Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Mitsubishi Galant, and it carries 8 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 23 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 21 | 13% |
| Power train | 19 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 16 | 10% |
| Structure | 13 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 5% |
| Suspension | 7 | 4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT OPERATE IN THE DRIVE AND REVERSE POSITION. IN ADDITION, THER
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED IN AUG 2014 SO I BOUGHT ONE AND REPAIRED IT AND CHANGED THREE MOTOR AND TRAIN MOUNTS DROVE FOR TWO MONTHS AND CRACKED AGAIN RIGHT BEHIND THE THROTTLE BODY IT STARTED STALLING WHEN COME TO A ST
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I HAD ISSUES WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT FOR YEARS AND CURRENTLY STILL AN ISSUE. I NEVER REALIZED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. I HAD A NUMBER OF ISSUE/PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND ALWAYS TOOK MY CAR TO THE MITSUBITSHI DEALER
NHTSA complaint: Seats
WHEN STARTING OUT, THE GAS PEDAL STICKS. THIS STARTED WHEN OUR TEMPERATURE WAS VERY COLD FOR A FEW DAYS. MY VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
PROBLEM CODES WRONG WITH MY CAR. P0431 P0174 P0176 OR P0171 P0441 P0335 P0300. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAVE HAD REPEATED INCIDENTS WHERE MY HORN WILL SOUND DURING THE NIGHT, AND IF I WAS USING IT AS A WARNING TO ANOTHER DRIVER. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES, AND I WAS FINALLY TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG IS PROBABLY WHAT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THERE IS A MAJOR GAS IN MY CAR. THE SPELL IS THERE 100% OF THE TIME. WHEN YOU COME WITHIN 20 FEET OF THE CAR...YOU GET THE OVERWHELMING GAS SPELL. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL NOW. I'M A SINGLE FATHER ON FU
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THIS CAR HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE O2 SENSORS, FUEL LINE, OIL LEAKS, FUSE AND ELECTRICAL SHORTS FROM THE START. WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEMS, BUT THE REPAIRS NEVER LASTED LONG. THE BRAKE LINE RECENTLY STARTED LEAK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2001 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 NUMBER OF INCORRECT DRIVER SIDE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS WERE INSTALLED INTO VEHICLES.
Risk: THE REAR ANCHOR BOLTS SECURING THE DRIVER'S SEAT MAY NOT PROPERLY SECURE THE SEAT AND COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF DRIVER INJURY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT MOUNTING BOLTS AND THEN REPLACE THE BOLTS IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE OUTER LAYER ONLY OF THIS 3-LAYER FUEL RETURN HOSE DOES NOT CONTAIN THE DESIRED OZONE PROTECTION DUE TO A PROCESSING ERROR.
Risk: THIS HOSE IS CONSIDERED TO BE INADEQUATE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE OF THE REAR SEAT COULD ALLOW THE HARNESS TO CONTACT THE BODY. THE WIRES IN EACH HARNESS CONTROL THE STOP LAMP CIRCUIT, BACK-UP LAMP CIRCUIT, AND THE TURN LAMP CIRCUIT.
Risk: IF ANY OF THESE WIRES BECOME SHORT-CIRCUITED, THE INTERIOR LAMPS, TURN SIGNAL LAMPS, AND REAR STOP LAMPS COULD STOP WORKING. THIS WOULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS TURNING OR
Fix: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE AND SECURE THE HARNESSES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR ANY PRE-EXISTING WIRE INSULATION DAMAGE.
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
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 49 | below average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 23 of them (14%). There are 8 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 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. 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.