MitsubishiGalant20022.4L/mitsubishi/galant/2002/2-4l/

2002 Mitsubishi Galant — 2.4L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 Galant 2.4L.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine 2.4LTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2002 Mitsubishi Galant is a front-engine, front-wheel-drive passenger car powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission. It carries a modest EPA fuel-economy rating of 18 city, 26 highway, and 21 combined mpg, and requires 4.5 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 oil. Within the model’s reliability history spanning 1990 to 2012, the 2002 model year recorded 142 owner complaints—the most common issue involving the service brakes, hydraulic system—and three recalls, placing it well above the lowest-complaint year (2011, with 3 complaints) but below the peak (1994, with 263 complaints), indicating a middling reliability position for this generation.

Model year201220112010200920082007200620052002

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 86 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter MZ690072. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 86 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP195-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072 alt MZ690116
Engine air filterMB906051
Fuel filterMR431089 alt MR993092
Spark plugMD313442 alt MS851357
Front wiper blades8250A536 alt MZ693015
Serpentine beltMN187017 alt MN187016
ThermostatMD350415 alt MD328070

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 26 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsDOHC: 14 ft-lbs; SOHC:
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts98 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head BoltsM8 fastners: 36 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub167 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance8500-11,500 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.028-0.035 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing5, Not adjustable degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.39-1.48 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type56
Oil Capacity4.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number86
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)47.0-50.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)38.0 psi
Engine Compression185-139 PSI. 14 Maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression139-185 psi
Engine Oil Pressure4.2 psi @ Idle, 43-85 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket36-43 ft-lbs / 65 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle40 ft-lbs / 65-80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Runout Limit0.0031 in / 0.0024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.394 in / 0.945 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9415 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
158 ft. lbs.58 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts completely.
315 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
490 degrees.90 degrees
590 degrees.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil.

180.0 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs
2Loosen all bolts 360 degrees360 degrees
380.0 ft. lbs.80 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miDistributor Cap (inspect) · Distributor Rotor (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record shows that 1999 through 2001 constituted the most active period for this era, with complaints reaching 237 in 1999 and recalls peaking at 11 in 2000. By 2002, complaints eased to 142, recalls fell to 3, and TSBs declined to 104 from 138 the previous year, indicating a clear retreat from that spike. The 2002 model year lands immediately after that crest and just ahead of 2003's similar 139 complaints and 3 recalls, while remaining well above the calmer figures recorded from 2004 onward. Reported concerns for 2002 centered on Service Brakes/Hydraulic, Electrical System, Air Bags, and Structure, with 22 crash-related and 10 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify underlying causes. Because 2002 sits past the worst years of elevated recall activity yet carries higher federal filings than the later low-point years, it offers a middle-ground risk profile that makes it a reasonably acceptable but not outstanding year to buy.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
104
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
142
Owner complaints
22 involved a crash · 10 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 142 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic21
Electrical System16
Air Bags15
Structure15
Visibility14
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Tires3
Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

02V147000Electrical System:Wiring:Front UnderhoodReported 29/05/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ROUTING OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT HARNESS CAN ALLOW IT TO COME IN CONTACT WITH A ROUGH EDGE, ALLOWING ABRASION. THIS COULD RESULT IN GROUNDED CIRCUITS. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR, ELIMINATING ANY HARNESS CONTACT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON…

04V428000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 01/09/2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE… Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 104 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DEALER LETTER2023-07-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-23-00-0042023-04-24StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for…
TSB-23-00-0012023-04-24EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the…
DEALER LETTER2023-04-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-22-54-0032022-04-07Exterior LightingThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Galant. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 Galant 2.4L take?

4.5 qt of ABOVE 0 degreesF 10W-30 SL API, BELOW 100 degreesF 5W-30 SL API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 Galant have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 2.4L get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.