2002 Mitsubishi Galant Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about front brake vibration, noise and repeated rotor work, which many describe as recurring within a few thousand miles of a repair. A second common theme is a failed heater control motor that leaves the cabin with no heat or defogging, along with paint fading and occasional electrical faults such as blowing fuses, failed lighting and door wiring problems.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Front brake vibration, squeal and worn rotors

   • 23 complaints (17%)
   • median 22,236 mi at 3.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2007

   Complaints describe front brakes that squeal, grind or chatter, with the steering wheel shaking under braking and, in some accounts, longer stopping distances. Many say the rotors were turned or replaced and the symptom returned within a few thousand miles. Owners report dealers attributing the noise and wear to driving habits or rear brake adjustment, and in several cases declining warranty coverage on pads and rotors. Mostly reported between about 15,000 and 40,000 miles, with some as early as a few thousand miles.

   What to check: Drive the car and brake firmly from highway speed to feel for pulsation or wheel shake, and ask for service records showing how often rotors and pads were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle has been in out of the repair shop regarding my brakes. None of the technicians at ourisman Mitsubishi can identify what is causing the problem. Upon the request of the GM, I took my vehicle to them to have it inspected again. I purchased my vehicle in 2002 and in that year I have taken my vehicle to the service department to have my brakes worked on. My brakes are constantly producing a grinding noise. The grinding noise also makes my vehicle vibrate when braking. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10059954, filed 2004-02, 12,000 miles

   “I have had repeated problems with my brakes. I purchased my 2002 Galant es brand new in feb 2002 from garcia Mitsubishi. I started experiencing problems with my brakes when the car had around 21000 miles. The brakes started squealing like a bus, so I took the vehicle into garcia Mitsubishi in albuquerque, nm. I was told by the service manager my rotors were getting too hot which caused the brake pads to crystallize or glaze over. I was told to have the brake pads changed and the rotors turned. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10090648, filed 2004-09, 21,000 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   No heat / heater control motor failure

   • 20 complaints (15%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2009

   Owners describe the cabin heat quitting, often after a clicking or buzzing noise from behind the dash when the temperature dial is turned. Some say the fan still runs and the engine reaches normal temperature but only cold air comes out, which also leaves the windshield hard to defog. Complaints mention the heater control motor as the part involved and note the dash has to be largely disassembled to reach it. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 100,000 miles, frequently after several years of use.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine warm, move the temperature dial through its full range and listen for clicking; confirm hot air reaches the vents and that the windshield defogs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As seen several times on this complaint page my Mitsubishi Galant 2002 models heater has gone out do to what I do not know. I also had a clicking noise when I would turn the dial from cold to hot. Then finally about 6 months ago it just stopped and since have not heat to come back on!”

   NHTSA complaint #10172703, filed 2006-11, 89,000 miles

   “About three years ago I got this clicking noise behind my dash and my heat quit working. Well if it would click again it would work. Well it finally quit working all together and after doing some research Mitsubishi seems to be putting bad heat control motors in their cars. My car 2002 and it started this in 2004. As much as I've paid for this car this is unacceptable. This is not a cheap part to have fixed as I have found from my research. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10208201, filed 2007-11, 98,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Blowing fuses and inoperative lights or signals

   • 16 complaints (12%)
   • median 98,750 mi at 6.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2016

   Complaints describe headlamps, turn signals, flashers or interior lights that stop working, sometimes intermittently, with fuses blowing repeatedly or no voltage reaching the lamps. Several owners note their vehicle was not covered by the underhood wiring harness campaign, and report dealers replacing fuses or diagnosing without a lasting fix. A few describe door wiring shorts, including two accounts of a fire at the front passenger door. Spread from about 25,000 to 186,000 miles, with many reports above 75,000 miles.

   Recall 02V1470001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that all exterior lamps, signals and interior lights work, look for scorched or chafed wiring near the front harness, and ask whether the harness routing campaign was performed for this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Instrument panel lights don't come on. Fuses all ok, switches ok, reostat ok. Could be bulbs behind instrument panel - or circuit board. Can't drive at night -can't see the instrument panel. Interior lights ok. Blinker lights ok but won't turn off after making turn. Can't get information from Mitsubishi on what it may be.”

   NHTSA complaint #10455586, filed 2012-04, 112,000 miles

   “Dt: the contact stated while driving noticed smoke coming from underneath the front right panel. After he pulled over and exited the vehicle a fire erupted from the front right passenger door panel. The contact said it looked like a wire shorted out which caused the speaker to catch on fire. Upon inspection by the dealer, they concluded the fire was cause by a short in the wiring.”

   NHTSA complaint #10145184, filed 2005-12, 60,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in collisions

   • 17 complaints (13%)
   • median 112,000 mi at 6.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 16 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2022

   Complaints describe frontal and side impacts in which the airbags did not deploy, with owners reporting injuries afterward. In most accounts the vehicle was not inspected for a cause and no dealer diagnosis is given; one owner notes the airbag warning labels were addressed under a labeling campaign. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly between about 22,000 and 131,000 miles.

   Recall 04V428000

   What to check: Ask for any records of airbag system diagnostics or warning-light history, and confirm the airbag warning lamp comes on with the key and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2002 mitsibushi Galant es and I was involved in a wreck involving 3 autos and I hit the back end of the second car, crushing the grill in toward the radiator, and neither of the airbags deployed. And this was a hard impact. These are put into an automobile to be a safety feature and they failed to work.”

   NHTSA complaint #10251126, filed 2008-12, 112,000 miles

   “My daughter had a front end collision with our 2002 Mitsubishi Galant. A gentleman ran a stop sign and my daughter collided with his vehicle. The front of the Galant hit the side of his driver's do, the Galant received heavy damage and the insurance has claimed it a total loss. The airbags did not deploy. My daughter pulled all the muscles in her back, and she has a bad case of whiplash which she tore all the muscles in her neck requiring physical therapy twice a week.”

   NHTSA complaint #10212857, filed 2007-12, 124,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Paint fading and clear coat breakdown

   • 14 complaints (10%)
   • median 68,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2010

   Complaints describe paint and clear coat fading, chalking or peeling on the hood, roof, trunk and panels, often on dark-colored cars. Owners say buffing and waxing did not restore the finish, and that dealers or the manufacturer declined assistance once the vehicle was outside warranty or above a mileage threshold. Typically reported on vehicles several years old, from around 28,000 to 126,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect horizontal surfaces in daylight for dull or chalky patches and check whether panels have been repainted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Clicking noise when turning the air from hot to cold or cold to hot. Clicking noise stopped and heat no longer works. I have no defrost/defog which causes problems with visibility. I am taking the car in for repairs this week. Paint faded and corroded on the hood, trunk, roof, quarter panels, and door panels in 2004. I took it to the dealership and was told they couldn't do anything about it. I have recently taken it to a body shop and had it repainted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10206396, filed 2007-10, 28,000 miles

   “I bought my car brand new (02 mits. Galant - black) and the paint and clear coat has been fading. It started on the trunk in a small spot and now has spread to the roof and hood. I was told by mits. That there are no recalls, therefore they aren't able to assist me since I now have over 100,000 miles on the car. I was advised by cheryl (customer service rep) that they have a business to run and that since I'm outside of the warranty parameters they aren't able to help me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10234282, filed 2008-07, 68,000 miles

Buying note. Check the brakes carefully on a test drive and ask for rotor and pad service history, since owners frequently describe repeat repairs. Also verify the heater works through its full range and that all lighting and signals function, as these are the other recurring themes in complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.