2004 Mitsubishi Galant

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

71/100

Worth a look

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

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 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
Structure	15	25%
Air bags	6	10%
Visibility	6	10%
Service brakes	5	8%
Unknown or other	4	7%
Visibility/wiper	3	5%
Seat belts	3	5%
Electrical system	2	3%
Fuel system	2	3%
Vehicle speed control	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

SRS LIGHT REMAINS ON . After repairs at Pep Boys due to drained alternator from after market security system light remains on
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

After spending money on drained battery and ruined alternator the mechanic noticed the security system being at fault . Pep Boys did not offer refund of almost $500.00
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND GALANT SHIFT INTERLOCK
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

PASSAGER SIDE AIRBAGIS COMING OUT LOOK LIKE IT MAY BLOW OUT ANY DAY.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

THE WIRIING CONNECTED TO TO AIR CONDITIONER UNDER DASH BOARD PASSENGER SIDE KEEP BURNING. HAD TO REPLACE WIRE NUMEROUS TIMES.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A CRACK WAS NOTICED ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE GLOVE BOX. THE AIR BAG WAS VISIBLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS D
NHTSA complaint: Visibility

IN 2015 MY VEHICLE WAS BACK INTO BY A SNOW PLOW. AFTER THAT THE THE TOTAL SUSPENSION HAS ALMOST REPLACED. THE SWAY BAR BREAKS NOW WORKING ON BEARINGS AND CONTROL ARMS. ON EACH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SUSPENSION BEFORE T
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2004 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.

Electrical system:ignition 08V276000

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 73,000 MY 2004-2006 GALLANT PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VEHICLE USE, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE (WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM) MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCKING CAM TO FALL FORWARD AND ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARS

Risk: IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE REPORTED CONDITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	55	average
Performance	49	below average
Efficiency	43	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 47% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 56% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 87% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 30% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: 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 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2004 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 2004 Mitsubishi Galant?

Owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 15 of them (25%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2004 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (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 2004 Mitsubishi Galant last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2004 Mitsubishi Galant?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.