TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR AFTER REPLACING TRANSMISSION WITH OTHER UNIT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. ( APRIL 2005) MAKES A LOUD BANG WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO 1ST GEAR UPON STOPPING. *NM
1991 Mitsubishi Galant
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Galant years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 63 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
39 reportsRIGHT BOOT HAS SELF DESTRUCTED FOR THE THIRD TIME (THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 35000 & I WAS TOLD THEY SHOULD BE GOOD FOR AT LEAST 60000 - THE LEFT ONE WAS). LEFT BOOT HAS ONLY HAD TO BE REPLACED 1 TIME (AROUND 65000)& WAS NOT AS BADLY DAMAGED AS THE RIGHT HAS BEEN EVERY TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVIN…
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RIGHT BOOT HAS SELF DESTRUCTED FOR THE THIRD TIME (THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 35000 & I WAS TOLD THEY SHOULD BE GOOD FOR AT LEAST 60000 - THE LEFT ONE WAS). LEFT BOOT HAS ONLY HAD TO BE REPLACED 1 TIME (AROUND 65000)& WAS NOT AS BADLY DAMAGED AS THE RIGHT HAS BEEN EVERY TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM & WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. COMPUTER CHIP DIED AROUND 95000 EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD IT WOULD LAST LONGER. FRIEND'S MITSUBISHI CHIP DIED ALSO BUT IT WAS AT 120000. REPAIR SHOP STATED THEY HAVE HAD MANY MITSUBISHI COMPUTER CHIP PROBLEM CARS BROUGHT IN - MOST PEOPLE JUNK THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I HAD TO REPLACE A WORN BELT ("GOOD FOR 60000") AT 25000. GEAR SHIFT CABLE BROKE A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW). ARE THESE PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD?
PURCHASED A VEHICLE AT EASTABOGA AUTO SALES. DROVE THE CAR FOR 1 DAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE HE HAD JUST PUT A NEW MOTOR IN IT AND IT HAD BEEN SITTING UP FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS TO DRIVE IT AND LET EVERYTHING GET BROKEN IN.SO THE NEXT DAY …
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PURCHASED A VEHICLE AT EASTABOGA AUTO SALES. DROVE THE CAR FOR 1 DAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE HE HAD JUST PUT A NEW MOTOR IN IT AND IT HAD BEEN SITTING UP FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS TO DRIVE IT AND LET EVERYTHING GET BROKEN IN.SO THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULDNT MOVE . SO IT SIT IN MY YARD FOR ANOTHER DAY. FINALLY IHAD TO HAVE MY HUSBAND PUSH ME TO GET IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT .HE SAID HE'D FIND A TRANSMISSION SO NOW HE WANTS ME TO PY $900.00 TO FIX IT AND ALL I WANT HIM TO DO IS GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE HE HAS THE CAR. BUT HE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO?
REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT AXLES IN 1991 MITSUBISHI GALANT AFTER ONLY 55,577 MILES.*AK
VEHICLE HAD A RECALL DONE ON VEHICLE REGARDING TRANSFER CASE A FEW YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED AGAIN. TRANSFER CASE WILL LOCK UP WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.AK
OVERDRIVE FLUID IS LEAKING, ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT ALL DEALER DID WAS TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. THEN, DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V16800…
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OVERDRIVE FLUID IS LEAKING, ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT ALL DEALER DID WAS TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. THEN, DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V16800. *MJ
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 98V16800 FOR TRASNFER CASE. HE IS STILL HAVING PROBLEM SINCE RECALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, TECHNICIAN STATED TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHEN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION IS COLD AND CONSUMER STEPS ON BRAKES, TRANSMISSION WON'T DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGH SPEED. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING STRAIGHT THROUGH A LIGHT. SOMETIMES, THERE'S A LOUD BANG WHEN STOPPING.*AK *SLC
WHEN VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN IT IS VERY SLUGGISH AND DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Official recalls
198V168000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jul 22, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3RQ98007 · Transfer Case Leakage
Opened May 11, 1998 · Closed Aug 28, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
EA98002 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Jan 30, 1998 · Closed Apr 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
No summary supplied.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
Wheels
EA95004 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 1, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
Illustration