Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 5 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 12% |
| Tires | 2 | 8% |
| Air bags | 2 | 8% |
| Steering | 2 | 8% |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AN ODOR OF FUEL WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, A LEAK WAS DETECTED UNDER THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRACKET UNDER THE FUEL T
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
LAST WEEK FRI MAR. 16, 2018, I DROVE MY 2005 MITSUBISHI GALLANT ES CAR INTO WORK. ON MY WAY, I HEARD A POP SOUND FROM THE CAR. THEN A VERY LOUD CAR NOISE AND FELT RATTLING, AND THE CAR DRIVE WAS NOT A SMOOTH ONE. I
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SU
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
ABOUT 1YR. AGO PAINT STARTED FADING DEALER DID NOT HELP ME, WHAT CAN I DO. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
GOOD MORNING, I PURCHASED MY 2005 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES IN JUNE OR JULY OF 2005 WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,400 MILES AND FOR THE PASTED FEW WEEKS I'VE NOTICE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS RISING/SEPARATING MORE AND MORE OF THE DASHB
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
PAINT IS COMING OFF EVEN THOUGH IT IS PROPERLY CARED FOR, GARAGED ETC. THIS IS A KNOWN PAINT ISSUE AND I'M WANTING IT FIXED.. NO ONE WILL BUY THIS VEHICLE IN THIS CONDITION. OWNED SINCE NEW IN 2005. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT TEST DRIVEN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I HAVE A 2006 MITSUBISHI GALANT THAT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONLY HAS 65K MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT A BLACK GALANT AND THE PAINT IS FADING IN SPOTS, IT LOOKS LIKE OXYDATION IS SETTING IN, I'VE TRIED OVER THE COUNTER POLIS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 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.
MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED DURING A METAL STAMPING PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE MET
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP MOUNTING BRACKET HAS SPLITTING BEYOND A SPECIFIC LIMIT. VEHICLES WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE SPLITTING WILL BE REPAIRED USING A REINFORCEMENT
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH CONTROLS THE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES, MAY ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO BYPASS INTERNALLY DURING STOPPING.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
| Reliability raw | 92 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| 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 26 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 5 of them (19%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 92/100 (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.
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 2005 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 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.