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1997 Mitsubishi Galant

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →
80Owner complaints

Model-year median: 26

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
198
1994209
1995136
199680
199753
1998215
1999136
2000
Compare all Galant years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
18Power Train
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
12Electrical System
9Engine And Engine Cooling
9
All reported categories
Steering
9Air Bags
8Equipment
2Latches/locks/linkages
2Seat Belts
2Structure
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Tires
1

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: 18 of 80 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 15 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Equipment complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 2006
EquipmentPower Train

1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT-AUTO TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED ON 08/03/2006 AND COST AROUND 2 GRAND. I NOTICED THAT VEHICLE'S GEAR SHIFT CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BECAUSE THIS GEAR CHANGE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE BRAKES TO BE PRESSED NOR THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON TO BE PRESSED. I…

Read full complaint

1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT-AUTO TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED ON 08/03/2006 AND COST AROUND 2 GRAND. I NOTICED THAT VEHICLE'S GEAR SHIFT CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BECAUSE THIS GEAR CHANGE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE BRAKES TO BE PRESSED NOR THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON TO BE PRESSED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS UNSAFE. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESS THE BUTTON AND SHIFT GEARS BY MYSELF. MY TEENAGER NORMALLY SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, I AM REALLY WORRIED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10164518

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2000
EquipmentPower Train

THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE COMPRESSOR. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #552816

Official recalls

1

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.