IllustrationWHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED MECHANIC NOTICED THEAT ENGINE WAS MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IN ENGINE. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.*AK
1998 Mitsubishi Galant
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant do not stand out strongly from 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: 12 of 53 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 12 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 →
- Suspension. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
4 reportsWHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, AND HAVING IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS MECHANIC NOTICED THAT OIL FILTER/BRACKETS WERE DAMAGED AND RIGGED FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES. UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SOLD CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM. DEALER STATED MALFUNCTION WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. MECHANIC STATED RADIATOR CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY AND NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH VEHICLE LOST STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A BROKEN CRANKSHAFT PULLEY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY AND NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Official recalls
100V421001 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.