2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT Electrical System Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND THE SIGNAL LAMP FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V147000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

Mileage: 25,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WITHOUT IT BEING MANUALLY ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN UPDATED 06/16/15*JB

Mileage: 186,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V147000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 105,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE AN HOUR LATER THERE WAS SMOKE BEING EMITTED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE WIRES WERE CUT TO PREVENT FURTHER THERMAL EVENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,250. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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. *JS

Mileage: 112,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AS THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SEPARATED THE PASSENGER DOOR PANEL AND POURED WATER IN THE PANEL TO STOP THE FIRE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

Mileage: 136,000

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR NOT WANTING TO START. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CAM SHAFT CENSOR AFTER A MONTH OR TWO THE STARTING PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. I THEN HAD THE COILS, WIRES AND BATTERY CABLE REPLACE AND STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS FOR THESE PROBLEMS NO I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD. I ONLY HAVE 68000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE HORN WOULD ENGAGE SPORADICALLY AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 110,218.

Mileage: 100,000

1. PURCHASED "AS IS" IN DAYLIGHT HOURS, DID NOT NOTICE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT FUNCTION. 2. INTERIOR LIGHTS AND TRUNK LIGHT DO NOT FUNCTION. THIS IS A PERMANENT CONDITION. 3. USING OHMMETER, INTERIOR LIGHT FILAMENTS CHECKED, TRUNK LIGHT FILAMENT CHECKED. ALL OK. NO VOLTAGES MEASURED AT INPUTS TO ALL. FUSES ALL OK. DOOR SWITCH OK. LIFTED FUSES 16 & 17 IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NO VOLTAGE TO CONTACTS THAT SHOULD HAVE 12 VOLTS ALWAYS ON, PER SCHEMATIC. LOOKED UP RECALL # 29924 FOR THIS MODEL, YEAR, MAKE, AND WOULD APPEAR TO BE UNDER COLOR OF GROUNDING OF WIRES. *TR

Mileage: 97,500

I HAVE 2 COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A 2002 BLACK MITSUBISHI GALANT ES AND LIKE MANY OTHERS I SEE ON THE ROAD AND HAVE READ ABOUT ON THE INTERNET. OXYDIZATION HAS OCCURRED ALL OVER MY CAR, IT STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO AND BUFFING AND WAXING DOES NOT HELP. ALSO, ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT STARTED ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO: WHEN TURNING FROM AIR TO HEAT OR VICE VERSA, THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND THEN IT WILL TURN OVER WHEN IT FEELS LIKE. I THINK RECENTLY IT HAS JUST GIVEN OUT AND COMPLETELY BROKE. I JUST PAID THIS CAR OFF AND AM EMBARRASSED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM COLLEGE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE AS HE WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BURNING THE TIPS OF HIS FINGERS. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

18 DEMEITS ? HORN NOT WORKING REPOLLED NO REASON BAD VIN# CAR TURNED OFF LO-JACK. *TR

TWO WEEKS AGO OUR CARS? PASSENGER FRONT PANEL STARTED TO SMOKE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. AT THE TIME IT HAPPENED WE DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. WHEN I WENT TO GET CLOSER TO THE SMOKE IT WAS THE PANEL WHERE THE WINDOW AND DOOR BUTTONS ARE. THE SECURITY GUARD IN OUR BUILDING HAD A FLASHLIGHT AND SAW THE TOP PART OF THE PANEL WAS MELTING, HE WAS ABLE TO LIFT THE MELTING PLASTIC AND INSIDE THE DOOR THE SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED AND WE PULLED THE FUSE. NOW WE HAVE NO POWER WINDOWS ON ALL SO WE ARE DRIVING WITHOUT THE ABILITY OF OPENING THE WINDOWS. THANK GOD WE WERE NOT ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT STARTED. I CALLED MITSUBISHI AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM YET ON YOUR SITE THERE WERE TWO OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE IT?S PASSED THE WARRANTY TIME THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES. I DO UNDERSTAND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR IT BUT SINCE I HAVE A DEDUCTIBLE OF $500 I MUST PAY FOR IT. MITSUBISHI CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY FINDS THE PIECE TO BE A DEFECT, THEY WOULD NEED TO PUT IN A CLAIM FOR IT. I DON?T UNDERSTAND WHY A CAR OF ONLY 5 YEARS OLD HAD THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS TO MENTION SINCE WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS SITE I TOO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CLICKING SOUND WHEN I PUT ON THE HEATER. SOMETIMES THE HEATER DOESN?T WORK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC SITUATION. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THESE PROBLEMS TO GET FIXED. I AM NOW WORRY SINCE I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CAR THE SAME MAKE , MODEL AND YEAR. PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT ELSE I NEED TO DO TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*CN

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

Mileage: 105,000

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.

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

Mileage: 22,000

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

Mileage: 22,000

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.

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

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

Mileage: 40,000

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

Mileage: 60,000

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

Mileage: 64,895

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)

Mileage: 100,000

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

Mileage: 77,000

TWO WEEKS AGO AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, MY GALANT SIMPLY STOPPED MOVING. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER TURNING IT OFF AND RESTARTING IT SEVERAL TIMES, I DID GET TO WORK AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY KEPT IT FOR 24 HOURS, DROVE IT, RAN SOME TESTS AND TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE SAME THING HAPPENED YESTERDAY, BUT IT STOPPED MOVING FIVE TIMES BEFORE I COULD FINALLY GET TO WORK. AGAIN I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAD IT FOR 30 HOURS; SAME RESULTS. I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A TICKING BOMB--I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED ANY OF THE TIMES WHEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING. I NEED SOMEONE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG AND FIX MY CAR. *JB

Mileage: 15,200