2002 Mitsubishi Galant complaints

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. *TR

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 03'. I OWN A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT WHICH HAS OXIDATION (FADING PAINT) ON THE ROOF AND SIDE PANELS. THE OXIDATION STARTED IN 04'. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE USED FROM A DEALERSHIP HERE LOCALLY, AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN LATE MAY OF 2007, MY BRAKES HAVE STARTED TO SQUEAK, I OVERHEATED DUE TO EITHER A FAULTY WATER PUMP AND/OR THERMOSTAT, AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING PULLED SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, AND I PUT NEW TIRES ON IT AND IT WAS ALIGNED BEFORE PURCHASED. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM MAY ONLY BE ABLE TO RUN A DIAGNOSTICS ON IT, AND MIGHT NOT HAVE THE TOOLS TO FIX IT. THE NEAREST MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP IS 180 MILES AWAY. WARRANTY COVERS WATER PUMP AND A RENTAL OF UP TO $35 A DAY, BUT IN ORDER TO GET A RENTAL, I HAVE TO GET A DIAGNOSTICS DONE TO MAKE SURE IT IS A COVERED COMPONENT UNDER MY WARRANY I WON'T BE ABLE TO GET A DIAGNOSTICS RAN FOR AT LEAST SEVERAL DAYS, LEAVING ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO LOAN A CAR OFF OF THE LOT.*AK

SINCE PURCHASE OF 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH SQUEAKING BRAKES, ROTORS REPLACED TWICE SINCE PURCHASED 7/05. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT SQUEAKING WAS FROM DRIVING HABITS; NOTHING WRONG WITH BRAKES. HAD TO TAKE VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC. ALSO, PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITIONING. HOT AIR BLOWS OUT BOTTOM VENTS BY FLOOR. AIR DOESN'T GET COLD EITHER. HAVE HAD VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONER CHARGED BOTH LAST SPRING AND ALSO THIS SPRING. WITHIN 2 WEEKS AIR ONLY GETS SEMI-COOL AND FLOOR VENTS BLOW REALLY HOT AIR AT ALL TIMES. THIS VEHICLE IS A DISGRACE. MORE TROUBLE THAN ENJOYMENT. ONLY GOOD THING IS APPEARANCE AND STYLE. MITSUBISHI HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT BOTH THE BRAKES AND AIR CONDITIONING ON THEIR 2002 GALANTES. POOR QUALITY AUTOMOBILE. *TR

AIR CONDITION/ HEAT (BLUE- RED) DIAL MAKES CLIKING SOUND WHEN TURNING FROM BLUE TO RED AND SOME TIMES DOES NOT ALLOW WARM AIR TO HEAT THE CAR. *AK

2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT 3.0 V6, HEATER CONTROL MOTOR FAILED AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF SERVICE. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER WAS CONSISTANTLY 4 MPH FAS, ALWAYS HAS BEEN. *AK

ON MY 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT WITH THE 3.0 LITER ENGINE, THE HEAT OCCASIONALLY FAILS TO PROVIDE WARM AIR. THE FAN WORKS, THE CAR IS AT A NORMAL RUNNING TEMPERATURE, AND ALL HOSES ARE WARM. THE HEATER CONTROL MOTOR IS FAILING. THE PART IS CHEAP BUT YOU HAVE TO REMOVE MOST OF THE DASH BOARD TO REPLACE IT. THE DEALER CHARGES AN UNUSUALLY LARGE AMOUNT TO FIX IT, ANYWHERE FROM $300 - $600. *JB

HEAT STOPPED WORKING.. CONTROL MOTER FOR THE HEATER CORE.*AK

RESPONDED TO A VEHICLE FIRE IN A 2002 MITSUBISHI, GALANT ON MARCH 22, 2007. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE BUT FROM THE OUTSTANDING RECALL FOR THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD, RECALL NUMBER NHTSA 02V147000. IT HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR THREE HOURS AND THE AREA OF ORIGIN, IS UNDER THE HOOD INVOLVING THE BATTERY AND WIRING.

MY 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE CAR STARTS SHAKING WHEN IT REACHES 60 AND ABOVE MPH. *NM

IN DEC OF 2004 FOUND A PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE READING LAMP IS ACTIVATED WITH THE VEHICLE DOOR OPEN A SHORT CIRCUIT APPEARS WHICH CAUSES THE FUSE TO BLOW. *JB

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! *JB

I HAVE A 2002 GALANT, IT WAS THE FIRST BRAND NEW CAR I BOUGHT FOR MYSELF, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED THE FIRST DAY I'VE HAD TO GET THE BREAKS DONE TWICE ALREADY AND IT ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES I'VE ALSO GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF TIRES I'M ABOUT TO BUY NEW TIRES THIS WEEK. IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS I'VE NOTICED IT DRIVES A LOT HARDER NOW, THERE'S ODD NOISES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS RUBBING ON THE FRONT TIRES WHEN I DRIVE. IT PULLS TO THE LEFT REALLY BAD WHEN I BRAKE. IF IT'S IDLING IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S STRUGGLING FOR AIR AND SHAKES A LITTLE. I'M NOT EVEN DONE PAYING FOR THIS CAR YET. *NM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2002 GALANT. 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE THE BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING. BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND 3 WEEKS LATER THEY STARTED SQUEALING AGAIN. *NM

NO HEAT. *JB

HEAT IS NOT WORKING IN 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. REPLACED THERMOSTAT AND FLUSHED COOLANT SYSTEM. STILL NO HEAT. HEATER HAS MAD A BUZZING NOISE WHEN TURNING ON FOR PAST TWO YEARS. NOW THIS YEAR NO HEAT. I SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ON MITSUBISHI FORUM WEBSITE. IF THIS IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I NEED HEAT IN THE WINTER. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT THERE BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE' S TAIL LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL STOPPED OPERATING. THESE FAILURES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (02V147000). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS USING DEDUCTIVE REASONING TO ASSUME THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. UPDATED 10/3/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT EH PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE BULBS OR FUSES. THE REPLACEMENT FUSES WOULD BLOW IMMEDIATELY. *NM UPDATED 12/15/2006 - RECALL 02V147000: WIRING HARNESS ABRASION INDICATED THAT ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ROUTING OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT WIRING HARNESS COULD ALLOW IT TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A ROUGH EDGE, CAUSING ABRASION.

I HAVE A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT, THE KNOB THAT CONTROLS THE AIR TEMPERATURE IN THE CAR USED TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE WHEN BEING TURNED FROM COLD TO HOT & VICE VERSA, IT STOPPED MAKING THAT NOISE AND NOW I NO LONGER HAVE HEAT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET HIGH & LOW AND HAVE FOUND LOTS OF COMPLAINTS THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS AND THAT IT IS THE HEATER CONTROL MOTOR. I WAS TOLD TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PROBLEM. *NM

I CONTINUE TO BATTLE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. THE CAR IS TYPICALLY USED WITH ONE OCCUPANT AND NO OR VERY LITTLE (20LBS OR LESS) CARGO. IN THE APPROXIMATELY 20,000 MILES I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND HAS NOW FAILED THE 4TH TIME. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED MORE TIMES IF I COULD AFFORD IT. MORE THAN 10,000 OF THESE 20,000 MILES HAVE BEEN DRIVEN WITH THE BRAKES SQUEALING OR CHATTERING. EVENTUALLY THE BRAKING POWER FADES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TOO MUCH TO HOLD ONTO. WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIR COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT INSPECT OR REPAIR THE CALIPERS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE TYPE OF SQUEALING INDICATED POOR CONTACT OF THE PADS WITH THE ROTORS DUE TO STICKING CALIPERS AND THE FACT THAT HEAT WARPAGE OF THE ROTORS INDICATES STICKING CALIPERS. CALIPERS WERE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. INSTEAD, THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT I NEEDED TO BRING THE CAR IN FOR REAR BRAKE ADJUSTMENT AT THE SAME INTERVAL AS AN OIL CHANGE; HOWEVER, RESEARCH TELLS ME THAT THIS CAR HAS AUTO ADJUSTING REAR BRAKES! THIS TIME I TOOK IT ON MYSELF TO SERVICE THE FRONT BRAKES AS I COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THEM SERVICED, MY WIFE AND I WERE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE SHAKING DURING BRAKING WAS SO BAD, AND SEARS TOLD US THAT ROTORS HAD WORN TOO THIN TO RESURFACE. AT THE TIME I DID THIS SERVICE, I FOUND THE SLIDE PINS OF THE CALIPERS TO BE BADLY WORN. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WILL CAUSE CALIPERS TO

I PURCHASED MY 2002 GALANT IN AUGUST 05. WHEN I FIRST TURNED THE DIAL TO HEAT, IT MADE A "CLICKING" SOUND AND THEN STARTED BLOWING WARM AIR. I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I TURNED THE HEATING/COOLING DIAL IT MADE THE "CLICKING" SOUND. IN APRIL 2006, THE "CLICKING" SOUND QUIT AND SO DID THE HEAT. I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HEATER CORE. I PURCHASED A HEATER CORE FROM THE NEAREST MITSUBISHI DEALER APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AWAY ONLY FOR THE CLICKING SOUND TO COME BACK ONCE AND TO FIND OUT THE HEATER CORE IS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL NOT TAKE THE $200. PART BACK SAYING MITSUBISHI WILL NOT ACCEPT IT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHERS THAT OWN 2002 GALANTS WHO HAVE THE SAME "CLICKING" SOUND. CORPORATE MITSUBISHI WAS NOT ANY HELP IN THIS SITUATION. *JB

THE SEAT BELT NO LONGER RETRACTS PROPERLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MAY NO LONGER PROVIDE THE PRETENSION REQUIRED FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE AIR BAGS. *JB

2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE LOCKING THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. *KB WHEN THE FIRE ERUPTED IT BURNED THE RIGHT LEG OF THE PASSENGER. THE PASSENGER ALSO SPRAINED HER RIGHT ANKLE TRYING TO BREAK OUT THE WINDOW. *NM

FAULTY WHEELS (RIMS), ON THE DATE SPECIFIED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED NOTICED THAT THE AFTER MARKET WHEEL THAT MITSUBISHI PLACED ON THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FITTING PROPERLY AND THE LUG NUTS WERE NOT LINED UP PROPERLY ON THE RIM HOLES, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS MAY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE SHAKING IN THE WHEELS WHEN BRAKING AS THE ROTORS LOOKED FINE, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD THE VEHICLE THEY SAD OH WELL ITS BEEN TWO AND A HALF YEARS WHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO ABOUT IT. I FEEL THIS IS AN IMPORTANT FACT TO GET OUT AS THERE MAY BE OTHER OWNERS OF THIS PRODUCT OUT THERE THAT ARE UNAWARE OF THIS AND I AM NOT SURE OF ANY ISSUES REPORTED THUS FAR ON THIS BUT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO WARN OR NOTIFY THESE OWNERS. *NM

PAINT FADING, RUSTING,CORROSION. *JB

RECURRING AND SEVERE FRONT BRAKE CHATTER. DESPITE REPEATED REPAIR, THE FRONT BRAKES CHATTER ON BRAKING SO MUCH THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. THE BRAKING STRENGTH IS SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED AND BRAKING DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS DUE TO THE REAR BRAKES BEING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKES TO WORK "TOO HARD" RESULTING IN WARPED ROTORS. THEY WILL NOT COVER THESE REPAIRS UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR ONLY LASTS ABOUT 3000 MILES AT BEST. *JB

NO HEAT. WENT TO NIAGARA FALLS IN THE END OF APRIL 2005 AND WAS STUCK WITH NO HEAT ON A FRIGID RAINY NIGHT. DUE TO THE LACK OF HEAT, THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE PROPERLY DEFOGGED AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WAS DANGEROUSLY COLD. ONE OCCUPANT BECAME ILL (MINOR). WHILE OPENNING THE WINDOWS A CRACK HELPED, THE WINDSHIELD STILL FOGGED. THE WINDOWS COULD NOT BE OPENNED MUCH DUE TO THE RAIN AND COLD. LUCKILY A NAPKIN WAS AVAILABLE TO WIPE THE WINDSHIELD , OTHERWISE WE MAY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE AND STRANDED ON A REMOTE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 35,000 MI. *NM

CAR IS EXCEPTIONALLY AERODYNAMICALLY UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OR WAVERS BACK AND FORTH AT HIGHWAY SPEED. EVEN LIGHT, GUSTY WIND PULLS THE VEHICLE HARD NECESSITATING ABRUPT CORRECTIVE MANEUVERS TO PREVENT SIDE COLLISIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. ON WINDY DAYS, A GUST WILL CAUSE VEHICLE TO SWERVE INTO NEIGHBORING LANE WITHOUT CORRECTION. *NM

NO HEAT COMING FROM HEATER. FAN STILL WORKS, BUT NO HEAT. CLICKING NOISE FROM DASHBOARD PRECEDED FAILURE OF HEATER. TAKING CAR TO MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. *NM

MITSUBISHI CAR IS A 2002. I AM GETTING NO HEAT IN MY CAR AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GETTING ANY HEAT AS WELL. THERE HAS TO BE A RECALL OR SOMETHING FOR THIS...BECAUSE MY CAR IS FAIRLY NEW (ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD). *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V147000 CONCERNING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

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. *AK

MY MITSUBISHI G IS A 2002. I BOUGHT IT 2/2004 FROM CARMAX! NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS INTO DRIVING MY CAR, I'VE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS WHICH BEGAN SQUEAKING, THEN GRINDING. CARMAX CHANGED THE PADS AND I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST 3 MONTHS LATER! I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES FROM SEARS! THIS IS NOT MY 1ST CAR AND I KNOW BRAKES SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED THAT OFTEN. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR. THEY ARE GOOD FOR SAYING THE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT LISTED ON THE WARRANTY. OH AND EVERYTIME IT RAINS, MY ENTIRE LEFT SIDE IS DRENCHED ONLY ON THE FLOOR! THE DEALER I PURCHASED SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW MY INSIDE FLOORS ARE GETTING WORSE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS HEAVY! THE MITSUBISHI HUB CAPS NEVER STAY ON THE TIRES! THE HEATING SYSTEM MAKES NOISE WHEN YOU TURN TEMPERATURE FROM HOT TO COLD???? I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS MAKE CAR WERE A SATISFYING COMPANY. BLUE BOOK CAR VALUE SHOULD REALLY INVESTIGATE THE CARS MADE BY MITSUBISHI DURING THE ENTIRE 2000 YEARS! NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF ARE MAKING CAR PAYMENTS. *JB

MITSUBISHI GALLANT: I BOUGHT THIS CAR PRE-OWNED, WITH 40K MILES. I HAVE ALREADY SERVICE MY BRAKES ABOUT 4 TIMES. I USED HAVE A DEALER WARRANTY, BUT IT WAS USELESS. A MECHANIC THAT I TRUST TOLD ME THAT MY ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, HE DIDN'T ADVICE ME TO REPLACE THEM BECAUSE IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE JOB AND THERE WAS NOT WARRANTY THAT THE CAR WILL NOT CONTINUE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO FACTORY DEFECTS. HE TOLD ME TO LOOK ON THIS PAGE FOR MANY ISSUES ON THIS CAR. I WILL GET RID OF THIS CAR AS SOON AS I CAN. I WILL NEVER BUY THIS BRAND OF CAR AGAIN, I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED CAR HAS BEEN STALLING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. WHEN SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD HER THE PROBLEM EMERGED BECAUSE OF LOW MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR. SHE TOOL VEHICLE FOR SERVICE, BUT NOT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. SINCE 3-2003 WATER LEAKED INTO THE CAR. WATER BUILD UP INSIDE OF THE CAR FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER. ALSO, HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WHEN THE WATER ACCUMULATED IN THE CAR IT WILL LOCK ON ITS OWN. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL NOT COME ON SOMETIMES. THERE WAS MOLD IN THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE WATER. THE CAR SEAT WAS SOAKED FROM THE WATER. ON 9-3-05, AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, SHE PICKED IT UP AND THE WATER BUILT UP IN THE CAR AGAIN. *AK

DT: ON 7-11-05 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER AND PASSENGER DROVE ON AND OFF ALL DAY. THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR BURST INTO FLAMES. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED, AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN. DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO KICK THE DOOR OPEN. BOTH PASSENGERS EXITED THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER GOT A GALLON OF WATER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. WHEN SHE POURED WATER ONTO THE PASSENGER'S DOOR THE FIRE WENT OUT, BUT THERE WAS STILL SMOKE COMING FROM THE DOOR. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AREA AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HEATING VENTS. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITH THE HEATER OFF. ON THE DAY OF THE INCIDENT WHEN SHE GOT A CD OUT OF THE STEREO IT WAS TOO HOT TO HOLD. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE CD IN THE STEREO WAS WET. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. THE PASSENGER HAD TO BE HOSPITALIZED, AND WAS UNDER TREATMENT FOR DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. THERE WAS A COURT PETITION TO HAVE HER HOSPITALIZED IN THE FORENSIC WARD. POLICE TRANSPORTED HER TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL AND HAD SECURITY GUARDS ESCORT HER. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON HER LEG. SHE CONTACTED MITSUBISHI AND THE INSURANCE AGENCY. *AK *JB

THE FLASHERS OF MY 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT FAIL TO WORK. I HAVE CHANGED OUT THE FUSE SEVERAL TIMES ONLY FOR THE FLASHERS TO FAIL IN LESS THAN A MONTH. THE PROBLEM IN ITSELF IS NOT ABSOLUTE. I HAVE RAN OVER A ROUGH AREA ON THE ROAD AND THE FLASHERS HAVE STARTED WORKING AGAIN, BUT ONLY FOR ONE WEEK. I CALLED MITSUBISHI (800-222-0037) ON 8 AUG 2005 @1:30PM AT WHICH TIME I GAVE THEM MY NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE NUMBER AND VIN [XXX]. I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL IN THEIR DATA BASE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. I FOUND INFORMATION ON THE NHTSA SITE (RECALL ID: 02V147000) AT WHICH TIME I CALLED TO GET MORE INFORMATION AND WAS ADVISED TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT.*JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I PURCHASED MY 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT ON FEBRUARY 2002. I HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS FROM THE 1ST WEEK I PURCHASED IT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES AND ALSO CALLED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT YEAR. EVERY YEAR FROM THEN, I HAVE HAD BRAKE PADS PUT ON MAYBE 3 TIMES PER YEAR. EVERY OTHER MONTH, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. JUST LAST YEAR, I HAD BRAKE PADS PUT ON AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS. JUST TODAY, I HEARD MY BRAKES SCRUBBING AND WHISTLING WHEN I'M DRIVING. SOMETHING IS DEFINETLY WRONG WITH THIS VEHICLE.

OUR GALANT HAS SQUEAKING AND GRINDING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CURRENTLY AT 46,000 MILES, AND THE 4TH SET OF BRAKES AND 2ND ROTORS WILL BE INSTALLED. DEALER SAYS IT IS DRIVING HABITS AND WILL NOT FIX EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED EXTENDED 75,000 WARRANTY.*AK

BRAKES VIBRATE, GRIND, SQUEAL AND FADE. MITSUBISHI SAYS NOTHING WRONG AND KEEPS RESURFACING ROTORS AND REPLACING PADS. FIRST BRAKE JOB WAS AT APPROX. 850 MILES, THEY SAID FAULTY CALIPER SUPPORTS WERE THE CAUSE. THEY SQUEAL FROM THE MOMENT I PICK UP THE CAR FROM SERVICE AND START TO GRIND AND PULSATE RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 5000 MILES AFTER BRAKE SERVICE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT SEVEN TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE BRAKES ARE OVER HEATING DUE TO DRIVING HABITS AND LOCAL TRAFFIC. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES EVER HAD ISSUES LIKE THIS DRIVING IN THE SAME TRAFFIC. *JB

BRAKE ROTORS JERK VEHICLE.

CAR BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. BRAKE PULSATION,SECOND TIME,LEFT FRONT WHEEL. CAR IS UNDER 3 YEAR 36,000 WARRANTY. CAR HAS 23,472 MILES,WARRANTY GOOD TILL FEB 27TH,2005. DEALER SAYS I NEED BRAKE PADS,INSIDE PADS ARE WORN PAPER THIN,OUTSIDE PAD IS HALF LIFE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN FOR SAME COMPLAINT. DEALER WILL NOT COVER THE BRAKE PADS. BEING THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE,AND FROM SAME SIDE..I WOULD BELIEVE THAT A MALFUNCTION OF THE BRAKE CALIPER,OR OTHER DEFECT HAS CAUSED THE ABNORMAL WEAR ON PADS. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS,WOULD NOT COVER COST OF BRAKE PADS! ALSO REQUESTED FRONT WHEELS TO BE BALANCED,DEALER CHARGED ME FOR RE-BALANCE,BUT WHEELS WERE NOT RE-BALANCED,HENCE..STILL HAVE VIBRATION. *JB

REAR BRAKES MAKE A SQUEALING/GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID IT WAS BUILT UP BRAKE DUST, THE SOUND CONTINUED AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. TOOK IT BACK AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND THEY SEEMED TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, AND THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY IT WAS TO REPLACE THE PADS, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.*AK

PAINT ON FRONT AREA OF ROOF AND REAR DECK LID IS CRACKED AND COMING OFF. *JB

INTERMITENT GRINDING NOISE THAT WAS DETERMINED AT HUNTINGTON BEACH MITSUBISHI TO BE THE TIRE FROM GOODYEAR ,P205, LS55 R16 89H

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN THE ENGINE COMMENCED TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, AND THEN PULLED TO CONSUMER'S HOME. CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

ON LEAVING WORK, I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK. I STARTED TO DRIVE HOME AND MY GAS GAUGE SHOWED NEAR EMPTY AFTER 15 MILES. I STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND THE POLICE OFFICER SAID TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SINCE I HAD A GASOLINE LEAK. I THOUGH THAT IT WAS IN MY GAS TANK SO I FILLED UP TO DRIVE HOME. IT DID NOT SEAM TO LEAK WHEN THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE IT TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER AND A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I DID NOT WANT TO RAISE THE HOOD BECAUSE THE OXOGEN WOULD CAUSE A FIRE TO ENVOLVE THE ENTIRE CAR. I KEEP THE HOOD DOWN FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES UNTIL THERE WAS NO SMOLDERING. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR TO MY DEALER. MY 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT V6 CTZ WAS CHECKED OUT BY THE DELOR AN HE FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR THAT COVERS THE GAS HOSE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS CHEWED UP, HE SAID, BY A SQUARREL CAUSING THE GASOLINE TO FLOW ONTO THE TOP OF THE HOT ENGINE. HE REPLACED PART OF THE PLASTIC PROTECTOR. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE REPEATED SINCE THIS SEASON HAS COLD WEATHER AND ANIMALS HIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR HEAT. LUCKALY THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A MAJOR CAR FIRE WAS AVERTED.

FAULTY WATER PUMP CAUSED AUTO TO RUN HOT CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE DEALERSHIP/EXTENDED WARRANTY WIL NOT COVER DAMAGES TO ENGINE, THEY ONLY REPLACED WATER PUMP AUTO UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

WE BROUGHT OUR CAR IN 4/2002. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. WE ARE CURRENTLY ON OUR THIRD SET OF PADS AND OUR SECOND SET OF ROTORS. SQUEEKING HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ALONG WITH GRINDING AND FOR SOME REASON WHEN THE BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. WE HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE BRAKES DURING THE LAST PAD CHANGE AND HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A TEAR IN THE CALLIPER SYSTEM. I JUST THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS HAVING THESE PROBLEMS UNTIL I CHECK IT OUT.*AK

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. I HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED (WITH NON-FACTORY PADS) AND THE ROTORS TURNED AROUND 24,000 MILES. MY PROBLEM RECURRED, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM DID NOT LIE WITH THE PADS. I TOOK MY GALANT BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM, MY NON-FACTORY PADS WERE THE PROBLEM. I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED WITH FACTORY PADS. I TOOK MY CAR TO TWO MECHANICS WHO BOTH SAID THE ROTORS ARE NO GOOD AND THERE IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY OF THE CALIPER STICKING. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THERE ARE OTHERS WHO OWN THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR AS MY GALANT WHO ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. EACH TIME I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP I AM TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM IS DEFINITELY NOT WEAR AND TEAR. GARCIA MITSUBISHI RESPONDED TO A LETTER I WROTE AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR MY WARRANTY BECAUSE I DID NOT MAINTAIN MY CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP (OIL CHANGES, ETC...). I HAVE REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS NUMERO

SUMMARY - VEHICLE STEERING AND BRAKES VIBRATE UPON BRAKING, POOR BRAKE PERFORMANCE - BRAKING DISTANCE IS TOO LONG. SHODDY ROTOR/CALIPER QUALITY. DEALERSHIPS AND MITSUBISHI REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP REPEATEDLY (5 TIMES) TO REMEDY THE BRAKING PROBLEM - EVERY FEW MONTHS (WITH LESS THAN 2500 MILES SINCE THE LAST TIME THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE WEST BROAD MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP IN RICHMOND, VA WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEING CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. THE DEALER RESURFACED THE ROTORS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURED AFTER 7000 MILES. WEST BROAD MITSUBISHI THEN CLAIMED THAT THEY REPLACED THE ROTORS. 5000 MILES LATER, THE BRAKES BEGAN SQUEELING AND THE VIBRATION STARTED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN TO THE WEST BROAD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS A SECOND TIME TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. BARELY 2300 MILES LATER, THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK TO ANOTHER MITSUBISHI DEALER (STOHLMAN) IN VIENNA, VA. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE (NEW) ROTORS HAVE WARPED AND THEYVE HAD TO BE RESURFACED. 2 WEEKS LATER (ABOUT 500 MILES), THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP AGAIN. AT THIS POINT, I WROTE A COMPLAINT LETTER TO MITSUBISHI. AFTER 4 WEEKS, A MITSUBISHI REP CAME TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE PROBLEM - ONLY TO CLAIM THERE WAS NOTHING WORNG WITH THE CAR DESPITE OBVIOUS VIBRATION AND BRAKE SQUEELING. SUBSEQUENTLY, A QUICK CHECK BY A THIRD-PARTY MECHANIC REVEALED PROBLEMS WITH THE ROT