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 · 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 · Aug 8, 2001
Suspension
DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR RECALL 00V421001. DEALERSHIP IN EACH COMMUNICATION WITH CONSUMER CHANGED NAME OF THE COMPONENT THAT WOULD BE REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PART WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON WAS NOT THE PART COVERED UNDER RECALL , LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY A…
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DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR RECALL 00V421001. DEALERSHIP IN EACH COMMUNICATION WITH CONSUMER CHANGED NAME OF THE COMPONENT THAT WOULD BE REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PART WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON WAS NOT THE PART COVERED UNDER RECALL , LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #893798
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2001
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WILL STOP PULLING WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #749299
Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, CAUSING IT TO HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #890870
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 · Jun 13, 2001
StructureVisibility
THE POWER DOOR LOCK AND WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. NLM
NHTSA ODI #561560
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 · 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 25, 2001
EquipmentFire
AC UNIT RELEASED A GASEOUS SMELL., SMOKE GUSHED OUT FROM HOOD....THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND THAT RESEMBLED A TIRE BLOWING OUT....THE COMPLETE SYSTEM TO MY CAR SHUT DOWN AND ENGINE INCLUDED. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS.....AND THAT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD SPENT 165.00 ON A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR OVER 75 MI…
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AC UNIT RELEASED A GASEOUS SMELL., SMOKE GUSHED OUT FROM HOOD....THERE WAS A LOUD POP SOUND THAT RESEMBLED A TIRE BLOWING OUT....THE COMPLETE SYSTEM TO MY CAR SHUT DOWN AND ENGINE INCLUDED. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS.....AND THAT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD SPENT 165.00 ON A TOW TRUCK TO TOW THE CAR OVER 75 MILES. *AK
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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