Caution statements regarding the disposal of certain SRS components have been incorrect in the service manuals of affected vehicles. This TSB provides updated caution statements.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Mitsubishi Galant airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
3crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 10 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Mitsubishi Galant we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 Mitsubishi Galant has produced contradictory but serious airbag failures across this sample. Owners reported two distinct problems: complete non-deployment during crashes and inadvertent deployment without impact.
Non-deployment occurred in three documented crashes. At 90,000 miles, both front and rear impacts produced no airbag deployment despite injuries requiring medical attention; that vehicle was totaled. At 47,000 miles, a frontal crash at 60 MPH saw no deployment. A third multi-impact incident (rear-end followed by head-on collision) showed no front airbag inflation, though the steering wheel attempted deployment and emitted smoke and fumes, raising fire concerns.
Inadvertent deployment happened at lower speeds. At 130,000 miles, the driver-side bag deployed at 20 MPH with no collision, striking the driver's face and chest; the seat belt then became inoperable. At 110,000 miles, the passenger-side bag deployed at 15 MPH with no collision. A dealer found front bumper damage and suspected sensor failure.
One owner reported a fractured airbag compartment at 96,923 miles. Another noted airbag warning lights on a used purchase where the private seller had reportedly unplugged wiring to hide the warnings.
Owners who contacted Mitsubishi reported the manufacturer referred one to an attorney. Most vehicles went unrepaired.
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in collision
Front and side airbags failed to deploy during significant frontal and side-impact crashes where deployment was warranted.
When: 90,000 miles; 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during rear-end collision; No airbag deployment during head-on frontal crash; No airbag deployment during side-impact collision
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle deemed total loss; suspension and body damage present; no repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred contact to attorney
Inadvertent airbag deployment
Driver-side and passenger-side airbags deployed without collision or impact, creating hazardous conditions for occupants.
When: 130,000 miles; 110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front driver-side airbag deployed at 20 MPH with no collision; Passenger-side airbag deployed at 15 MPH with no collision; No warning light illuminated before deployment; Impact struck face and chest
Repairs/costs cited: Seat belt became inoperable after deployment; dealer advised cutting airbag off steering wheel; no repairs completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; dealer contact made
Airbag deployment failure with warning signs
Steering wheel attempted airbag deployment that did not fully inflate during severe multi-impact crash, with smoke and fumes emanating from steering wheel assembly.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag attempted deployment but failed to inflate; Smoke and fumes coming from steering wheel; Concern of fire or explosion risk
Airbag compartment fracture
Fractured airbag compartment discovered requiring airbag and compartment replacement.
When: 96,923 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fractured airbag compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis: airbags and compartment needed replacement; no repairs completed
Airbag warning light with disabled wiring
Airbag warning lights reported illuminated; wiring reportedly unplugged to disable warning display.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning lights on
Repairs/costs cited: Wires reportedly unplugged by private dealer to disable warning lights
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
I was completely stopped, waiting to make a left turn when a car barrelled up behind me and hit me from behind. The impact caused my car to be thrown into the lane of oncoming traffic, and another car hit me head-on. My car was being tossed around like a tin can. When it finally came to a stop, the steering wheel was trying to deploy the airbag, but it never inflated. But, smoke and fumes…
Tl*the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi galant. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a frontal crash but the air bags did not deploy. There were no prior problems with the air bags. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current and failure mileages were approximately 47,000.
SRS light light is on after replacing airbags
My SRS light is on
My Mitsubishi sra ligth came on.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi galant. The contact stated that the air bag compartment was fractured. The contact took the vehicle to the don harring Mitsubishi dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bags needed to be replaced and the air bag compartment needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The…
Shannon bell private dealer is selling this car with a unrepairable cv axel. I purchased it and di my home work he rolled the miles back. He's falsely advertising it as clean tie and 190 something miles. That's even less then when I had it. Air bag lights are on and he unplugged the wires along with seatbelt so the lights don't show.
Tl* the contact owned a 2009 Mitsubishi galant. While the contact's husband was driving at unknown speeds, he crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The driver sustained injuries to his head and the passenger sustained bruises. Medical attention was not required. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was not towed. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle…
The contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the front driver's side air bag deployed inadvertently and struck the contact’s face and chest. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately slammed on the brake pedal and then pulled into a parking spot. The contact stated there was no collision before the air bag deployment. The contact stated…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Mitsubishi galant. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH the passenger side air bag inadvertently deployed. The contact also stated that there was no collision. The contact maneuvered to the side of the street. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer and the diagnosis was that the vehicle displayed a front bumper damage therefore the sensor was damaged.…
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Mitsubishi Galant?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 72,000 and 130,000 miles, with the median around 96,923. A quarter of owners report trouble before 72,000; a quarter make it past 130,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Mitsubishi/Galant.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.