Most common 2003 Mitsubishi Galant problems
Share of the 126 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Galant complaints by model year
Best Galant years: 2008, 2010, 2012. Years to avoid: 1999, 2001, 2000, 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2003 Mitsubishi Galant recalls (2)
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
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.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant:
Passenger door fire
Complaints allege that a fire erupted in the front passenger door.in Mitsubishi's response to odi's March 12, 2008 information request, Mitsubishi asserts that the alleged defect May occur when large amounts of liquids, more than 100cc (3.4 oz), like a soft drink were spilled directly over the power window switch area, all at once and at one time.Mitsubishi found that as the liquid dries off, electrolytes and…
Passenger door fire
In response to this investigation, Mitsubishi motors north America (mmna) initiated a special program on July 31, 2009, to extend the warranty coverage on model year (my) 2001-2003 galant vehicle passenger side window switches to 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first.notification of this special coverage program to all registered vehicle owners is scheduled to begin in late-September 2009.owners who have…
What 2003 Mitsubishi Galant owners say
A/C & heater all 33 →
Fall of 2007 I flipped from ac to heat. There was clicking inside the dash and it finally switched over. Had to switch back to ac on warm day and the clicking was there again and it eventually went from heat to cold. Finally I flipped it back a week or two ago on a cold morning, no clicking and no heat at all. I've reached under the dash pushing the white lever back and forth thinking maybe it was just the cable that's stretched but that's not the case. I took the white lever off (just 1 screw) and turned the little gear by hand. Clockwise is to cold and when it gets all the way it stops. Counter-clockwise is heat and when I get to the end it clicks like the earlier clicking like it's stripped out somewhere in the dash. There's a lot of complaints about this on the internet and I believe one other similar complaint on this site. …
2003 Galant es. V-6 motor. Had to replace heater control valve due to no heat. Clicking noise from time to time then nothing as well as no heat. No sooner did I replace that and then heat selector quit working. Can not change from vents to defrost. Mechanic said heater box warped and cost about 2500.00 to fix this. Now pulling into the driveway, the radiator burst open on the front side. About a 4 inch opening just to the right side of cap if you are facing the car. Mechanic has said all of this is very common in these cars and Mitsubishi should have done something to take care of these problems as every Galant made has had same issues..
Body & structure all 21 →
I was driving at 33 MPH on a main street when car on my right goes through stop sign and drives into my car. He hit the front of my car near, but not including, the passenger door. After impact (he never brake) he continued to move my car with his thereby folding the front of my car in half, taking off front wheels, fenders and bumper, gas tank (smoking but not on fire), and moving my car two lanes to the left via impact and push. No air bags deployed. Driver's door, mine, would not open. Seat belt pulled in very tight. Impact slammed my chest, knee and ankle. Fractured sternum, cuts and bruises on leg and foot. Back pain at site of crash. Could not walk up ambulance steps. Hospital stay 2 days with multiple tests. Drs. Visits required this week, one day after release. Car totaled. Physical therapy and pain management put into place upon hospital discharge.
I am an owner of a 2003 Mitsubishi black Galant. I am the original owner of the vehicle and it is garage-kept. About a year ago, I started noticing the paint on my vehicle started to fade/oxidize. I reported this to Mitsubishi and they did nothing. I did my research and there are thousands of other Galant owners that are experiencing the same problem. I believe a recall needs to be done. It wasn't even a month after my vehicle was paid off that the paint started to faint. First on the roof, then on the hood, now it's spreading like a rash. Something needs to be done and Mitsubishi will not fix the problem because they claim the vehicle is out of warranty.
Engine & cooling
Check engine light suddenly came on and the vehicle lost all engine power and driving capabilities while driving at a low speed, turning a corner. There had been no other issues or indication of a failure of any kind. The car was pulled over on the roadside out of traffic and was able to be restarted with no problem. It was taken to a nearby auto parts store where they performed a free diagnostic check. The result that came back was generally regarding a vacuum issue in fuel system or lines. The gas cap lid and door were checked for proper closure and it was established they had been closed and sealed properly at the time the engine power failure occurred.
I have a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant purchased new with 12 miles. I have kept up maintenance on my car and have a manufacturer and extended warranty (bought from the dealer) both covering my car up to 100,00 miles. My car has 91,000 miles. I was driving down the freeway and noticed that my foot was on the gas pedal but the car was slowing down. I immediately began exiting the freeway to the right to atleast try to reach the emergency lane before the car died on the freeway. While getting over smoke started coming out the hood entering the car through the air vents, by the time I crossed 4 lanes; my car looked like it was going to blow up. I jumped out the car due to fear once I was able to drift to the side. I had it towed to an auto mechanic shop where they told me my engine and transmission were blown. …
2003 Mitsubishi Galant engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant a good car?
Based on 126 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Galant rates avoid: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Galant at the same age. It is one of the Galant years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant?
The a/c & heater — 33 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about defroster/defogger/hvac system › heater core. Next are the body & structure (21) and engine & cooling (18).
How many recalls does the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Mitsubishi Galant, the most recent from September 1, 2004 (labels). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi Galant?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2010 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2001, 2000, 2002 and 2003. See the full Mitsubishi Galant years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Mitsubishi Galant problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.