1996 Mitsubishi GALANT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
98,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 80 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 26.3% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 18.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 16 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 16; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Structure:Body:Door: 5; Air Bags: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 65 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 22 |
| 2001 | 23 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
1996: 6; 2000: 22; 2001: 23; 2002: 10; 2003: 4; 2004: 7; 2005: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008240 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021330 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
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 THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064562 · 2004-04-05 (April 5, 2004)
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSED A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065556 · 2004-04-05 (April 5, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067816 · 2004-04-26 (April 26, 2004)
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 GE…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,498 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563509 · 2001-10-01 (October 1, 2001)
ODOMETER HAD BEEN REPLACED DUE TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352659 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
I CURRENTLY BOUGHT THE 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT FOR MY WIFE AND 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT TO GET THE PULL AND SHAKE OUT OF MY FRONT END. I TOOK IT TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP AND THE ASE MASTER TECH. TOLD ME MY CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BALL JOINT, HE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND IF I DON'T GET THE PROBLEM FIXED IT COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR MY WIFE TO LOSE STEERING WITH OUR INFANT DAUGHTER SO NOW I GOT BIGGER PROBLEM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10352659 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 719125 · 2000-02-23 (February 23, 2000)
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE JAN 2000 AND DURING TEST DRIVE I HEARD A NOISE IN THE POWER STEERING. I REPORTED IT TO THE SALESMAN AT PHIL HUGHES HONDA. HE HAD HIS USED CAR MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK. THE MECHANIC WAS TO HAVE LUBRICATED IT. SECOND TRIP FOLLOWING WEEK AND MECHANIC LUBED AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD TO SOMETIME DROP BY THEIR MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. I IMMEDIATELY WENT THERE AND THEY HAD TO TIGHTEN LOOSE BELTS THAT TWICE BEFORE WENT UNNOTICED BY THEIR ASSOCIATE DEALERSHIP USED CAR MECHANIC AT PHIL HUGHES HONDA. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 719125 at NHTSA ↗