2002 Mitsubishi GALANT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
135 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
64,895 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 135 complaints (10.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 24.4% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 8.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 8.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 14 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core | 13 |
| Structure:Body | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 14; Electrical System: 13; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Heater Core: 13; Structure:Body: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Air Bags: 7; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 58 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 14 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2002: 12; 2003: 10; 2004: 20; 2005: 14; 2006: 19; 2007: 16; 2008: 13; 2009: 14; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003809 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008481 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER 15000 MILES, AND THE PROBLEM RESURFACED AGAIN AT 29000 MILES ALONG WITH EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009032 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009684 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
CONSUMER LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022040 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, 2 LUG NUTS BROKE OFF. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED ALL 4 LUG NUTS *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,107 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025735 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
ROTORS- I HAVE HAD MY CAR NOW FOR A YEAR AND 2 MONTHS. IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGES TWICE ALREADY AND PROBABLY A THRID TIME BY NEXT MONTH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027196 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
FOIA REQUEST COPY OF INFO RE COMPLAINTS OF DEFECTS & CRASH TESTING...NAR 07/14/2003 *MR INFO REQUEST. THE LAW OFFICE OF DAVID ITKOFF ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER AZEKEL PAUL WHO WAS KILLED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE REAR SEAT SEAT BACK *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034254 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034254 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V147000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Reported: 2002-05-29 (May 29, 2002)
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.
Consequence: THERE COULD BE A LOSS OF STOP OR TURN SIGNAL LAMP OPERATION OR ENGINE HESITATION.
Remedy: 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 DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V428000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
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.
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: 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 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.
NHTSA campaign record ↗