IllustrationGOING 55MPH ON I-84 TO WATERBURY CI. CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE TO MAINTAIN SPEED GOING UPHILL. STOPPED TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID. RESEVOIR WAS FULL. ON ATTEMPTING TO RESUNE THE JOURNEY THE CAR WENT FWDD. *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 reportsWHILE TRAVELING HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKES. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL, AND THEN NOTICED TIRE WAS BENT . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS HAD A LOT OF PLAY. VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS, 00V421001, HOWEVER DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. TRANSMISSIO…
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LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS HAD A LOT OF PLAY. VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS, 00V421001, HOWEVER DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. *SLC
TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FOR A FEW DAYS. AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN ACT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN POP BACK INTO GEAR. ONE DAY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AFTER REPLACING THAT ONE, WE ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME T…
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TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FOR A FEW DAYS. AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN ACT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN POP BACK INTO GEAR. ONE DAY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AFTER REPLACING THAT ONE, WE ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU FIRST ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. EVEN AFTER LETTING IT WARM UP FOR 10-15 MINUTES THE SAME THING HAPPENS. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO THE SAME THING WHEN YOU TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN INTO TRAFFIC. WE JUST PRAY THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IT WILL POP BACK INTO GEAR. I HATE THIS CAR AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING RID OF IT. EVIDENTALLY EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM--EXCEPT MITSUBISHI. *AK
AT 32,383 MILES DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION DUE TO LEAKEAGE. CURRENTLY,AT PRESENT MILEAGES, TRANSMISSION STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
MASTER CONTROL SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND STARTED A SMALL FIRE THAT MELTED THE BUTTONS ON THE DOOR-MITSUBISHI REFUSED ANY LIABILITY, I PAID 575.00 FOR THE FAULTY PRODUCTS MITSUBISHI MANUFACTURES-I SPOKE TO MITSUBISHI'S CORPOATE HEADQUARTES-THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY. ANY ADVICE? THANKS
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE AT 30,000 MILES AND 58,000 MILES. *AK IN ADDITION TO RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE HEAD LIGHT PLUGS HAD BURNED OUT. THE HEAD LIGHT PARTS AND THE A/C SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE CONSUMER DOES NOT …
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TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE AT 30,000 MILES AND 58,000 MILES. *AK IN ADDITION TO RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE HEAD LIGHT PLUGS HAD BURNED OUT. THE HEAD LIGHT PARTS AND THE A/C SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ENGINE OIL LEAK NEAR FRONT CRANK SEAL. OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING. *YH
WHEN DRIVING AND UPON TAKING OFF VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED FORWARD. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING TIRES TO SKID. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. AK THE CONVERTER LOCKS SOMETIMES DUE TO TCC SOLENIOD FAILURE. *YH
WHILE TRAVELING 40-45MPH HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK
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