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 142 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, and it carries 3 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 | 21 | 15% |
| Electrical system | 16 | 11% |
| Air bags | 15 | 11% |
| Structure | 15 | 11% |
| Visibility | 14 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 6% |
| Tires | 3 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 2% |
| Suspension | 3 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated that while his son was being chased by another motorist at 40 MPH, he lost control of the vehicle as he attempted to brake. The vehicle veered off the road a
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I'VE HAD THIS 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS. THEY DON'T SHINE BRIGHT ENOUGH TO CLEARLY SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. IT IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE SIGNAL LAMP FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITHOUT IT BEING MANUALLY ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIG
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN? NOT THAT MANY MILES. *TR UPDATED 12/04/12*LJ
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2002 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ROUTING OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT HARNESS CAN ALLOW IT TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A ROUGH EDGE, ALLOWING ABRASION. THIS COULD RESULT IN GROUNDED CIRCUITS.
Risk: THERE COULD BE A LOSS OF STOP OR TURN SIGNAL LAMP OPERATION OR ENGINE HESITATION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR, ELIMINATING ANY HARNESS CONTACT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND
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
DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 55 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 37 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 21 of them (15%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 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.