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1997 Mitsubishi Galant

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 18 of 80 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

8 reports
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375,461 miles · Aug 16, 2023
Air BagsInjury

The contact owns a 1997 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated that after stopping at a service station, after entering and restarting the vehicle, the driver’s, and passenger’s side air bags independently deployed. The contact stated that the windshield on the passenger side was cracked by the air bag. The contact stated he was …

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The contact owns a 1997 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated that after stopping at a service station, after entering and restarting the vehicle, the driver’s, and passenger’s side air bags independently deployed. The contact stated that the windshield on the passenger side was cracked by the air bag. The contact stated he was injured by the driver's side air bag. The contact stated that he suffered deep abrasions on his nose and his lips were bruised. The contact stated that his glasses fractured, and his right eye was bruised. The contact was transported to an emergency room by ambulance. The contact stated that the vehicle was left at service station. The police were not contacted. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 375,461.

NHTSA ODI #11539015

100,000 miles · Jan 27, 2004
Air BagsInjury

I WAS SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE FORCE WAS ENOUGH TO BREAK MY ARM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AS NO WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE APPEARED AT ANY TIME. MOREOVER, I HAD NEVER…

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I WAS SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE FORCE WAS ENOUGH TO BREAK MY ARM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AS NO WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE APPEARED AT ANY TIME. MOREOVER, I HAD NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR PRIOR TO THIS OCCASION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10054985

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. *MR AS THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER ENTERED THE GARAGE, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING, AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE HIT THE WALL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10031843

69,000 miles · Feb 13, 2003
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB *TS

NHTSA ODI #10007371

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 30 MPH FRONT END COLLISION IN WHICH FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES BECAUSE OF AIRBAG FAILURE. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899803

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE BACKED OUT INTO CONSUMER'S DRIVING PATH, RESULTING IN A CRASH. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS IN CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS IMPACT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. *NOTE: CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN A FRONT END COLLISION PRIOR TO HIS OWNERSH…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE BACKED OUT INTO CONSUMER'S DRIVING PATH, RESULTING IN A CRASH. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS IN CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS IMPACT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. *NOTE: CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN A FRONT END COLLISION PRIOR TO HIS OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #887670

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 1998
Air BagsCrash

DRIVING IN RAINING CONDITIONS AT APPROX 30-40 MPH REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, AIR BAGS ON BOTH SIDES DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER CLAIMS WITH THAT IMPACT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE. DID ABOUT $5,700 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO FRONT END ALONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819329

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1997
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 20MPH, REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT; UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NEITHER DRIVER/PASSENGER WAS INJURED. VEHICLE NOT AT DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813355

Official recalls

1

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.