperable after the air bag had been deployed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.”
Structure
4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DON HARRING MITSUBISHI DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,923.”
Wheels
3 reports
“Shannon bell private dealer is selling this car with a unrepairable cv axel. I purchased it and di my home work he rolled the miles back. He's falsely advertising it as clean tie and 190 something miles. That's even less then when I had it. Air bag lights are on and he unplugged the wires along with seatbelt so the lights don't show.”
Tires
2 reports
“I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW BACK IN DEC OF 2008. NOT EVEN THREE YEARS LATER, THREE (3) OF THE FOUR (4) TIRES HAVE SEVERE CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL. THE ONLY REASON THE FOURTH TIRE WASN'T DAMAGED THE SAME WAY IS I HAD A NAIL STUCK IN THE SIDEWALL PRIOR THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE AND HAD TO REPLACE IT, SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME IT WOULD HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I HAD A SLOW LEAK AND NOTICED THE CRACKING ON ONE OF THE TIRES WHEN FILLING WITH AIR. THE MECHANIC WAS THE ONE WHO POINTED OUT THE OTHER TIRE STARTING TO CRACK THE SAME WAY. TONIGHT I NOTICED THE THIRD TIRE (LAST ORIGINAL TIRE) ALSO HAD THE SAME CRACKING. *TR”
Seat belts
1 report
Service brakes, hydraulic
1 report
“WHEN GOING IN REVERSE THE CAR MAKES A HORRIBLE LOUD NOISE. THE CAR IS STILL IN FACTORY CONDITION AND NOT USING ANY AFTERMARKET PARTS. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE TORE DOWN THE REAR END OF ANOTHER CAR AND LUBED AND OILED AND SAT FOR OVERNIGHT AND DID THE SAME NOISE. SEEMS TO BE A VERY BIG DEFECT IN SOMETHING USED. CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW A BRAND NEW CAR WITH VERY LOW MILES WILL MAKE SUCH A NOISE. *TR”
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.