Used 2003 Mitsubishi Galant Consumer Reviews
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Transmission Problem
BEWARE OF MITSUBISHI GALANT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (2003 for me) I learned the hard way from a excellent transmission shop about the flaw in my 3.0 V6 model with 4 speed automatic where these where a 'clip' deep inside the tranny breaks! This shop used to keep several extra trannys in the shop fully expecting to have customers come in for this very issue. He told me about it before he even opened it up and proved it to me! These broken pieces, for one scenario, end up in the pump causing your tranny to fail and needs to be rebuilt. One main sympton is it will not go into any gear! Sometimes you hear the rattling as you run it. Get newer kit if you rebuild it!
Almost Bulletproof
I bought my 2003 Galant 2.4ES in 2005 with 54,000 miles on it for $8900 because it was all I could afford at the time and I'm anti-Honda. Good gas mileage, snappy for a 4cyl. After delivering Pizza's full time for several years and going on multiple trips to Yellowstone, it now has 235,000 on it. The only thing major was replacing the timing belt at just over 200,000. I will say also that it can get up the the 120mph that the speedometer says it'll go. (it just takes a while)
Fantastic Automobile
I am the original owner of a 2003 Galant. I cannot express how much I have enjoyed this car. I purchased the car with 42 mile one the odometer. Now it has 201,000 miles. My only complaint is the paint. Every time I see a Galant like mines, the paint is faded terribly. Also the Brakes seem to wear easier than most cars. The climate control needed to be replaced but luckily it was still under warranty. This car has taken a beating. It had been driven every day for about 110 mile a day. Never had a major problem. Engine and tranny has been solid. The one time the car didn't start was because it needed a battery. Mitsubishi has put together a solid car that can compete with all major car brands.
Love Mitsubishi
I bought this car used from a dealer in January 2007 with 25,000 miles on it. I don't think I will ever buy anything other than a mitsubishi going forward. I have 82,500 on the car now and with regular maintenance I expect many more years of driving joy with mitsi. Before buying the car I did check Edmunds.com consumer reviews and Consumer Reports which both gave this car a great reviews. Thanks Edmunds.com for this site.
Still going strong
2003 pearl white mist. galant ES. I bought this car new. Only had 8 miles when drove it off the dealer lot. Today Aug 2019 it has over 380k miles. Minor repairs like battery, starter a fuse here and there. It has never been wrecked and the paint is still great. I get so many compliments on a nice looking car and most can't believe it's as old as it is. The timing belt was not changed till around 250k plus miles only because it was showing some wear. It has never been to a repair shop for any work. My son graduated Nascar Institute and he's the only person to do any work on my car. Oil change every 3k miles. Best fuel economy car ever owned. Most miles are highway since i can put over a hundred a day at times. It is 2019 and now I have close to 380k miles on this car. Its starting to burn some oil now but It’s still going strong.
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2003 Mitsubishi great car
I bought the car at 9,700mi and sold at 113,200mi. I have had this car for 7 years, no major problems. Mitsubishi galant never died on me. Build quality is good and I havent had any mechanical problems. Engine and tranny has been solid. I've never had anything done to it other than normal maintenance. (Except battery=95,000 mi and starter=93,000 mi.) The GTZ is a great looking car with everything included. Great acceleration and handles great on highways. Drove this car to Lake Tahoe (HWY 80 and 5).Car had enough power to go uphill. Not good for city because of big radius U-turn. I normally get 22 around town and 27 on the freeway. Car uses premium gas. This car is comfortable, solid, reliable, fast and safe. Poor resale value, but it is good for buyer.
THESE 2003 GALANTS ARE SAFE CARS!!!
A very large van turned left in front of me at my green light so I crashed right behind the passenger front wheel at 40 mph. The galant was completely smashed up until about 1 ft. from the windshield BUT I am COMPLETELY FINE and I have horrible back issues already. The air bags diploid and I was wearing my seatbelt correctly and I cannot even believe how safe that car type is. Nothing inside the car showed evidence of the crash (beside the windshield which got a spider fractures). When I got out the car I became frantic because I didn't realize before how bad it really was. Safety ratings are important for cars and I'd say with much joy that this car choice saved my life.
Love hate relationship
bought it in 2008 with 39,000 mi., now has 160,000. A/C was clogged twice, heater door became stuck, and that's about it. I ride this bitch like a beast at an AVERAGE 80 mph on the freeway. The biggest issues are the maintenance issues that arise, such as the recurrence of misfires which can potentially damage your catalytic converter if not assessed ($900). This car is tough like a honda and can potentially be just as reliable at the cost of good maintenance. change the timing belt every 50-60 k miles. change the tran fluid every 40 k miles MAX! Make sure you put in luxury fluids, like amzoil, and mobil one. on my benefit, i bough it used with nearly new miles. used with high miles is iffy.
Going to run this into the ground
I bought my Mitsubishi Galant in 2013 with 70,000 miles on it. I just passed the 150,000 mile mark and wanted to just praise my Galant for making it this far. I have made one cross-country road trip in this baby, a trip to Death Valley and countless day trips. I've had a lot of mediocre cars and this used car has by far, given me the most bang for my buck. Since getting the car, I have had to replace my battery/starter, and my AC died on my cross country trip (replaced for $600 in the heat of August somewhere in Texas...eeks). I replaced the radiator on it, and replaced the brakes. I know this SOUNDS like a lot, but I consider this car to be the perfect vehicle for me. Prior to my move, I was driving around 80 miles a day on it. After the move, I'm still putting about 40 miles a day on my commute, and it just keeps hanging in there. This car has also weathered two bullet holes in my back panel from a random drive by in LA. I've never had any engine or transmission problems, which I consider to be the real risks of a used car. I plan on running this car into the ground, and believe with regular maintenance I can get to 200K easily, and 250K if I am really really nice to it. :)
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Best Kept Secret, The 2000 - 2003 Galant
It's too bad this car is overlooked by Accord & Camry owners. This is my 2nd Galant and these cars are amazingly reliable. I have owned this my 2003 V6 LS Galant for 4 years now and never had a problem. I did change a leaking coolant hose by myself, that set me back $30 at the dealer. This car runs like a champ and comfortable, I have all the creature features that came with it. My V6 LS also looks great with 17" wheels. If there is one thing I that hurts this car, is that they don't hold their values, so it's great for those who buy it used. Make sure to change the transmission oil every 24K miles and get the timing belt changed every 60K. You can get 180K miles out of these cars easily.
Not Bad But not Great
Not a bad little college student car for my wife and me. If you're willing to give up some of the comforts of Honda and Toyota. I think the Galant is just as reliable. Replaced the engine mounts at 90k cost about 800.00 Not bad But not great. Poor resale value.
Very Reliable commuter
Very able small-mid sized passenger car. I purchased used, and off the lot it is very standard - which is a plus. The cost of ownership is super low because the thing is so solid and reliable. Aside from a timing belt about 90K, I have had no mechanical issues at all. With 130K miles on it, it probably drives better than it did when I bought it. I need some more room, so I am getting another car, but if Mitsubishi made a Galant wagon, I'd be on the hunt for one. I get about 28-30 mpg on the highway, which is good for such a big 4. Poor resale value, but as a buyer, I would seriously consider one.
Can't wait to trade it in!
I purchased this car new in 2003. At first I was in love with...which quickly passed. The seats continually shocked me (humidity level in this area) when I got out of it. I installed leather from an LS. Sound system could not produce enough sound to be heard with the windows down, replaced speakers and head unit with MP3 player. Door trim peeled off (luckily was under warranty). All radiator clamps came loose and began leaking, dealer had to replace all of them. Valve cover gasket is seeping oil. Now that it is hot and humid, car can barely pull itself. Last fuel tank I averaged 19.3, generally around 23-24 MPGs. Now modifying intake and exhaust to attempt to regain power.
my 2003 galant es
The car has decent pickup for being a 4 cyl. Very comfortable sets w/8way adj drivers seat. Very good on NOT using all your gas on short or long trips! The car handles very well not sluggish at all. The cd/player and speakers have great sound. I love the look and usefullnes of the fogg lights. It is a great car!!!!!!!!!!
03 galant
My galant has almost 170,000 miles on it. Has a few issues. Needs motor mounts, rotors, and a power window motor, but this car has held up a lot longer than I thought it would. Mitsubishi’s get bad rep when it comes to reliability, but I think they’re very reliable. Keep the fluids and belts changed and this car could easily do 250K.
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GTZ......Vroooooooooommmmm !!!!!!!!!
At the lot looking at the toy Eclipses for the wife. Couldn't really decide on one.. She pulled a Galant out of the Hat....Never would have thought she wanted that sporty 4 door! Have to say the GTZ Galant looks and acts sportier than many sports cars! Already have taken it on a long trip. No usual back aches, butt aches...NOTHING! We have owned a lot of nice luxury cars. This is the first one that she has remarked to her mother that it "Drives like a dream!"...Made me look pretty good. Momma's happy....so Daddy's happy! Go GTZ !!!!!!!!!!
Great Used Car
I bought this car to drive to work back in 2003. It had 9,975 miles on it when I bought it and it now has 149,700 on it. I've never had anything done to it other than normal maintenance. The only thing that's ever gone bad is the battery and brakes. It's been the best car I've ever owned.
2003 Mitsubishi Galant is a great car!
I bought this car new after having bad experiences with American brands. It was roomier than Honda Accord and less expensive than Toyota Camry. I bought leather, automatic, power options, sunroof. Got the extended warranty but didn't need it! Have had very little trouble, it has been dependable and easy to own. I would recommend it to anyone needing a dependable inexpensive comfortable car. I am planning to sell mine to my sister because I want her to have a great car. MPG averages 25.
Buy This car if you want to be safe
I have had this car for nearly 70K miles. It is incredibly reliable. The only thing wrong is its comestic defects, like the finish becoming dull with age. I have had problems with the air conditioner, like many of the other reviews state and currently need a new air compressor. If you want a car that will save your life should you ever get into an accident get this one. It gets great gas mileage on the highway, but not so great mileage in town. Reliable reliable reliable though! I love my car
Bad sway arm linkage front and rear
I bought the car new in Nov. 03 with 300 miles on it at the dealership. I bought the exterior package, but find the exterior is not holding up too well with dents and paint chipping. I have had to have the rear struts replaced at only 20,000 mile. Under warranty. I then had to have the rear sway bar linkage kits replaced not under warranty, sounded like bowling balls rolling around very disturbing, makes for a loud ride. Now at 40,000 miles I have to replace the front sway bar linkage kits. more bowling balls! The vent fan motor is also going out when I turn the fan on, a loud grinding sound happens then it finally quiets. to say I am disappointed is an understatement. How abut that resale val
Cheap thrills from my perspective
It has stolen some lines from BMW and Benz. Nice car, good looks, friends remark about the Dover Pearl White color and styling.
Heater Core went out!!!
Granted I bought my '03 Galant used with approx. 32,000 miles. No major problems until a few weeks ago. Heater core went out along with the driver's side window motor. Dealership said the cost would be over $900. I said no way! Never been happy with the design... a huge lackluster.
Good stock, better stocked.
I bought this car at a bank action, it was fun to drive then. Peppy for a 4 cylinder and able to keep up with a V6 mustang (not an achievement really). So it was good with a stock engine, but being an 18 year old male I couldn't have just 140 hp. I started doing selective mods to it. I put in a cold air intake, a new exhaust with resonator pipes, its not one of those loud hondas driving around. I kept the body stock lowered the front a bit raised the back and inch and put 18inch chrome wheels on. I put kyb gas charged struts in and a new sound system. i put in a new performance cam shaft and was thinking about a turbo. Honestly this car can take off and stop on a dime. I love it.
2003 galant
This car has been great!!!! I absolutely love the exterior of the car. I own the 2003 mitsu galant LS v6 fully equiped with sun, sound and leather package, which has drawn many compliments from other drivers. I stongly recommend buying this vehicle, over camry, altima, and accord.
Awesome Vehicle
I have nothing but praises for this vehicle. It's built to last, has a powerful V6 engine and is a fun ride. I have had this vehicle for over 4 years now and used it for over 45K miles. The only other thing that I had to do besides the regular oil servicing was to change the brake rotors a couple of times (which is common to all vehicles, std life span being 2 yrs) .
not performing up to par but classy look
My Galant LS is supposed to get 20city mpg and 26 highway mpg but consistently gets 16-18. Ive swithced to mid grade with no difference in fuel economy. The gauge is starnge too, it gets 100 miles or so from full - 3/4 tank; 80 or so from 3/4 to 1/2 and 40 from 1/2 to 1/4. It is also hard to find a comfortable temp sometimes...but the car is darn good looking, awesome interior design in the LS
Test to BEAT UP as HELL!
Great Car! i've Been beat up everyday to use it and road trip calf to NY then return. run great and fine nothing wrong with it, I have been go off the road often and still fine. go high speed still fine, high rpm still fine a least I use oil is amsoil! don't forget that if you don't use amsoil your engine will be died with high rpm. mostly I trust Chevy & Ford but I realized keep broke down whenever going to but mitsh galant never died on me since I driving TOO MUCH still great run
Could be better...could be worse
I purchased this car this year, for $9,000. It already had 60,000 miles on it, but it is in great condition. The gas mileage on this car is horrible. I just got rid of an SUV because of the gas mileage, but this isn't a big change. It gets about 200 miles to the tank, which is comparable to the Jeep that I had. The car interior and exterior are just OK. The exterior is nice, but the interior reminds me of a cheap Saturn. It can be a good car, but if looking for luxury or style, this is not the car.
This car sucks
Dents VERY easy. Cheap parts.
Great car for the money
I actually own a 2000 galant es v6 but have owned it fo six months. I am only seventeen and find it an excelent car for someone my age. It fits all needs reliable safe and fun. Most importantly not too fun. Although acceleration is strong and handling is secure its not so good that you can end up really hurting yourself. All and all i have no complaints with the car. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great four door sedan.
A rallycross queen in family sedan's clothing.
I brought a used 2.4L I4 (SOHC 4G64) Galant ES for rallycross. The similarity of Galant's 4G64 and Lancer Evolution's DOHC 4G63T makes the swap drop-in easy, and the 5-speed transmission from Eclipse fits perfectly. With 10 grands, you'll have an autocross monster with 4G63T, 12 psi turbo, and ECU controlled boost; Dump another 20 grands, and you get a fancy built 500+hp rally queen filled with HKS goodies; Squeeze yourself hard for another 20 grands, this car is going to be a supercar. As they said, old school DSM are "dollar-per-hp champs" (IT 14.3 (2011): 12). Hands down.
Regret My Quick Decision to Buy
I bought my 2003 Mitsubishi Galant ES used in August 2003 with approx 30,000 miles on it. It seemed like a good deal at the time, but I was never truly excited about the car. Lots of little things have gone wrong over the past year and a half. The most annoying problem has been squeaky brakes...the car has been in to the dealer at least 5 times for very loud squeaky brakes, and it still isn't totally fixed. The design of the car is boring, inside and out. It can't get out of its own way on the highway. Once you're up to speed it's okay, but forget accelearting quickly to pass. I'm currently in the market for a new car, and it definitely will not be a Mitsubishi!
Good car, but...
I had this car from 2003 and just traded it in this past weekend. Overall, it is a very reliable car. I never had any major problems with it. While driving it, I got rear-ended twice. I also lost control of the vehicle once while attempting to avoid a driver on a cell phone and was hit on the passenger side. I consistently walked away without a scratch and relatively minor property damage. That being said, if you can afford it, I would go for a new car or one made in the last couple years. While this is a good, reliable car for its age, the safety features which are standard cars today are SO much better than they were in 2003. (Curtain airbags, stability control, etc.).
I love my galant......
Mitsubishi Galant LS V6 8800 miles so far. I traded in my 94 mustang GT convertable to get ready for twins on the way. I love my galant..... If your looking for a car that has great performance and your not concerned with extra gadgets on the interior then this is the car for you. It handles awsum and looks classy. Its a smooth ride with great pickup. The inside is a little bit prehistorc and uninspired though. There's no style to the inside at all. But after reading my review I guess the inside isn't that big a deal. I still love my galant and I see myself purchasing many more Mitsubishi's in the future.
Galant 2.4 liter
A highly under rated automobile. Nice sleek exterior desgn. Plenty of get up and go even with the 2.4 liter engine.
My Best Car Experience
I love to drive my brand new 03' Mitsubish Galant ES. It's fun to drive and very comfortable. It is very sporty and fuel efficient vehicle
Great car,can be better
Great car,only thing you need to use hi- test gas.Can never feel very comfortable in the driver's seat.Overall, a great car.
03 galant
bought the car at 60,000 and now have 140,000, no major problems yet. peppy for a 4 banger (with a cold air intake) and smoothest tranny i've ever felt. got brakes, tires and a tune up at 100,000 and with regular oil changes have had no problems. over all great car.
Great Car - Everything I Want in a Sedan
The ES with the upgraded sun and sound package is a blast....open the sun roof and crank up the stereo. Handles extremely well, and at high speeds, around 110mph, the car holds the road like a racer. Try that in a Taurus or Camry and you'll end up in a ditch.
decent 4th car
Overall, I love my car. I hear these bad reviews on it here and there, but overall, the car has power. It is semi-comfortable, soft seats, easy to drive, nice body, and great responsiveness on the road. Gas isnt too good though, but it is sitting on 20 chrome rims which left the tire place to have to lift the car. I say I'm getting 16-18 mpg! Whatever you do, if you want to save gas, stay with stock. But it is a great car. Its a car that can be for both male and female, unlike the 2006 sentra! Guys, do not buy that, you will be considered a female! Another issue is how fast the resale price goes down on Kelly blue book!
Smooth and Practical
Before last weekend, I never thought that I would get a Mitsubishi car in my life. The precise control is similar to and the ride is much smoother than my last car-'93 Nissan Altima. I did some research and compared it to Accord, Camery, Altima & Torus that interest me. In my opinion, Galant ES V6 is a practical family car with excellent performance and is the best bang for the buck. Since not too many people desire Galant, there is much room to negotiate the price with the dealer. What impulsived me to get a Galant is because of its 0% Finance plan for 60 months.
Galant
This is a nice car. Fun to drive. The V6 moves the car well. The 4 banger was not nearly enough engine for this car.
Fantastic Car
Almost 2 years and 20k miles later my Galant is still as perfect as the day I purchased it. Fuel economy is much better than expected - I've seen 31 mpg which is several better than the EPA highway rating. Engine is smooth and has plenty of power for passing. The transmission is fantastic, I never feel it shift. All the controls are simple and logically laid out so they fall right to hand. Reliability has been outstanding. Never anything other than regular maintenance.
In most cases, a solid vehicle
My dad and I bought a black 03 Mitsubishi Galant ES with the fun and sun package. It currently has about 114,000 miles on it and honestly, I wish I could say it runs well. When we purchased it, we noticed the paint was degrading in areas on the roof, hood, and upper quarter-panels. We had it repainted at MAACO (Presidential service) for maybe around $299? Well after that, I began noticing a "bump" while the car shifted from gear to gear. Recently, I've been getting around 16 miles per gallon, city and highway driving. I got the transmission fixed , but it seems the engine's shaky idle is affecting it. I love this car so much, but I've spent too much money fixing it. :(
ES V6 is Excellent
I just love this car! The V6 is smooth and powerful. The seven speaker sound system sounds great. The transmission works incredibly well with little hesitation. The car looks great, too. The only thing that I dislike is that it does not have a 60/40 folding rear seat. This car is definitely a great alternative to the boring Camry and the generic Accord. I always enjoy being in the driver's seat of this car.
Best car for the money
I just purchased the car last weekend, and am loving it so much. I have so much fun with the V6 engine. The car is on the go with just a tap on the gas pedal. It drives like a dream. The car is very quiet. The stereo sounds good. The seats are comfortable and spacious. Plus, I was treated very well in Carmax. With the $2500 cash incentive, it is about $5000 less than a comparible Camry, and even more compared to Accord. It is the best you can get for the money.
Hate the gas mileage
I bought this from a rental company. The car has basically been problem free except for the heater/air conditioner. A co-worker who owns a 2002 model is having the same problem. I was also disappointed with the gas mileage. Otherwise, the car has treated me well!
Galant ES. Great buy.. a few issues
Bought this car for mom at the end of 03. The car performed well for 4.5 years and required only routine maintenance. Two problems came up at around 55,000 miles that I think you should know about. Heater problem- The heater began failing intermittently (vents would blow, but no hot air). The problem was not the heater core, but rather a component (a valve or a switch) of the heating system. I found that this was a common Galant issue and is not cheap to fix unless you diy. The other problem was that the driver's power window began to fail intermittently around 57,000 miles.
I LOVE IT
It's nice and easy to drive, comfortable seat, but it should install a handle for old people get in or get out the car. It has a 2.4L engine,it's quite powerful for a 4 cylinder car and it's very reliability.
Awesome Buy
This 4 cyl has to be one of my best purchases in the last 12 months! It has enough power to scoot me around the San Antonio freeways, but it is still easy on my wallet when i have to fill it up.