TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK IMPOSSIBLE TO READ, NOTIFIED DEALER, DEALER SAID THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS DESIGNED. I'M WORRIED BECAUSE TRANMISSIONS ARE A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS GENERATION OF MITSUBISHI GALANT. CAN THIS BE CORRECTED BY A DIPSTICK REDESIGN?
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
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: 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.
Power Train complaints
36 reportsTHE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF MY 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND REENGAGES. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS LOST WHEN THIS HAPPENS.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY @ 96,498 MILES IN 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT VIN# [XXX].....COLEMAN TAYLOR TRANSMISSION/MEMPHIS TN ATTEMPTED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION FOR 3 WEEKS.....HAD TO REMOVE AND GET ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION......4 DAYS AFTER PICKING CAR UP.....GEARS 1-3 SLAM SEVERELY IN AND OUT OF GEARS UP AND DOWN......GEARS 4…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY @ 96,498 MILES IN 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT VIN# [XXX].....COLEMAN TAYLOR TRANSMISSION/MEMPHIS TN ATTEMPTED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION FOR 3 WEEKS.....HAD TO REMOVE AND GET ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION......4 DAYS AFTER PICKING CAR UP.....GEARS 1-3 SLAM SEVERELY IN AND OUT OF GEARS UP AND DOWN......GEARS 4-5 OK AN EXPRESSWAY......REPORTED PROB TO COLEMAN TAYLOR....SUGGESTED (ON A SATURDAY) TO REMOVE GROUND FROM BATTERY TO RE-SET COMPUTER AND TOLD TO TEST DRIVE....TEST DROVE AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLAMMING IN AND OUT OF GEARS 1-3 SEVERELY AND MAKING A TERRIBLE NOICE, CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN INTO A DITCH.....CAR IS EXPECTED TO BE DETERMINED A TOTALED BY PROGRESSIVE INS TODAY...........AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.........CAUSED A $75.00 TOWING AND FINE BY MEMPHIS POLICE DEPT FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN OUTLOOK (THEY FELT SORRY FOR US!)...*AK
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
HI, I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY LASTED FOR 1 OR IF WE WERE LUCKY 2 YEARS. NOW WE ALL READY PUT THREE OF THEM IN THE CAR IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, TWO WERE NEW AND ONE WAS USED. NOW I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE BUT WHEN YOU AR…
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HI, I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY LASTED FOR 1 OR IF WE WERE LUCKY 2 YEARS. NOW WE ALL READY PUT THREE OF THEM IN THE CAR IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, TWO WERE NEW AND ONE WAS USED. NOW I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE BUT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT THREE KIDS THAT'S A LOT. WELL MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY ARE WE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT THAT WHEN THEY BUILT THIS CAR THAT THEY WERE TEST CARS .AND THEY SAID THAT AS LONG AS I OWN THIS CAR I WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. AND THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE ONE IN LIVERPOOL NEW YORK . SO PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP LET ME NOW WHAT I CAN DO. THANK YOU. *JB
I OWNED MY CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROX. 40000 MILES WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THAT TIME AND I HAD TO PAY $1700 TO REPAIR IT. 4 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A THIRD TIME, I BOUGHT A USED TRANSMISSION A…
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I OWNED MY CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROX. 40000 MILES WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THAT TIME AND I HAD TO PAY $1700 TO REPAIR IT. 4 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A THIRD TIME, I BOUGHT A USED TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT INSTALLED. THE TRANSMISSION STILL DOES NOT ACT RIGHT, SHIFTING HARD AND THUMPING A LOT. THERE IS DEFINITLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE CARS AND OR TRANSMISSIONS. DT
ON MARCH 20, 1999 I PURCHASED THE MITSUBISHI GALANT FROM MARK ESCUDE TOYOTA OF 955 I-20 S. FRONTAGE RD JACKSON< MS 39204 (601) 948-3420. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, ABOUT 15-20 MILES AWAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT & HAD TO BE TOWED BACK. ON MARCH 24, 1999 WE RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, 2 HOURS AWAY, TO PICK UP THE CAR. …
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ON MARCH 20, 1999 I PURCHASED THE MITSUBISHI GALANT FROM MARK ESCUDE TOYOTA OF 955 I-20 S. FRONTAGE RD JACKSON< MS 39204 (601) 948-3420. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, ABOUT 15-20 MILES AWAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT & HAD TO BE TOWED BACK. ON MARCH 24, 1999 WE RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, 2 HOURS AWAY, TO PICK UP THE CAR. NOW, ALMOST 30000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT ONCE AGAIN, MAKING THIS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION TO BE PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER GOING ONLINE & DOING CHECKS ON THE '96 GALANT'S TRANSMISSION I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS CASES AFTER CASES OF THE SAME GALANT S SERIES IN WHICH I HAVE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. UNDOUBTABLEY, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS PATICULAR MODEL THAT IS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH 2 DIFFERRENT PEOPLE WITH MITSUBISHI MOTORS & THEY FEEL THAT IT IS JUST COINSIDENCE THAT THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I FEEL THAT BY PUTTING ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR WILL NOT SOLVE ANYTHING BUT ONLY RUIN ANOTHER TRANSMISSION COSTING THE CONSUMER. DT
WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION LAGGED THE KICKED INTO GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED, IT LAGGED AND SOMETHING POPPED AND HAD NO GEARS AT ALL. THE CAR DID STILL RUN, PRESSING THE GAS DID NO GOOD.*AK
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
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
Official recalls
300V421001 · 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
1RQ00015 · 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
Illustration