IllustrationDRIVERS LAP SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. WHILE EXTENDING IT TO BUCKLE, A NOISE LIKE A TAPE MEASURE RAPIDLY CLOSING WAS HEARD, THEN IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. IT EXTENDS OUT TO ITS FULL EXTENT, AND IS APPARENTLY WORTHLESS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK
1990 Mitsubishi Galant
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1990 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: 1 of 21 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
21 reportsWHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID SPEED. *JB
HARMONIC BALANCER FELL APART. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS OEM PART. I THINK THEY ARE MADE FROM OLD TUNA CANS.*AK
CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS, AND HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES. *AK
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CONSUMER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY "LATCHING" THE LAP BELT, SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING IS POPPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE LATCH. *JG
RECALL 98V168000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR-98-003/ TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. IN DECEMBER CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE MAKING LOUD NOISES AND LOCKING UP. DEALER BLAMED IT ON WHEEL BEARING, AND VALVE COVER THAT MIGHT BE LEAKING. CONSUMER HAD A SECOND OPINION, AND THEY DISAGREED W…
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RECALL 98V168000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR-98-003/ TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. IN DECEMBER CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE MAKING LOUD NOISES AND LOCKING UP. DEALER BLAMED IT ON WHEEL BEARING, AND VALVE COVER THAT MIGHT BE LEAKING. CONSUMER HAD A SECOND OPINION, AND THEY DISAGREED WITH DEALER.*AK
I PULLED INTO GAS STATION. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. SMALL FIRE AROUND FUEL LINE, IGNITION WIRES, COIL, WIRE HARNESS CONTAINING INJECTOR WIRES. PUT OUT W/ EXTINGUISHER. ONLY 2 WIRES TO 1 INJECTOR DAMAGED, FUEL LINE/PLUG WIRES DAMAGED, COMPUTER FAILED. HAVE HAD ALOT OF LARGE COSTLY PROBLEMS W/ THIS CAR IN THE PAS…
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I PULLED INTO GAS STATION. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. SMALL FIRE AROUND FUEL LINE, IGNITION WIRES, COIL, WIRE HARNESS CONTAINING INJECTOR WIRES. PUT OUT W/ EXTINGUISHER. ONLY 2 WIRES TO 1 INJECTOR DAMAGED, FUEL LINE/PLUG WIRES DAMAGED, COMPUTER FAILED. HAVE HAD ALOT OF LARGE COSTLY PROBLEMS W/ THIS CAR IN THE PAST, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO DIFFERENTIAL TWICE, TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE. TIMING BELT FAILURE 18 MONTHS AGO, CAUSED DAMAGE TO VALVES (GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS THE DAY B4 THE FIRE). DEALER WEATHERFORD HAS BEEN WORKING ON MY CAR SINCE AUG 1996 AND TIMING BELT RECALL JUST CAME (MAILED FEB 1 1999) PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS! JKM
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, NO PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION , CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM DID EXIST, AND HAS CAUSED OTHER MALFUNCTIONS TO OCCUR. RECALL NUMBER 98V169001. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOCKED UP AND BACK END CAME AROUND, WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTO SHOP, WHERE STATEMENTS MADE STATED THAT TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE WERE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, TWO YEARS LATER, THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, DEALER WILL NOT REFUND THE FUNDS OF THE REPAIRS…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOCKED UP AND BACK END CAME AROUND, WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTO SHOP, WHERE STATEMENTS MADE STATED THAT TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE WERE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, TWO YEARS LATER, THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, DEALER WILL NOT REFUND THE FUNDS OF THE REPAIRS TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
1,LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE CAR NEEDED A HEAD GASKET,TIMING BELT AND A WATER PUMP MIND YOU THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED ONCE. 2,AT 30,000 MILES THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT. 3,AT 59,000+ MILES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT. 4,NOW THE CAR BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL A MONTH. HELP,I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR IT'S NO…
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1,LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE CAR NEEDED A HEAD GASKET,TIMING BELT AND A WATER PUMP MIND YOU THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED ONCE. 2,AT 30,000 MILES THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT. 3,AT 59,000+ MILES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT. 4,NOW THE CAR BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL A MONTH. HELP,I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
Official recalls
198V168000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jul 22, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE 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.
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
3RQ98007 · 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
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.
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.
EA98002 · Transfer Case Lockup
Opened Jan 30, 1998 · Closed Apr 30, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels
No summary supplied.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
Wheels
EA95004 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 1, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available