IllustrationCONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. DURING A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 20 MPH, AND OTHER VEHICLE WAS GOING 60 MPH, AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
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.
27 crash reports4 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
136 reportsTHE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEM, SUCH AS BRAKE PADS LINING AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2,000 MILES, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 2000 MILES, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT TH…
Read full complaint
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEM, SUCH AS BRAKE PADS LINING AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 2,000 MILES, WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK THE CONSUMER HAS REPEATEDLY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS EVERY 2000 MILES, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE SALESMAN THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRUM NOT HAVING PROPER VENTILATION
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURY.
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND THAT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN TRANSMISSION BECAME INOPERATIVE WITHOUT ANY WARNING, RESULTING IN LOSS CONTROL. CONSUMER THEN HAD TO PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL. *AK
WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED IT SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING METAL TO METAL. DEALER CALLED THIS PROBLEM PREMATURE WEAR. *AK
THE RUBBER DOOR SEAL ON THE BOTH REAR DOORS KEEP COMING OFF. THE DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO COLD WEATHER . THE SEALS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4-5 TIMES. *AK
THE DRIVER'S HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD AFTER RUNNING INTO A DITCH WHILE TRYING TO MISS HITTING A DEER ON THE ROAD BECAUSE THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
LEFT WINDOW LOOSE.
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