1992 Mitsubishi Galant

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

74/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	24	59%
Engine and engine cooling	4	10%
Electrical system	4	10%
Seat belts	2	5%
Fuel system	2	5%
Service brakes	2	5%
Suspension	1	2%
Steering	1	2%
Air bags	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER-N-LAWS 1992 MITSUBISHI GALANT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED TO SWERVE FROM RIGHT TO LEFT MAKING A WEIRD SCRAPPING SOUND MAKING ME THINK THE BRAKES WERE PROBABLY LOCKED UP. SMOKE START
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

1992 MITSUBISHI GALANT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB A NEW ENGINE HAD BEEN INSTALL 3000 MILES PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V168000 CONCERNING THE TRANSFER CASE. RECALL REPAIRS WAS PERFORMED ON 10-20-03. IN NOVEMBER 2005 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE TRANSFER CASE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

DT: THE CONTACT STATES IN AUGUST 04 HE HAD H CAR INSPECTED AND IT PASSED INSPECTION, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSFER CASE IN TRANSMISSION. HE HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRANSFER CASE, HE HAD
NHTSA complaint: Power train

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V168000 CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE , BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Power train

MY CAR HAD BEEN STALLING SINCE AUGUST 2003. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT INTO HAVE IT SERVICED AT FIRESTONE, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2003 MY CAR WAS STALLING AGAIN AND I LOST POWER DRIVING IT, AS TH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. INITIALLY THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT THE REAR TRANS AXLE SHOULD BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET A SECOND OPINION. THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WILL NOT START. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED THIS WAS A RESULT OFF THE MAIN COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONING. HAD IT REPLACED PROBLEM REACCURED. MR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 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.

Power train:automatic transmission 98V168000

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

The seven scores

Reliability raw	91	excellent
Longevity est.	82	excellent
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	55	average
Performance	55	average
Efficiency	36	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 68% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 76% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 73% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 23% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 91: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 82: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 87: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1992 Mitsubishi Galant?

Owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 24 of them (59%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (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.

How long will a 1992 Mitsubishi Galant last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Mitsubishi Galant?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. 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.