Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports5 fire reports12 injury reports

Power Train complaints

28 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001

Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION WILL STICK IN 2ND GEAR, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD, AND HESITATE BETWEEN SHIFTS. DEALER IS BLAMING PROBLEM ON HOW THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. ONE YEAR AGO DEALER HAD TO REPLACE SOLENOID FOR SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895389

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001

Power Train

TRANSFER CASE FOR 4- WHEEL DRIVE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING WHEELS TO LOCK UP, AND VEHICLE TO SPIN AROUND NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CLAIMED DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A MISSING BOLT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888842

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2001

Power Train

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM TRANSFER CASE. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF NHTSA RECALL 98V069001 DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #883296

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2000

Power Train

TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF GEAR THIS IS THE 3RD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717260

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1999

Power Train

CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER CONCERNING NHTSA RECALL #98 V 069 001/TRANSFER CASE WHICH COULD LOCKUP DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850193

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999

Power Train

TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI #609620

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999

Power Train

GEAR EXPERIENCING VIBRATION. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606806

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 1998

Power Train

A GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. ALSO A CRACKING NOISE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND AND 1ST GEARS. DEALER SAID NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND.

NHTSA ODI #530540

Official recalls

04V428000 · Equipment:other:labels

Sep 1, 2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE DASH AND TO THE SUNVISOR DO NOT MEET THE SIZE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL CURRENT 2000-2004 NATIVA OWNERS WILL ALSO RECEIVE REPLACEMENT AIR BAG ALERT LABELS FOR THE SUN VISORS. THIS RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH OR APRIL 2005. THE NOTIFICATION TO THE NATIVA OWNERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL OR MAY 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

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.

98V069001 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Mar 26, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.

98V045001 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 3, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE DASH PANEL PAD CAN SHIFT INTERFERRING WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE A PORTION OF THE DASH PANEL PAD SO IT CANNOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL.

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

RQ98007 · Transfer Case Leakage

Opened May 11, 1998 · Closed Aug 28, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission

THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission