Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 39 | 53% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 10% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 4% |
| Visibility | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 1% |
| Structure | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON SINCE 1997 HAVE PUT IN THREE ECM COMPUTERS WHY WAS THIS PROBLEM NEVER ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER CHECK OUT THIS SITE -HTTP://WWW.90GSX.COM/ECLIPSE/CAP/CAPS.HTM ALONG WITH OIL LEAKAGE RE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR AFTER REPLACING TRANSMISSION WITH OTHER UNIT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. ( APRIL 2005) MAKES A LOUD BANG WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO 1ST GEAR UPON STOPPING. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Power train
PURCHASED A VEHICLE AT EASTABOGA AUTO SALES. DROVE THE CAR FOR 1 DAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE HE HAD JUST PUT A NEW MOTOR IN I
NHTSA complaint: Power train
RIGHT BOOT HAS SELF DESTRUCTED FOR THE THIRD TIME (THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 35000 & I WAS TOLD THEY SHOULD BE GOOD FOR AT LEAST 60000 - THE LEFT ONE WAS). LEFT BOOT HAS ONLY HAD TO BE REPLACED 1 TIME (AROUND 65000)& WA
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT AXLES IN 1991 MITSUBISHI GALANT AFTER ONLY 55,577 MILES.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ECU FAILURE OF MY 91 MITSUBISHI GALANT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED THREE YEARS AGO. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE ERROR CODE SHOWED A BAD BAROMETRIC PRESSURE SENSOR. I REPL
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
VEHICLE HAD A RECALL DONE ON VEHICLE REGARDING TRANSFER CASE A FEW YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED AGAIN. TRANSFER CASE WILL LOCK UP WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train
OVERDRIVE FLUID IS LEAKING, ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT ALL DEALER DID WAS TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. THEN, DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING. THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, T
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 45 | below average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 39 of them (53%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.