VehicleVerdict

1999 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 296 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 8.3 times the median Galant year — the 1999 model ranks #1 of 28 Galant years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 3 deaths and 22 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

Brakes leads the complaint categories with 114 reports (39% of the total).

296

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

0

Investigations

39

Crash-involved

20

Fires reported

22

Injuries

3

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1999 compare to other Galant years?

Galant NHTSA complaints by model year, 1999 highlighted296 complaints1985: 0 complaints1986: 6 complaints1987: 9 complaints1988: 7 complaints1989: 20 complaints1990: 32 complaints1991: 78 complaints1992: 43 complaints1993: 11 complaints1994: 284 complaints1995: 296 complaints1996: 200 complaints1997: 110 complaints1998: 69 complaints1999: 296 complaints2000: 183 complaints2001: 211 complaints2002: 175 complaints2003: 167 complaints2004: 68 complaints2005: 34 complaints2006: 37 complaints2007: 31 complaints2008: 9 complaints2009: 23 complaints2010: 12 complaints2011: 7 complaints2012: 11 complaints
Galant NHTSA complaints by model year, 1999 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Galant years to avoid →

What are the most common 1999 Mitsubishi Galant problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes11439%
Suspension289%
Electrical System279%
Engine196%
Body & Structure176%
Transmission165%
Steering155%
Other134%
Airbags124%
Speed Control93%
Tires & Wheels93%
Lighting72%
Visibility & Wipers52%
Seat Belts31%
Fuel System21%

Does the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

09E025000LightingMay 11, 2009 · 42,540 units

Defect

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

04V428000OtherSeptember 1, 2004 · 100,432 units

Defect

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.

01V011001TransmissionJanuary 16, 2001 · 277,227 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. A HOSE WAS MIS-MANUFACTURED AND COULD WEAKEN OVER TIME, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.

Consequence

FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE COOLER HOSES CAN CAUSE TRANSAXLE DRIVEABILITY PROBLEMS AND SMOKE IF THE OIL CONTACTS THE FRONT EXHAUST PIPE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION MAILING WILL BE PHASED OVER A FIVE-MONTH PERIOD STARTING MARCH 26, THROUGH JULY 23, 2001. 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.

00V225001SteeringAugust 10, 2000 · 228,294 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A NUT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN SYMPTOMS RANGING FROM STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION TO STIFF STEERING, AND IN THE WORST CASE, NO ABILITY TO TURN LEFT.

Consequence

A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY IF A LOOSE NUT CONNECTION IS FOUND.

99V333001Electrical SystemNovember 23, 1999 · 19,179 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES AND FEDERAL EMISSION EQUIPMENT. THE BATTERY CABLE HARNESS CAN BECOME HEAT DAMAGED BY THE FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH COULD CAUSE GROUNDED CIRCUITS.

Consequence

THIS CIRCUIT FAILURE COULD CAUSE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TO OCCUR: (1) THE ENGINE WILL NOT START BECAUSE THE MAIN FUSE WILL BLOW IF THE POWER LEAD IS GROUNDED; (2) THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE IF THE SIGNAL WIRE IS GROUNDED; (3) THE AIRCONDITIONING SYSTEM WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE IF THE LEAD TO THE MAGNETIC CLUTCH IS GROUNDED; AND (4) THE TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD LAMPS WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE IF THE VOLTAGE MONITOR LEAD IS GROUNDED.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND DISCARD A METAL MANIFOLD BRACKET (FROM GALANT MODELS ONLY - ECLIPSE HAS NO SUCH BRACKET). DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE HARNESS. IF THE HARNESS WIRES SHOW NO DAMAGE, THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A HEAT INSULATOR ALONG WITH HEAT RESISTANT HARNESS CLIPS. IF THE HARNESS WIRES DO SHOW DAMAGE, THE DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HARNESS WITH PREINSTALLED INTEGRAL HEAT PROTECTION.

99V305001Visibility & WipersNovember 1, 1999 · 98,817 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COLUMN SWITCH LEVERS CAN BECOME LOOSE OR BREAK OVER TIME.

Consequence

LOOSENING OR CRACKING OF THE LEVERS CAN CAUSE DIRECTIONAL LAMPS THAT DO NOT SELF-CANCEL OR OPERATE, HEAD LAMPS THAT DO NOT TURN OFF, WINDSHIELD WASHERS THAT OPERATE CONTINUOUSLY AND/OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DO NOT OPERATE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED SWITCH.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“I HAVE TAKEN MY GALANT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 YRS. FOR SERVICE ON THE ROTORS. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, HOWEVER THE AREA REP. STATED THAT THE ROTORS ARE WARPED, BUT THAT IS NORMAL…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 7, 2001 · crash

“THERMOSTAT STUCK CAUSING ENGINE OVERHEATING. ALSO, AC RUNS COLD AND THEN WARM IN CITY DRIVING. ON THE HIGHWAY IT IS COLD. A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS IN CITY DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON ALSO. I HAVE TO TURN THE AIR OFF TO MAKE IT QUIT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS AND…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · August 5, 2001

“ALTERNATOR AND WIRE HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE ON MY 1999 MITSUBISHI GALANT. HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR PLUG WERE TOTALLY BURNT. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH AT MY COST. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE RADIATOR WHILE AT THE SHOP. LOST 1 DAY OF WORK DUE TO THIS. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 13, 2007 · fire

“WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES VEHICLE SHAKES. ALSO, RADIATOR WAS LEAKING AND VEHICLE STALLING. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40MPH IN TRAFFIC AND SOMEONE HAD CUT IN FRONTOF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 1, 2000 · crash

“I OWN A GREEN 99 MITSUBISHI GALANT AND THE CLEAR COAT IS COMING OFF CAUSING MY CAR TO LOOK LIKE IT HAS ALLIGATOR SKIN IT STARTED ON THE ROOF AND HAS NOW SPREAD TO THE TRUNK AND HOOD. I CALLED MITSUBISHI TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE PAINT AND I WAS TOLD NO. THE OPERATOR THEN ASKED WHAT…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · May 12, 2006 · crash

1999 Mitsubishi Galant — common questions

Is the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 296 complaints put the 1999 model at #1 of 28 Galant years. It is one of the Galant years to avoid.

What are the most common 1999 Galant problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (114 complaints), suspension (28 complaints), electrical system (27 complaints).

Does the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Mitsubishi Galant years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Galant years to avoid are 1999, 1995, 1994, 2001, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2003, 1997, 1991, 1998, 2004. The cleanest record among Galant years belongs to 1985.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.