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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 →
136Owner complaints

Model-year median: 26

3Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
9
1993198
1994209
1995136
199680
199753
1998215
1999
Compare all Galant years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
36Service Brakes, Hydraulic
28Air Bags
20Suspension
19Engine And Engine Cooling
16
All reported categories
Structure
13Visibility
8Vehicle Speed Control
7Electrical System
6Seat Belts
5Equipment
4Steering
4Fuel System, Gasoline
2Seats
2Service Brakes, Air
2Tires
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

28 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlVisibility

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY SUN ROOF, BRAKES, GAS, ACCELERATION AND OVER HEATING OF MY CAR. MY SUN ROOF ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH IT EVERY TIME I OPEN IT. MY BREAKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES BECAUSE THE WEAR OUT QUICK. WHEN I BREAK MY TIERS SKIP THE CAR STOPS BUT THE TIERS KEEP TUR…

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I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY SUN ROOF, BRAKES, GAS, ACCELERATION AND OVER HEATING OF MY CAR. MY SUN ROOF ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH IT EVERY TIME I OPEN IT. MY BREAKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES BECAUSE THE WEAR OUT QUICK. WHEN I BREAK MY TIERS SKIP THE CAR STOPS BUT THE TIERS KEEP TURNING. MY GAS IS GONE QUICK AND I ONLY DRIVE HERE IN TOWN FROM WORK TO HOME TO DAYCARE. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON THE SPEEDOMETER MOVES BY ITS SELF AS IF I WERE PUSHING THE GAS PEDDLE AND MY FOOTS ON THE BREAK WHEN IT DOES IT BY ITS SELF AND IT DOES IT WHEN I'M DRIVING. I CAN DRIVE A BLOCK AND MY CAR GETS REALLY HOT AND THE FAN IS ON RIGHT AWAY. I CAN'T STAND MY CARE ANYMORE ITS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088235

60,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT A BRICK WALL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10065556

82,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSED A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064562

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT AND REAR BRAKES LEAKED.

NHTSA ODI #9005248

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. ALSO, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE SERVICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #885746

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicTires

WHILE TRAVELING HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND THEN NOTICED TIRE WAS BENT . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882673

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DISC BRAKE ROTORS NEED TO BE TURNED OR REPLACED EVERY 5000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #726049

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

CAR WOULD NOT STOP APPROACHING RED LIGHT/NO AIR IN LINE DETECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725585

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING AND A NOISE WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. ALSO, ENGINE IDLES AND THE ACCELERATOR SCREECHES WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857961

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKES WOULD MAING GRINDING,/QUEAKING NOISE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN. MECHANIC REPLACED ENTIRE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. SIX MONTHS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM REAPPEARED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853833

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