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1996 Mitsubishi Galant

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Galant years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant are substantially higher than the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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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: 15 of 136 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 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports4 fire reports18 injury reports

What owners actually said

136 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlVisibility

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY SUN ROOF, BRAKES, GAS, ACCELERATION AND OVER HEATING OF MY CAR. MY SUN ROOF ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH IT EVERY TIME I OPEN IT. MY BREAKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES BECAUSE THE WEAR OUT QUICK. WHEN I BREAK MY TIERS SKIP THE CAR STOPS BUT THE TIERS KEEP TUR…

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I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH MY SUN ROOF, BRAKES, GAS, ACCELERATION AND OVER HEATING OF MY CAR. MY SUN ROOF ABOUT EVERY OTHER MONTH SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH IT EVERY TIME I OPEN IT. MY BREAKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 4 OR 5 TIMES BECAUSE THE WEAR OUT QUICK. WHEN I BREAK MY TIERS SKIP THE CAR STOPS BUT THE TIERS KEEP TURNING. MY GAS IS GONE QUICK AND I ONLY DRIVE HERE IN TOWN FROM WORK TO HOME TO DAYCARE. SOMETIMES WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON THE SPEEDOMETER MOVES BY ITS SELF AS IF I WERE PUSHING THE GAS PEDDLE AND MY FOOTS ON THE BREAK WHEN IT DOES IT BY ITS SELF AND IT DOES IT WHEN I'M DRIVING. I CAN DRIVE A BLOCK AND MY CAR GETS REALLY HOT AND THE FAN IS ON RIGHT AWAY. I CAN'T STAND MY CARE ANYMORE ITS NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088235

96,498 miles · Apr 26, 2004
Power TrainCrash

TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY @ 96,498 MILES IN 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT VIN# [XXX].....COLEMAN TAYLOR TRANSMISSION/MEMPHIS TN ATTEMPTED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION FOR 3 WEEKS.....HAD TO REMOVE AND GET ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION......4 DAYS AFTER PICKING CAR UP.....GEARS 1-3 SLAM SEVERELY IN AND OUT OF GEARS UP AND DOWN......GEARS 4…

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TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY @ 96,498 MILES IN 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT VIN# [XXX].....COLEMAN TAYLOR TRANSMISSION/MEMPHIS TN ATTEMPTED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION FOR 3 WEEKS.....HAD TO REMOVE AND GET ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION......4 DAYS AFTER PICKING CAR UP.....GEARS 1-3 SLAM SEVERELY IN AND OUT OF GEARS UP AND DOWN......GEARS 4-5 OK AN EXPRESSWAY......REPORTED PROB TO COLEMAN TAYLOR....SUGGESTED (ON A SATURDAY) TO REMOVE GROUND FROM BATTERY TO RE-SET COMPUTER AND TOLD TO TEST DRIVE....TEST DROVE AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLAMMING IN AND OUT OF GEARS 1-3 SEVERELY AND MAKING A TERRIBLE NOICE, CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN INTO A DITCH.....CAR IS EXPECTED TO BE DETERMINED A TOTALED BY PROGRESSIVE INS TODAY...........AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.........CAUSED A $75.00 TOWING AND FINE BY MEMPHIS POLICE DEPT FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN OUTLOOK (THEY FELT SORRY FOR US!)...*AK

NHTSA ODI #10067816

98,600 miles · Apr 16, 2004
Electrical System

TOOK IN MY 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES FOR IT'S YEARLY INSPECTION. VECHICLE FAILED DUE TO OBD READINESS MONITOR SAYING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE LIGHT WAS NOTON AND IN FACT WOKRED PERFECTLY AS TESTED BY TURNING ON THE ENGINE, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AS PART OF THE START UP THEN TURN OFF. I HAD TWO SHOP…

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TOOK IN MY 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES FOR IT'S YEARLY INSPECTION. VECHICLE FAILED DUE TO OBD READINESS MONITOR SAYING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE LIGHT WAS NOTON AND IN FACT WOKRED PERFECTLY AS TESTED BY TURNING ON THE ENGINE, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AS PART OF THE START UP THEN TURN OFF. I HAD TWO SHOPS READ THE ECM WITH A SNAP ON TOOLS COMPUTER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY CODES IN THE COMPUTER. THERE WERE NONE, BUT IT DID SAY THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T. I TOOK IT INTO THE SALT LAKE COUTNY EMISSION CONTROL AND THEY PERFORMED THE SAME TESTS YIELDING THE SAME RESULTS. EVERYONE WAS BAFFLED. THE SALT LAKE COUNTRY EMISSION CONTROL THINKS THE ENTIRE ECM IS FAULTY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10066309

60,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HIT A BRICK WALL. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES TO THE BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10065556

82,000 miles · Apr 5, 2004
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSED A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064562

90,450 miles · Jun 10, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED THREE TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY, I PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE, AND PRESSED THE GAS; IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENTIRE EVERYTHING WOULD FALL OUT. MY TRANSMISSION HA…

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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED THREE TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY, I PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE, AND PRESSED THE GAS; IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENTIRE EVERYTHING WOULD FALL OUT. MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT WITHOUT WARNING, AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I NOW SEE THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MITSUBISHI TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND COMPENSATE US, THE CONSUMERS. IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL ONLY LOSE CUSTOMERS. THANKS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021330

70,524 miles · May 19, 2003
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING, THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND DAMAGED THE AXLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10020045

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 2003
Power Train

HI, I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY LASTED FOR 1 OR IF WE WERE LUCKY 2 YEARS. NOW WE ALL READY PUT THREE OF THEM IN THE CAR IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, TWO WERE NEW AND ONE WAS USED. NOW I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE BUT WHEN YOU AR…

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HI, I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY LASTED FOR 1 OR IF WE WERE LUCKY 2 YEARS. NOW WE ALL READY PUT THREE OF THEM IN THE CAR IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, TWO WERE NEW AND ONE WAS USED. NOW I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE BUT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT THREE KIDS THAT'S A LOT. WELL MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY ARE WE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT THAT WHEN THEY BUILT THIS CAR THAT THEY WERE TEST CARS .AND THEY SAID THAT AS LONG AS I OWN THIS CAR I WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. AND THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE ONE IN LIVERPOOL NEW YORK . SO PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP LET ME NOW WHAT I CAN DO. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10008240

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2003
Suspension

PAID FOR REPAIRS ON A 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT.

NHTSA ODI #10005851

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2002
Power Train

I OWNED MY CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROX. 40000 MILES WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THAT TIME AND I HAD TO PAY $1700 TO REPAIR IT. 4 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A THIRD TIME, I BOUGHT A USED TRANSMISSION A…

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I OWNED MY CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROX. 40000 MILES WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THAT TIME AND I HAD TO PAY $1700 TO REPAIR IT. 4 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A THIRD TIME, I BOUGHT A USED TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT INSTALLED. THE TRANSMISSION STILL DOES NOT ACT RIGHT, SHIFTING HARD AND THUMPING A LOT. THERE IS DEFINITLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE CARS AND OR TRANSMISSIONS. DT

NHTSA ODI #770522

Official recalls

3

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.

00V237000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Aug 25, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CRACKS CAN OCCUR IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN IMPROPER SPOT WELD ON THE BAFFLE PLATE TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK COULD ALLOW FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK FOR ANY SIGNS OF CRACKING. IF NO CRACKING OR LEAKING IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEALING PROTECTOR PLATE. IF ANY CRACKING OR LEAKAGE IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.

99V066001 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Apr 5, 1999

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.

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

1

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