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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

80Owner complaints

Model-year median: 26

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1997 Mitsubishi Galant

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 80 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Suspension: 18 reports
Power Train: 15 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 12 reports
Electrical System: 9 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 9 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

00V421001 — Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Galant years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension

18 Power Train

15 Service Brakes, Hydraulic

12 Electrical System

9 Engine And Engine Cooling

All reported categories

Steering

9 Air Bags

8 Equipment

2 Latches/locks/linkages

2 Seat Belts

2 Structure

2 Unknown Or Other

2 Vehicle Speed Control

2 Visibility

2 Engine

1 Exterior Lighting

1 Fuel System, Gasoline

1 Seats

1 Service Brakes, Air

1 Tires

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

Seat Belts complaints

2 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2008

Seat Belts

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IT COMES OFF WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CALLED TWO MITSUBISHI DEALERS IN VIRGINIA BEACH AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. I THOUGHT SEATBELTS LASTED THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO RIDE WITH ME DAILY AND WOULD HATE FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN AND MY KIDS HAVE TO WITNESS THEIR MOM GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO UNSAFE SEATBELT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251475

Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1997

Seat Belts

CENTER BUCKLE IS PLACED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN ORDER TO BUCKLE UP IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR , SEATBELTS HAVE TO BE CRISS-CROSSED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810423

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.