YearToAvoid

2006 Mitsubishi Galant Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2006 Mitsubishi Galant has a complaint index of 57, ranking 4th worst out of 8 model years, with a Caution verdict. Electrical system issues dominate complaints (42% share), plus one fuel system recall covering 45,988 vehicles.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
57/100
#4 of 8 Galant years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
24
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2012
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2006 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System10 (42%)
  2. Airbags5 (21%)
  3. Brakes4 (17%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (13%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers3 (13%)
  6. Engine2 (8%)
  7. Steering2 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (8%)
  9. Fuel System1 (4%)
  10. Other1 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Wiring harness and brake light circuits overheat or melt, sometimes requiring harness replacement and recurring on the opposite side months later.
  • Electrical failures can cascade, knocking out the alternator, battery, engine control module, airbag system, headlights, and radio at once.
  • Ignition keys reportedly shatter into pieces during normal starting, with replacement keys failing the same way.
  • Rear window regulators break on both sides within weeks of each other after several years of ownership.
  • Side airbags reportedly failed to deploy during rollover or collision crashes.
  • Steering reportedly felt like it was overreacting or self-correcting during turns at highway speed.
2006 Mitsubishi Galant complaints: complaints filed per month2Oct 2006Nov 2007Aug 2010Jan 2011Jul 2012May 2014Nov 2018
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2006 to May 2020; peak Mar 2007 (2).

2006 Mitsubishi Galant recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 08V454000Sep 9, 2008Fuel System45,988 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly

    Mitsubishi is recalling 45,988 my 2005-2007 endeavor, galant, eclipse coupe, and my 2007 eclipse spyder vehicles. The bracket that is the attachment point for the left rear fuel tank mounting strap may have been improperly formed during a metal stamping process. The process may have caused the metal to have a split in the area where the bolt that holds one of the two fuel tank straps to the underside of the vehicle is located. In the event the fuel tank is full and the vehicle is subject to a severe collision, the bracket may break and allow the fuel tank to drop down, possibly causing a fuel leak.

    Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect to see if the left rear fuel tank strap mounting bracket has splitting beyond a specific limit. Vehicles with moderate to severe splitting will be repaired using a reinforcement cap, a special structural adhesive, and a rivet to reinforce the fuel tank mounting bracket. The recall began on september 20, 2008. Owners may contact mitsubishi at 1-800-222-0037.

2006 Mitsubishi Galant fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other Galant years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006200720082009201020112012
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good2926321
2006Caution5724121
2007Avoid8624121
2008Good06021.5

All Mitsubishi Galant years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?
It carries a complaint index of 57 and a Caution verdict, ranking 4th worst among the 8 Galant model years with available data. Electrical system problems make up 42% of its complaints.
What problems does the 2006 Mitsubishi Galant have?
NHTSA complaints show electrical system issues (42% of complaints, including melted wiring and total electrical failure), airbag deployment concerns (21%), and brake pad wear complaints (17%).
Does the 2006 Mitsubishi Galant have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (08V454000) covers a possible fuel tank mounting bracket issue affecting 45,988 vehicles including 2005-2007 Galants. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2006 Galant compare to other model years?
The 2006 model's complaint index of 57 is worse than the 2005 (29), 2008 (0), 2010 (43), and 2012 (14) model years, but better than the 2007 (86) and 2009 (100) years, which are rated Avoid.
At what mileage do 2006 Galant electrical problems typically appear?
The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints is 65,000 miles, based on NHTSA data.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.