2003 Mitsubishi GALANT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
126 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
63,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 126 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 12.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 4.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 21 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Structure | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 9 |
| Visibility | 9 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 8 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 21; Electrical System: 11; Structure:Body: 11; Structure: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 9; Visibility: 9; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 8; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 50 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 21 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 9; 2004: 5; 2005: 9; 2006: 15; 2007: 28; 2008: 15; 2009: 21; 2010: 6; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10025249 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
I HAVE A '03 MITSUBISHI GALANT (AUTOMATIC) WHICH NOW HAS APPROX 8000 MILES. AT APPROX. 4500 MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN HESITATING UPON HARD ACCELERATION, SUCH AS WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING IN "STOP AND GO" TRAFFIC, SUCH AS WHAT IS DONE WITH IN-TOWN DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. AT FIRST I BELIEVED I HAD FILLED THE GAS TANK WITH BAD GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT HAD A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER/LINE. I CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHILE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. A WARNING LIGHT FINALLY CAME ON AND I TOO…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032879 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
I RENTED A CAR AND THE DRIVER SEAT KEPT SLIDING BACK. IT WOULD NOT LATCH INTO PLACE. IT OCCURRED MOST WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040162 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD REGARDING 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. TEN DAYS AFTER REPAIRS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156947 · 2006-05-07 (May 7, 2006)
I HAVE A 2003 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES. IT HAS 69000 MILES. AS OF RIGHT NOW THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR HASN'T CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT I AM AFRAID IN THE FUTURE IT MIGHT. IT STARTED WITH THE RADIO STAYING ON EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS PULLED, THEN IT WENT TO THAT IF I USED THE WIPERS AND THE HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME, THE WIPERS WOULDN'T SHUT OFF UNTIL I SHUT THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. WE THEN HAD TO PULL THE FUSE FOR THE HORN, BECAUSE WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE, NOT RUNNING, HADN'T BEEN RUNNING FOR SEVERAL HOURS, THE HORN STARTED BLARING, AND WOULDN'T GO OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156948 · 2006-05-07 (May 7, 2006)
A FEW MONTHS AGO THE RADIO STARTED STAYING ON EVEN WHILE THE KEY WAS PULLED COMPLETELY OUT, THEN THE HORN FUSE HAD TO BE PULLED BECAUSE WHILE SITTING IN OUR GARAGE AND THE CAR NOT RUNNING, AND HADN'T BEEN RUNNING FOR 12 HOURS, THE HORN STARTED BLARING, UNTIL MY HUSBAND COULD DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, THEN WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING IN THE RAIN, I HAD THE WIPERS AND HEADLIGHTS ON THE WIPERS WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, EVEN WHEN PUT IN THE OFF POSITION. THEY WOULD NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL I SHUT THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. I AM SCARED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS O…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195186 · 2007-07-02 (July 2, 2007)
THE FRONT STEERING GOES OFF CENTER, WHENEVER TIRES ARE ROTATED, OR NEW TIRES ARE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT. RE-ALIGNMENT IS NECESSARY TO GET THE STEERING BACK TO CENTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10469289 · 2012-08-06 (August 6, 2012)
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER LEFT /RIGHT FRONT SIDE TIRES ARE DISFUNCTIONAL WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE I HERE THE BEARINGS POPPING AND THE TIRES ALSO DIS FUNCTIONAL AND THE THIS CAR IS BURNING A LOT OF OIL THE DEALER SHIP WHERE I'M BUYING IT FROM SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE THE CAR WAS WELL TAKING CARE OF THE BELT ON THE CAR IS CRACKED IT HASN'T HAD A TUNE UP AT ALL THE AIR CONDITIONER ISN'T BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,229 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534802 · 2013-08-12 (August 12, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING AT 33 MPH ON A MAIN STREET WHEN CAR ON MY RIGHT GOES THROUGH STOP SIGN AND DRIVES INTO MY CAR. HE HIT THE FRONT OF MY CAR NEAR, BUT NOT INCLUDING, THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER IMPACT (HE NEVER BRAKE) HE CONTINUED TO MOVE MY CAR WITH HIS THEREBY FOLDING THE FRONT OF MY CAR IN HALF, TAKING OFF FRONT WHEELS, FENDERS AND BUMPER, GAS TANK (SMOKING BUT NOT ON FIRE), AND MOVING MY CAR TWO LANES TO THE LEFT VIA IMPACT AND PUSH. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S DOOR, MINE, WOULD NOT OPEN. SEAT BELT PULLED IN VERY TIGHT. IMPACT SLAMMED M…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167638 · 2006-09-08 (September 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED AND THE THROTTLE WAS CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. ON 8-10-06 A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167638 at NHTSA ↗