2003 Mitsubishi GALANT: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN EVER I CRANK THE CAR UP IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A WHILE THE EXHAUST SMELLS LIKE BAD EGGS. THE RADIO/CD WAS REPLACE THREE TIMES ALREADY AND THE CD PLAYER STILL SOUNDS STATICTY WHEN PLAYIND DISC AND THE SPEAKERS POP WHEN THE RADIO IS COMPLETELY OFF. ALSO WHEN EVER SOME GETS IN AND OUT OF THE CAR THEY GET SHOCKED BY IT TO THE POINT WHERE U CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SPARK FROM THE SHOCK. AND WHEN THE CAR IS JUST SITING RUNNING U CAN FEEL THE CAR SHAKE LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO CUT OFF.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005435 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

WHEN THE CAR IS WARMED UP AND THE AIR CONDITIONING IS TURNED ON THE AIR BLOWING OUT ON THE FLOOR AREA IS MUCH WARMER THAN THE AIR BLOWING OUT IN THE UPPER AREA OF THE CAR. IN ORDER TO GET COOL AIR TO COME OUT ON THE FLOOR AREA, YOU HAVE TO USE ONE OF THE LAST TWO COLD AIR CONDITIONING SETTINGS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SETTING IS THAT THE AIR BLOWING OUT IN THE UPPER AREA OF THE CAR IS EXTREMELY COLD. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE CHECKED THE CAR AND THEY REPORTED THAT THIS IS THE NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030476 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I PURCHAED A MITSUBISHI GALANT 2003 ON 8/19/03 FROM JIM HUDSON MITSUBISHI. ON 8/23/2003 I WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY A MINI VAN. THE FRONT SEATS OF THE GALANT SLID BACK AND THE SEATS WERE BROKEN. SO MYSELF AND THE DRIVER WERE FLAT ON OUR BACKS IN THE GALANT. JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD KNOW. THE SEATS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN AND WENT BACK THE WAY THEY DID.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036952 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

THE VEHICLES BRAKES SQUEAKED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO SQUEAK. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 7,834 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042291 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FOUR CAR PILE UP. DURING THE COLLISION, VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR AND FRONT, AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. REAR SEAT PASSENGER HIT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT, CAUSING IT TO BREAK. FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MASSIVE BRAIN DAMAGE AND BLOOD CLOTS. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT SUSTAINED A COMPOUND FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT ARM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044134 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL RETURN LINE HOSE FITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY BE RESTRICTED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. EXCESSIVE FUEL PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN A LEAK IN THE FUEL RETURN HOSE.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE. THOSE VEHICLES EXHIBITING HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUEL PUMP PRESSURE WILL RECEIVE FUEL PUMP MODIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037 OR MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-800-981-0452.

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.