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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2002
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #770400
Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Visibility
THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH WILL NOT ROLL WINDOWS UP OR DOWN. AT FIRST THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL WOULD NOT OPERATE ANY WINDOWS IN VEHICLE. THEN THE DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW QUIT WORKING ALSO. IT SEEMS AS IF THE MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. DT
NHTSA ODI #769115
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2002
Suspension
CONSUMER HAD LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT REPAIRED UNDER RECALL LAST YEAR. 6 MONTHS LATER, RIGHT BALL JOINT BROKE. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRED IT. ON 9/14/02 LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8019108
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2002
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #766859
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002
Structure
SUBFRAME BOLT BROKE IN HALF - DEALER CAN'T REMOVE OLD BOLT AND REPLACE - SAID THEY 'NEVER BREAK'*AK
NHTSA ODI #765204
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 · Feb 21, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT AND REAR BRAKES LEAKED.
NHTSA ODI #9005248
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2002
VisibilityFire
AS I WAS DRIVING, MY CAR FILLED UP WITH A RUBBER SCENT OF BURNING RUBBER. THE CONROL SWITCH BOX ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BEGAN SMOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW LOCKS CRACK. POORING RAINING, PULLED OVER AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF CAR. AFTER 5 MIN. SMOKE WENT AWAY. SMELL REMAINS. DISCONNECTED BATTERY. WINDOW STILL OPEN A CRACK. WOULD…
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AS I WAS DRIVING, MY CAR FILLED UP WITH A RUBBER SCENT OF BURNING RUBBER. THE CONROL SWITCH BOX ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BEGAN SMOKING OUT OF THE WINDOW LOCKS CRACK. POORING RAINING, PULLED OVER AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT OFF CAR. AFTER 5 MIN. SMOKE WENT AWAY. SMELL REMAINS. DISCONNECTED BATTERY. WINDOW STILL OPEN A CRACK. WOULD NOT SHUT AND A TRASH BAG IS COVERING THE HOLE. THIS WAS SCARY. IN AUGUST, 1 MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR THE SUNROOF WOULD NOT WORK. OPEN OR SHUT. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURED WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #758461
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
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.
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.
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
1996 Mitsubishi Galant Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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