CarBrief

NHTSA has 9 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Galant, and no recalls are listed for this model year[1][2]. EPA rates the 2.4L automatic at 24 combined MPG[3].

9owner complaints[1]
24MPG combined (EPA)[3]

Reported problems

NHTSA has 9 owner complaints for this model year[1]. One mentions a crash, one an injury, and none mention a fire or a death[1]. These are unverified reports from owners, and one complaint can name more than one part.

The counts by component group are small:

Component group Complaints
Wheels[4] 3
Engine[5] 2
Electronic stability control[6] 1
Power train[7] 1
Unknown or other[8] 1
Electrical system[9] 1
Visibility[10] 1
Air bags[11] 1

In the small sample of complaints we read, owners describe a few things. Of the 3 wheel complaints[4], two describe lug nuts that came loose or went missing, and one describes a vibration at highway speed that repeated tire balancing did not fix. One of the wheel complaints mentions a crash[4]. Both engine complaints describe the car stalling after accelerating from a stop or during a turn, and a dealer could not reproduce it[5].

One visibility complaint describes a driver window that shattered without a clear cause[10]. One air bag complaint describes the driver and passenger air bags deploying with no impact and an arm injury[11]. With one report each, these are not a pattern. They are things to check when you look at a used car.

Because the file is so small, no problem here can be called common.

Recalls

NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2012 Galant model year[2].

Fuel economy

EPA rates the 2.4L 4-cylinder with an automatic (S4) and front-wheel drive at 21 MPG city, 29 highway and 24 combined[3]. It runs on regular fuel.

EPA estimates the annual fuel cost at $2,800[3]. That estimate uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

In NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings, the 4 DR FWD gets 4 stars for rollover, with a rollover risk of 10.7%[12]. Our data has no other star ratings for this car.

Engine and size

The 2.4L 4-cylinder is rated 160 hp in the EPA test car list[13]. Our data has no dimensions for this car.

How 2012 compares with other years

1995: 209 complaints, 5 recalls19951996: 136 complaints, 3 recalls1997: 80 complaints, 1 recalls19971998: 53 complaints, 1 recalls1999: 215 complaints, 5 recalls19992000: 136 complaints, 6 recalls2001: 151 complaints, 7 recalls20012002: 135 complaints, 2 recalls2003: 126 complaints, 2 recalls20032004: 61 complaints, 1 recalls2005: 26 complaints, 3 recalls20052006: 24 complaints, 1 recalls2007: 24 complaints, 1 recalls20072008: 6 complaints, 0 recalls2009: 16 complaints, 0 recalls20092010: 9 complaints, 1 recalls2011: 3 complaints, 0 recalls20112012: 9 complaints, 0 recalls92012
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Galant model year. The 2012 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19952095
19961363
1997801
1998531
19992155
20001366
20011517
20021352
20031262
2004611
2005263
2006241
2007241
200860
2009160
201091
201130
201290

NHTSA has 9 complaints and 0 recalls for the 2012 Galant[2]. Other recent years look like this[2]:

Year Complaints Recalls
2008 6 0
2009 16 0
2010 9 1
2011 3 0
2012 9 0

The 2012 model year has fewer complaints than 2009 and more than 2008 and 2011. It has the same count as 2010. Every model year from 1995 to 2007 has 24 or more complaints[2]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so compare them with care..

Should you buy a used 2012 Galant?

NHTSA lists 9 complaints and no recalls for this model year[1][2]. The complaints touch wheels, stalling, a window and air bags, so check that the lug nuts are tight and ask whether the engine has ever stalled[4][5]. EPA rates the 2.4L automatic at 24 MPG combined[3]. Our data cannot tell you about the condition of any single car.

Frequently asked questions

What problems does the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant have?
NHTSA has 9 complaints[1]. Wheels lead with 3, followed by the engine with 2[1][4][5]. The counts are small and the reports are unverified.
Are there recalls on the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2012 model year[2].
What is the gas mileage of the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant?
EPA rates the 2.4L automatic at 21 city, 29 highway and 24 combined MPG[3].
How many horsepower does the 2012 Galant have?
The 2.4L 4-cylinder is rated 160 hp[13].
Is the 2012 Galant a good year compared with others?
With 9 complaints and 0 recalls[2], it has fewer complaints than 2009 and every year from 1995 to 2007. 2008 and 2011 have fewer[2].

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 9 owner complaints on file for the 2012 Mitsubishi Galant (1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 1 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Mitsubishi Galant model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. EPA rating for Galant, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S4), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. 3 complaints name the wheels component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 2 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 1 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 1 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 1 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 1 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 1 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 1 complaints name the air bags component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.7%. NHTSA vehicle records
  13. EPA Test Car List, 2012 Mitsubishi Galant with 2.4L 4-cylinder: rated 160 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.