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: 10 of 198 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 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports5 fire reports16 injury reports
What owners actually said
198 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2016
Wheels
PURCHASED 3 TIRES JUNE 18TH 2016. BY THE END OF THE DAY MY SPARE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY I TOOK IT BACK AND HAD A NEW ONE PUT BACK ON IT. JUNE 19TH THE TIRE THAT WAS PUT ON MY CAR ALSO WENT FLAT WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. I DECIDED TO FILE THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A REFUND OF $30…
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PURCHASED 3 TIRES JUNE 18TH 2016. BY THE END OF THE DAY MY SPARE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY I TOOK IT BACK AND HAD A NEW ONE PUT BACK ON IT. JUNE 19TH THE TIRE THAT WAS PUT ON MY CAR ALSO WENT FLAT WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. I DECIDED TO FILE THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A REFUND OF $30 FOR THE BAD TIRE. ALSO DUE TO THE FACT THAT TWO OF THE THREE TIRES PURCHASED TWO WENT FLAT AND LESS THAN 48 HOURS OF PURCHASE DATE.
NHTSA ODI #10875157
168 miles · Nov 23, 2009
Air BagsInjury
FRONTAL AUTO ACCIDENT 1994 MITSIBISHI GALANT LS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10293326
86,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Suspension
THE WHEEL OF MY DAUGHTER'S MITSUBISHI GALANT FELL OFF! WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT OUR HOME, THE GALANT'S BALL JOINT ON THE LOWER LATERAL CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE BALL JOINT PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE TRANSAXLE PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN THE WHEEL FALLING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL (LITERALLY FALL…
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THE WHEEL OF MY DAUGHTER'S MITSUBISHI GALANT FELL OFF! WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT OUR HOME, THE GALANT'S BALL JOINT ON THE LOWER LATERAL CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE BALL JOINT PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE TRANSAXLE PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN THE WHEEL FALLING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL (LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE CAR!) THERE WAS NO GREASE IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THANKFULLY, THIS OCCURRED AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT! THIS 1994 GALANT HAS ONLY 86,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS NO OPEN RECALLS. MY DAUGHTER HAD TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE INCIDENT BECAUSE SHE SOMETIMES HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA. THE SHOP WRONGLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TIE ROD ENDS. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10198911
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2006
Suspension
A NEAR MISS. THE NUT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE. 75 MPH AND THANK GOODNESS I WAS STRONG TO PULL THE ASPHALT EATING FRONT END TO THE SIDE. GOING DOWNHILL HEARD WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A PEBBLE HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND THEN WAS BEING PULLED UNDER THE ONCOMING SEMI. UPON FINALLY STOPPING ON THE SHOULDE…
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A NEAR MISS. THE NUT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE. 75 MPH AND THANK GOODNESS I WAS STRONG TO PULL THE ASPHALT EATING FRONT END TO THE SIDE. GOING DOWNHILL HEARD WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A PEBBLE HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND THEN WAS BEING PULLED UNDER THE ONCOMING SEMI. UPON FINALLY STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER, I GOT OUT LOOKED AT MY TIRE SITTING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CAR, THE CARS FRONT END SITTING ON THE GROUND,(I HAVE PHOTO'S) I LOOKED BACK TO SEE A GROVE AND A BLACK LINE TRAVELING FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE CENTER LINE BACK TO THE LEFT LANE AND TO MY GALANT'S RESTING PLACE. AT 48 YEARS OLD I HAVE DRIVEN MANY A CAR, NEVER HAVE I COME SO NEAR TO MEETING MY MAKER. THE MECHANIC, 300 MILES FROM MY HOME SAID THE BALL JOINT BOOT FAILED AND ALLOWED THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE TRAVEL JUST UNSCREWED THE NUT. ALL THE THREADS WERE THERE, NON WERE STRIPPED. 3 DAYS LATER I BRAVELY LOADED MYSELF AND MY YOUNGER SISTER INTO THE CAR WITH SOME MAKE DUE REPAIRS AND A NEW LOWER CONTROL ARM, A PUT BACK TOGETHER WITH DUCT TAPE AND A PRAYER CV AXLE( WAS PULL OUT AS FAR AS IT COULD GO, A NEW SLIGHTLY SMALLER NEW TIRE, AND A $1000.00 POORER, I SLOWLY MADE MYSELF DRIVE BACK HOME. NOW I HEAR NOISES ON THE OTHER SIDE. NOW I HAVE STARTED LOOKING FOR PLACES LIKE THIS THE AIR MY COMPLAINTS. I WAS FORTUNATE. AS AN OLDER PERSON, A WOMAN AND ORIGINAL OWNER, I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL, I DIDN'T. HAVE HAD THE SAME ADDRESS FOR 16 YEARS. DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL I GOT HERE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174141
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
PURSUANT TO THE BALL JOINT RECALL FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT, I TOOK MY CAR TO OURISMAN MITSUBISHI IN 2004 WHO THEN INSPECTED THE BOOT, NOTICED THE BOOT WAS BROKEN YET THE SERVICEMAN RESEALED THE BOOT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE INTACT. IN AUGUST 2005, WHILE I WAS HAVING MY CAR SE…
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PURSUANT TO THE BALL JOINT RECALL FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT, I TOOK MY CAR TO OURISMAN MITSUBISHI IN 2004 WHO THEN INSPECTED THE BOOT, NOTICED THE BOOT WAS BROKEN YET THE SERVICEMAN RESEALED THE BOOT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE INTACT. IN AUGUST 2005, WHILE I WAS HAVING MY CAR SERVICE FOR A WATER PUMP PROBLEM, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140040
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2005
Suspension
DURING REPLACEMENT OF STRUTS SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. *TS THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED MANY BALL JOINTS RECALL #SR-04-001 ACCORDING TO ALLDATA. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10139934
71,904 miles · Aug 17, 2005
Suspension
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT LS ,AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, OURISMAN MITSUBISHI, LAST YEAR CONCERNING THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINT. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. AFTER HAVING MY CAR INSPECTED BY MY PRIVATE AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC HE STRONGLY REC…
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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT LS ,AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, OURISMAN MITSUBISHI, LAST YEAR CONCERNING THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINT. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. AFTER HAVING MY CAR INSPECTED BY MY PRIVATE AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THIS VERY PART. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT IS IN SERIOUS NEED OF REPLACEMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10133255
124,000 miles · Jun 21, 2005
Electrical System
DT: CALLER SAYS THE CAR STALLED AT ANY SPEED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT REPLACE PARTS UNTIL THEY FIND THE ONE THAT WORKED MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10126063
161,500 miles · Mar 12, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THE BRAKES FAILED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10113983
70,000 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
I BOUGHT MY 94 MITSUBISHI GALANT IN DECEMBER OF 1998. THE FIRST TIME MY ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE WAS AUGUST OF 1999. SINCE THEN MY BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 12 TIMES (7 TIMES THE BELT WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC). MOST OF THE TIME, MY HUSBAND OR MYSELF HAVE BEEN DRIVING WHEN THE BELT BRAKES LEAVING US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. …
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I BOUGHT MY 94 MITSUBISHI GALANT IN DECEMBER OF 1998. THE FIRST TIME MY ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE WAS AUGUST OF 1999. SINCE THEN MY BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 12 TIMES (7 TIMES THE BELT WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC). MOST OF THE TIME, MY HUSBAND OR MYSELF HAVE BEEN DRIVING WHEN THE BELT BRAKES LEAVING US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE BELT ALSO SQUEAKS REALLY BAD. I'VE TRIED TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO SQUEAK. I'VE HAD ALTERNATOR'S REPLACED, BELTS REPLACED, AND THE PULLEY ADJUSTED. NONE OF IT WORKED, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR IT. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK
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.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RUBBER BOOTS, AND IF THE BOOT IS DAMAGED, THEY WILL REPLACE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM AND BALL JOINT ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. WHEN THE STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS ASSEMBLED, GREASE WAS INADVERTENTLY APPLIED TO THE CONTACT POINT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE CONTACT POINT TO HEAT UP CAUSING INTERNAL OPERATION ELEMENTS TO MELT ALLOWING THE SWTICH TO BECOME STUCK IN ON OR OFF POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY AND REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH.
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
2
RQ00015 · Lower Contrtol Arm Ball Joint
Opened Aug 2, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (3)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE98032 · Stop Lamp Switch
Opened May 22, 1998 · Closed Sep 8, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
ALLEGED FAILURE OF THE STOP LAMP SWITCH PREVENTS ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS DURING BRAKING AND INHIBITS DISENGAGEMENT OF CRUISE CONTROL VIA THE BRAKE PEDAL
1994 Mitsubishi Galant Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year