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Mitsubishi Galant Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Mitsubishi Galant car check

Is the Mitsubishi Galant reliable? We analysed 121,113 real MOT tests across 16,216 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 121,113 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
66.8%
Typical Mileage
93,977mi
Annual Mileage
5,932mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Mitsubishi Galant is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded and position lamp(s) not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Mitsubishi Galant.

Mitsubishi Galant Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Mitsubishi Galant. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Mitsubishi Galant MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Mitsubishi Galant to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

71.5%
2009
70.5%
2008
77.2%
2007
67.2%
2006
69.6%
2005
70.4%
2004
68.9%
2003
69.4%
2002
67.8%
2001
67.2%
2000
67.4%
1999
66.9%
1998
66%
1997
65.3%
1996
63.3%
1995
62.4%
1994
62.8%
1993
63.1%
1992
64.8%
1991
64.7%
1990

Mitsubishi Galant Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Mitsubishi Galant fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 8,016
Brake pipe excessively corroded 7,649
position lamp(s) not working 4,566
Suspension component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded 4,411
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 3,987
Suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint 3,601
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 3,138
Headlamp aim too low 3,032
Registration plate lamp not working 2,792
Stop lamp not working 2,612

Mitsubishi Galant Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Mitsubishi Galant owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
3,349 mi/yr
Typical
5,932 mi/yr
Average
6,944 mi/yr
Heavy usage
9,215 mi/yr

Mitsubishi Galant MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Mitsubishi Galant year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 172 71.5% 86,192 102,750 119,066
2008 146 70.5% 91,007 114,532 134,966
2007 158 77.2% 93,850 116,705 131,512
2006 189 67.2% 59,574 87,022 113,869
2005 112 69.6% 70,677 86,573 109,295
2004 331 70.4% 64,241 86,671 107,977
2003 3,596 68.9% 51,705 74,872 102,679
2002 11,886 69.4% 52,540 75,945 101,231
2001 17,073 67.8% 62,864 86,105 111,568
2000 18,400 67.2% 71,295 94,826 121,205
1999 13,731 67.4% 73,189 94,817 120,444
1998 21,014 66.9% 75,397 97,453 123,486
1997 12,525 66.0% 79,270 101,231 125,954
1996 2,190 65.3% 73,168 93,286 113,974
1995 3,023 63.3% 79,533 99,403 122,377
1994 3,150 62.4% 82,486 101,859 122,236
1993 3,322 62.8% 84,228 106,872 130,449
1992 2,502 63.1% 79,160 101,752 123,446
1991 2,372 64.8% 82,518 108,553 133,434
1990 2,071 64.7% 80,121 104,281 130,232

How Long Does a Mitsubishi Galant Last?

Based on 16,216 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles on UK roads.

Average
12.6 years
Median
12.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Mitsubishi Galant Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Mitsubishi Galant MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
93,977 mi
75th Percentile
119,672 mi
95th Percentile
161,900 mi
Max Recorded
990,118 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Mitsubishi Galant

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
1986

77.4% MOT pass rate from 62 tests

Year to avoid
1994

62.4% MOT pass rate from 3,150 tests

The best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Galant is 1986, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 77.4% across 62 tests. The 1994 model year has the lowest pass rate at 62.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Mitsubishi Galant Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Mitsubishi Galant THIS CAR 66.8% 121,113 93,977 mi 37 yrs
Mitsubishi L200 74.1% 1,362,678 80,302 mi 29 yrs
Mitsubishi Shogun 71.9% 1,312,716 107,142 mi 37 yrs
Mitsubishi Colt 72.5% 950,325 59,666 mi 30 yrs
Ford Mustang 83.9% 140,135 33,720 mi 32 yrs

Compared to the Mitsubishi L200 (74.1% pass rate) and the Mitsubishi Shogun (71.9% pass rate), the Mitsubishi Galant trails behind on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Mitsubishi Galant?

The Mitsubishi Galant has an overall MOT pass rate of 66.8% across 121,113 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Mitsubishi Galant are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (8,016 recorded failures), brake pipe excessively corroded (7,649), and position lamp(s) not working (4,566). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Mitsubishi Galant owner drives around 5,932 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Mitsubishi Galant models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Mitsubishi Galant — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Mitsubishi Galant reliable?
Based on 121,113 MOT tests, the Mitsubishi Galant has a 66.8% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Mitsubishi Galant?
The most common MOT failures are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, brake pipe excessively corroded, and position lamp(s) not working. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Mitsubishi Galant do per year?
The typical Mitsubishi Galant does around 5,932 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Mitsubishi Galant last?
Most Mitsubishi Galant models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 16,216 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Mitsubishi Galant?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Mitsubishi Galant?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Mitsubishi Galant is 1986 with a 77.4% pass rate across 62 tests.