Head-to-head reliability
Mitsubishi Galant vs Toyota Camry
How the Mitsubishi Galant and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mitsubishi Galant vs Toyota Camry: The Galant averages 32 complaints per year, while the Camry averages 214, but the Camry's issues often involve costly transmission and engine repairs. The Galant has more reports of glass shattering and airbag failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mitsubishi Galant or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mitsubishi Galant
The Mitsubishi Galant, a midsize sedan, shows a moderate complaint rate of about 32 per year over the last decade. Owners report issues that affect safety and comfort, including windows and sunroofs shattering without impact, structural concerns leading to loss of control, and airbag problems. These patterns suggest a vehicle that may have quality control issues in glass and safety systems, making thorough inspections crucial.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry, a popular midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume (about 214 per year), reflecting its larger sales base. Complaints center on powertrain issues like transmission failures and grinding noises, engine problems including sudden acceleration, and brake failures. While many Camrys are reliable, these reports indicate that some units experience serious mechanical issues that could affect safety and require costly repairs.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mitsubishi Galant | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 317 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 10 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 40 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 31.7 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 37 Better | 163 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mitsubishi Galant
- 01VISIBILITY61
- 02STRUCTURE58
- 03AIR BAGS50
- 04SERVICE BRAKES37
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM35
Owners report driver windows and sunroofs shattering without cause, sometimes while parked or driving, posing a risk of injury and distraction. This suggests potential glass defects or installation issues.
Reports include loss of control and abnormal maneuvering, possibly due to suspension or steering components, and sunroof shattering that caused swerving. These structural concerns could compromise vehicle stability.
Complaints mention airbags not deploying in crashes, leading to injuries, and passenger airbag covers separating from the dashboard. This indicates potential airbag system malfunctions that could fail to protect occupants.
Brake issues include scraping sounds, wires sticking out near the steering wheel, and premature pad wear. Owners report persistent problems even after repairs, suggesting brake system defects.
“THE DRIVER WINDOW IS BREAKING WITHOUT CAUSE. HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. DID NOT TAKE PICTURE. BUT INSURANCE FIXED THE MOST RECENT SHATTERING INCIDENT--SO IF PICTURE NEEDED CAN OBTAIN IN THE FUTURE. ONCE OCCURRENCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. A…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Transmission problems are frequent, with grinding noises and failures requiring replacement. Some owners note that recalls exist for similar issues, but their VINs are not included, leaving them with costly repairs.
Serious engine issues include sudden unintended acceleration, which led to a crash, and coolant valve bypass codes that may not be covered by recall. These can pose significant safety risks.
Brake failure reports include complete loss of braking on hills, requiring emergency maneuvers. This is a critical safety concern that demands immediate attention.
While not detailed in samples, electrical complaints are common, potentially affecting various systems. Owners may experience issues with sensors, lighting, or other electronic components.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mitsubishi Galant — 10 recalls
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 GALANT VEHICLES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY ON SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE INSUFFICIENT PLATING TO PREVENT CORROSION, IF THE PIPE SHOULD DEVELOP A HOLE DUE TO CORROSION, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
The risk: ATF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
The fix: DEALERS WILL HAVE THE AFT OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY INSPECTED. IF INSUFFICIENT PLATING IS FOUND DURING INSPECTION, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE AFT OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY WITH NEW PARTS CONTAINING APPROPRIATE ANTI-CORROSION PLATING. THIS S…
The defect: 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 META…
The risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The fix: 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…
The defect: MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 73,000 MY 2004-2006 GALLANT PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VEHICLE USE, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE (WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM) MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCKING CAM TO FALL FORWARD AND ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARS…
The risk: IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE REPORTED CONDITION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH CONTROLS THE FLUID PRESSURE TO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES, MAY ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO BYPASS INTERNALLY DURING STOPPING.
The risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mitsubishi Galant or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mitsubishi Galant has fewer complaints per year (about 32) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 214), but the Galant's issues are more concentrated on safety-critical areas like glass and airbags. In practice, the Camry's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the nature of its powertrain and brake problems could be more expensive to fix.
Key differences
- Galant owners report windows and sunroofs shattering spontaneously, while Camry owners report transmission failures and grinding noises.
- Galant has airbag deployment failures, while Camry has sudden unintended acceleration incidents.
- Camry has a much higher complaint volume, but that is partly due to its larger sales numbers.
- Galant's brake issues include scraping and premature wear, while Camry's include complete brake failure on hills.
- Inspect all glass (windows, sunroof) for cracks or signs of stress, and ask about any replacements.
- Check airbag warning lights and ensure no recalls are outstanding for airbags.
- Test drive and listen for transmission grinding or hesitation, and check for any transmission-related recalls.
- Check for any engine-related codes, especially coolant valve issues, and verify if recalls apply to the VIN.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a mechanic inspect the suspension and steering components on the Galant.
- On the Camry, have the transmission and brakes professionally inspected.
- Test all windows and sunroof operation on the Galant.
- Check for any signs of previous accident damage on both vehicles.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mitsubishi Galant or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mitsubishi Galant vs Toyota Camry
- Mitsubishi Galant total complaints
- 317
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mitsubishi Galant total recalls
- 10
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mitsubishi Galant avg complaints/year
- 31.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mitsubishi Galant
- Mitsubishi Galant top complaint area
- VISIBILITY
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN