Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 237 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant, and it carries 6 recalls. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 72 | 30% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 8% |
| Structure | 14 | 6% |
| Suspension | 14 | 6% |
| Power train | 12 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 11 | 5% |
| Steering | 11 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 4% |
| Air bags | 9 | 4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A DIRT ROAD GOING ABOUT 5 MPH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE NOT ANY OF THE RUBBER BOOTS THE CONTROL ARM ITSELF RUSTED AND BROKE.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
CARS SLIPS ALL THE TIME WHEN THE ABS LIGHT IS ON. TODAY IT WAS RAINING AND IT ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH IN TRAFFIC. VERY SCARY. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V333001, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXTERIOR PAINT WAS OXIDIZED WITH CHIPPING ON THE HOOD, ROOF AND TRUNK LID. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXP
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICE A FIRE COMING FROM THE WIRING HARNESS OUT OF THE FUSE BOX. DISCONNECTTED THE BATTERY AND TOWED IT HOME. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES BLACK PAINT IS DETERIORATING AND GETTING WHITE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE PAINT ON MY CAR IS FADING, I SEE WHITE SPOTS ON THE HOOD, TRUNK AND ROOF OF CAR. THE CAR IS BLACK. I SEE MANY OTHER, SAME TYPE, CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE BODY SHOP TOLD ME IT IS A DEFECT FROM WHEN IT WAS PAINTED
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FAILED. AS OF DECEMBER 21, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCL
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1999 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: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION TO STIFF STEERING, AND IN THE WORST CASE, NO ABILITY TO TURN LEFT.
Risk: A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY IF A LOOSE NUT CONNECTION IS FOUND.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Fix: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATI
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES AND FEDERAL EMISSION EQUIPMENT. THE BATTERY CABLE HARNESS CAN BECOME HEAT DAMAGED BY THE FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH COULD CAUSE GROUNDED CIRCUITS.
Risk: THIS CIRCUIT FAILURE COULD CAUSE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO OCCUR: (1) THE ENGINE WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE MAIN FUSE WILL BLOW IF THE POWER LEAD IS GROUNDED; (2) THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP WIL
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND DISCARD A METAL MANIFOLD BRACKET (FROM GALANT MODELS ONLY - ECLIPSE HAS NO SUCH BRACKET). DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE HARNESS. IF THE HARNESS WIRES SHOW NO DAMAGE, THE DEAL
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED AND COULD WEAKEN OVER TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Risk: FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE COOLER HOSES CAN CAUSE TRANSAXLE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS AND SMOKE IF THE OIL CONTACTS THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING WILL BE PHASED OVER A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD STARTING MARCH 26, THROUGH JULY 23, 2001. OWNERS
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 43 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 237 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 72 of them (30%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) 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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 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.