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1996 Mitsubishi Galant

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Galant years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant are substantially higher than the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 15 of 136 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports4 fire reports18 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
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90,450 miles · Jun 10, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED THREE TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY, I PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE, AND PRESSED THE GAS; IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENTIRE EVERYTHING WOULD FALL OUT. MY TRANSMISSION HA…

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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED THREE TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY, I PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE, AND PRESSED THE GAS; IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENTIRE EVERYTHING WOULD FALL OUT. MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT WITHOUT WARNING, AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I NOW SEE THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MITSUBISHI TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND COMPENSATE US, THE CONSUMERS. IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL ONLY LOSE CUSTOMERS. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021330

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

AIR CONDITIONER BELT HAS BUSTED 3 TIMES. IF ENGINE PULLEY SITS STILL TOO LONG IT WEARS BELT OUT IF NOT REPAIRED IN TIME. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE ADD MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8006894

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, OIL DIPSTICK REGISTERED EMPTY, DEALER REPLACED WATER PUMP, REAR MAIN SEAL, CRANKSHAFT AND A/C P/S BELTS AND VALVES, OIL ALSO LEAKING AT THE DISTRIBTOR AROUND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *TT

NHTSA ODI #563911

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755301

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

THE OIL DIPSTICK INDICATED EMPTY ONE WEEK AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER A WEEKS DRIVING. CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINS THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE AND THE PROBLEM THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING, THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, REAR MAIN SEA…

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THE OIL DIPSTICK INDICATED EMPTY ONE WEEK AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN AFTER A WEEKS DRIVING. CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINS THE VEHICLES PERFORMANCE AND THE PROBLEM THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING, THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE WEEK AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, REAR MAIN SEAL AND CRANKSHAFT. *YH

NHTSA ODI #563509

Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

THE CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED IN ONLY FOUR YEARS, THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECALLED BUT REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #555849

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN CAR STARTED VIBRATING AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD CRACKED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED PRIOR TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM ENGINE, CYLINDER HEAD WAS WARPED, RADIATOR ALSO PARTIALLY MELTED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #886948

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WAS PULLING OUT WHEN A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE VEHICLE WAS HEARD, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT HARMONIC BALANCE, RUBBER RING WAS CORRODED. *AK THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLES ACCORDING TO A NUMBER OF DEALER MECHANICS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #886947

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS HAD A LOT OF PLAY. VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS, 00V421001, HOWEVER DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. TRANSMISSIO…

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LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS HAD A LOT OF PLAY. VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS, 00V421001, HOWEVER DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #882523

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE AT 30,000 MILES AND 58,000 MILES. *AK IN ADDITION TO RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE HEAD LIGHT PLUGS HAD BURNED OUT. THE HEAD LIGHT PARTS AND THE A/C SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE CONSUMER DOES NOT …

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TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE AT 30,000 MILES AND 58,000 MILES. *AK IN ADDITION TO RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE HEAD LIGHT PLUGS HAD BURNED OUT. THE HEAD LIGHT PARTS AND THE A/C SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ENGINE OIL LEAK NEAR FRONT CRANK SEAL. OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879591

Official recalls

3

00V421001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Dec 18, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE. ALSO, MMC HAS ADDED THE POTENTIAL OF LEAKING MOISTURE, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BALL STUD TO CORRODE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERCEDES MMC'S PREVIOUS SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN, SEE 99V-066.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT FOR WEAR. BALL JOINTS THAT EXHIBIT WEAR BEYOND THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY DESIGNED LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS. BALL JOINTS THAT ARE WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TOLERANCE WILL BE CLEANED AND A SPECIAL SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO PREVENT INTRUSION OF MOISTURE.

00V237000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Aug 25, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CRACKS CAN OCCUR IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN IMPROPER SPOT WELD ON THE BAFFLE PLATE TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK COULD ALLOW FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK FOR ANY SIGNS OF CRACKING. IF NO CRACKING OR LEAKING IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEALING PROTECTOR PLATE. IF ANY CRACKING OR LEAKAGE IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.

99V066001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Apr 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE RUBBER BOOTS ON THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINTS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, DIRT AND WATER CAN INTRUDE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

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

1

RQ00015 · Lower Contrtol Arm Ball Joint

Opened Aug 2, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (3)

Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Suspension

There is no summary currently available