Faults:

Not one problem in the 20,000+ miles I have owned the car.

General Comments:

Comfortable, economical, reliable car.

Rather large 4 cylinder engine is quite peppy.

24 mpg commuting, almost 30 on trips.

Outstanding handling, good ride.

Interior materials average, poor interior/dome lighting.

Galants often criticized for rear seat room, but extra-long front seat tracks allow for plenty of room front or back (but not both). I'm 6'-3" and have plenty of room while driving. Adjustable seat height very helpful.

Faults:

Rusting in less than two months at all welded seams in the engine compartment, and throughout vehicle. The paint work is very poor.

Vibration continues, and gets worse when accelerating and at higher speeds. This remains and became worse after the best tires were installed by Goodyear. Goodyear to help resolve the problem replaced 7 tires; a total of eleven (11) tires including the original ones in less than one year.

Window outside and inside moldings have gone rotten and stunk until replaced. This problem is also present in the Eclipse.

Door panel padding and fabric separated from resting elbow while driving; padding is extremely poor.

The emission when first starting is like solvent, and it enters the passenger cabin if the wind is blowing right.

Passenger seat, when slightly reclined, rattles when going over the slightest bump.

Transmission has slop in lower speeds, and actually jerks when reengaging. At higher speeds, it has a hesitancy or lag to engage.

General Comments:

If looking at buying a Mitsubishi, don't. With all this 0 0 0 financing hoopla, why not 0 rust until the first payment?

Had a 2003 Mitsubishi Galant model with only 90 miles as loaner, and it already had rust showing in the welded seams. Owners of other 2000, 2001, and 2002 Mitsubishi vehicles allowed me to look at their cars, including other models besides the Galant, and the rust is also present close to the same time period.

If an owner of the Mitsubishi vehicle, any sign of rust should be addressed to the dealer before any new snow or cold weather arrives. Fix in 2002 or 2003.

If an unfortunate Mitsubishi owner, make sure to demand that a work order is initiated regarding the rust, and the dealer puts their response in writing on it, and you get a copy.

I would not suggest you accept any repair where Mitsubishi is having the body-shop to stand behind the "repair" work.

Mitsubishi Motors is at fault through their poor design and manufacturing for this rusting problem, and don't get stuck on having to deal with the body-shop when the rust breaks through again. Make sure that Mitsubishi guarantees the work in writing.

We had four quotes, and the body-shops stated that they could not guarantee the work, because the rusted areas are not accessible for repair; only a cover-up with paint is possible.

I have checked other Mitsubishi cars, including the Mitsubishi Eclipse, and all of the ones checked had rusting welded seams in the engine compartment. I could not elevate the cars at the time to see how bad the rusting was underneath. The owners and onlookers were surprised at how extensive the rust was.

Some Mitsubishi cars had areas as large as 2-1/2" in diameter where the metal and paint were lifting up (blistering) at the strut support welded seams, and the cars were less than two years old.

Any weakening of these areas can result in collapse of the strut supports and affect your steering, endangering you and others.

Also, the rust will weaken the welded seams, and affect the crashworthiness of the vehicle, again endangering you and others riding with you.

See my website at http://www.all-lemons.com for pictures of the car.