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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model 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: 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

Suspension complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2016
Suspension

I PURCHASED A USED CAR IN 2004. LATER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE BALLJOINT RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GET INVOLVE IN ASSISTING ME IN PURSUING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE CAR REGARDING OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES WITH THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN JUMK…

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I PURCHASED A USED CAR IN 2004. LATER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE BALLJOINT RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GET INVOLVE IN ASSISTING ME IN PURSUING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE CAR REGARDING OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES WITH THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN JUMKED WHICH I EVENTUALLY ENDED UP DOING. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AND I ONLY DROVE IT ON CITY STREETS ONLY. THE DEALERSHIP I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A LOANER CAR INSEAD OF ME RISKING MYSELF IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. THE WYNN'S EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE ASSISTED ME MORE IN PURSUING THE CORRECT REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SALVAGED FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. RIGHT NOW I AM OUT OF $1000 WARRANTY AND A VEHICLE PURCHASED AT $5000. YOU WILL HAVE TO HOLD THE WARRANTY WYNN;S OR THE BUSINESS THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE RESPONSIBLE. THIS BUSINESS TRIED TO WELD THE TRANSMISSION CASING BROKEN IN THE ACCIDENT BACK WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE COMPANY OR THE BRAND. ANY RECOURSE DO I OR NHTSA HAVE AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER IS OUT OF BUSINESS

NHTSA ODI #10899397

97,000 miles · Nov 20, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SHOCK TOWER AND WHEEL WELL WALL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. METAL WAS WELDED TO REINFORCE THE SHOCK TOWER. APPROXIMATEL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SHOCK TOWER AND WHEEL WELL WALL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. METAL WAS WELDED TO REINFORCE THE SHOCK TOWER. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER AND WHEEL WELL WALL RUSTED THROUGH WITH MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ODI #10249371

78,000 miles · Mar 4, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE IN PIECES. THE VEHICLE IS STEERING TO THE LEFT EXTREMELY BADLY AND THE CONTACT HEARS METAL RUBBING TOGETHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE IN PIECES. THE VEHICLE IS STEERING TO THE LEFT EXTREMELY BADLY AND THE CONTACT HEARS METAL RUBBING TOGETHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V421001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE PURCHASE DATE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF THE FAILURE WAS NOT OBVIOUS TO SPIN INVESTIGATION UNTIL 84,000 FAILURE HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED. UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219998

169,865 miles · Feb 4, 2008
Suspension

TOOK MY 1997 MITSUBISHI TO CHERRY HILL TRIPLEX DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED MY FRONT LATERAL ARMS REPLACED; THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR; THAT'S NOT DAMAGE I COULD DO IN A YEAR. I WANT TO REQUEST THAT MITSUBISHI COVERS THE COST OR REIMBURSES ME FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216860

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2007
SteeringSuspension

RECEIVED RECALL FOR LOWER BALL JOINT IN 2001. BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SHOW DAMAGE, THE DEALER ONLY LUBRICATED THEM. THE RIGHT ONE WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD END IN 2/07. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHICH COST OVER $600.00. NOW, THE LEFT ONE IS GOING OUT. LUBRICATING A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY IS LIKE PUTTING ON A B…

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RECEIVED RECALL FOR LOWER BALL JOINT IN 2001. BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SHOW DAMAGE, THE DEALER ONLY LUBRICATED THEM. THE RIGHT ONE WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD END IN 2/07. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHICH COST OVER $600.00. NOW, THE LEFT ONE IS GOING OUT. LUBRICATING A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY IS LIKE PUTTING ON A BANDAID, WHICH HAS NOW PROVEN TO BE THE CASE WITH BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVING TO BE REPLACED PLUS A TIE ROD END. I'M NOT ONLY UPSET ABOUT THE COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT THE SAFETY ISSUE IS MUCH MORE OF A CONCERN. HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM YOUR FRONT END CAN BE ANYTHING AND IGNORED, BUT IGNORING THIS PARTICULAR NOISE PUTS THE DRIVER AND ANYONE AROUND THEM AT A VERY HIGH RISK OF INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. IS THE DEALER LIABLE FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES IN THE FIRST PLACE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10211408

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2006
Suspension

WE PURCHASED A USED CAR THAT HAD A RECALL ON IT. AFTER MY WIFE AND CHILD ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT I FOUND OUT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. I ASKED THE DEALER IF IT WAS DONE AND THEY SAID YES. WE HAVE HAD COUNTLESS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH CAR. ARE THEY LIABLE FOR THIS??*JB

NHTSA ODI #10152795

11,000 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Suspension

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. RECALL 00V421001. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10092016

Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2004
Suspension

CONSUMER RECEIVED ARECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEALER REFUSED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. SERVICE MANAGER MIKE SWEITZER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10075921

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2004
Suspension

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DONE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. *PH THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V421001). THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IN NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10072104

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2004
Suspension

REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR BALL JOINT REPAIR PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL. *PH THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO THE BALL JOINT(S). *SC

NHTSA ODI #10071430

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.