IllustrationALTERNATOR 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
1999 Mitsubishi Galant
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Galant years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Mitsubishi Galant are substantially higher than the model-year median of 26.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Galant years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 27 of 215 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 89 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
30 crash reports10 fire reports13 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
13 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND HAD WORSENED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A POWER FLUSH PERFORMED, ALL RELATED FILTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT IF PROBLEMS CONTINUED, THE TORQUE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND HAD WORSENED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A POWER FLUSH PERFORMED, ALL RELATED FILTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT IF PROBLEMS CONTINUED, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE NECESSARY WORK WAS PERFORMED, BUT THE PROBLEMS WORSENED.
THIRD WATER PUMP GONE ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
THE INSURED STATED THAT ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH STARTED BLINKING, HE THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THEN SMOKE BEGAN COMING FROM THE HOOD, THE INSURED OPENED THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.*JB(CLAIM#30-V201-876)
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH, AND EVENTUALLY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THERE WAS ONE INJURY.*JB(CLAIM#04-1292-070)
VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. HERE IS NO INDICATION ON DASHBOARD OF ANY PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF SITUATION. *AK
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 BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER 36K MILE…
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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 BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER 36K MILES THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT.
VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING.*AK
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY, DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED REPAIR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS. NLM
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 VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER.*…
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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 VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER.*AK
Official recalls
504V428000 · Equipment:other:labels
Sep 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 & remedy
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.
01V011001 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Jan 16, 2001
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 & remedy
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.
00V225001 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Aug 10, 2000
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 & remedy
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.
99V333001 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Nov 23, 1999
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 & remedy
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.
99V305001 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch; Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring
Nov 1, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE COLUMN SWITCH LEVERS CAN BECOME LOOSE OR BREAK OVER TIME.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring
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.
Exterior Lighting:turn Signal:switch
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.
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.