1998 Mitsubishi GALANT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
100,705 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 39 complaints (25.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 25.6% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 20.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 15.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.1% |
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 | 10 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Suspension: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 27 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 8; 2002: 8; 2003: 6; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10021483 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. WITH UNDER 20000 MILES ON THE CAR TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT AND IT WAS FINE. THEN, AT 76000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN TRAFFIC. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021483 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051088 · 2003-12-25 (December 25, 2003)
CAR STARTED STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS, HAD TRANSMISSION FILTER CHANGED, FOUND A LOT OF METAL IN FLUID. DROVE CAR 500 MORE MILES BEFORE LOSING REVERSE AND OVERDRIVE. TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO RUN AT 71,000 MILES. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 70,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051088 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10493837 · 2013-01-22 (January 22, 2013)
ON JAN. 9, 2013, WHILE I WAS BACKING UP MY MITSUBISHI GALANT 1998 (VIN # [XXX]) IN MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AFTER BACKING UP, WHEN I DROVE FORWARD, MY CAR SEEMED TO BE QUITE JUMPY AND WANTED TO LURCH FORWARDS. AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM HOME, WHILE I WAS STOPPED, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARDS. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED HARD ON THE BRAKE. THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNUSUAL AND SCARY. LATER WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, I COULD SENSE THAT THE CAR WAS AGAIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 119,955 miles reported. Look up ODI 10493837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728758 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)
I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND HAD BROUGHT THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS TO SEE IF IT WAS THE BRAKES BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS AT FIRST. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE PROPERLY AFTER I HAD STOPPED AT A SIGNAL LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN, IT HAD FELT AS IF THE BRAKES WERE STILL ON WHEN I PUSHED MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, YET THE CAR WOULD STAND STILL. ANOTHER TIME WHEN WE WERE SLOWING FOR A CORNER AT AROUND 5MPH, THE CAR HAD JERKED BACK AND FORTH UNTIL I HAD GAVE IT GAS AND IT WORKED OUT FINE. SOME DAYS THE CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060994 · 2004-02-23 (February 23, 2004)
THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING WHICH ENDED UP ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. 3 YEARS AFTER ACCIDENT, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING. *LA THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS INJURED AND FEELS THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES. RECALL#00V421001. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 55,238 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145140 · 2005-12-13 (December 13, 2005)
WHEN YOU START THE CAR IT MAKES A LOAD NOISE UNTIL FULLY HEATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS PULLING AND MAKING NOISE, IT GETS STUCK IN GEAR AND WILL NOT MOVE TO NEXT GEAR, JUST STALLS AND THEN KICKS IN. FIRST IT WAS JUST SKIPPING GEARS FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS SO I CHECKED THE FLUID IT ONLY COULD USE NOT EVEN A HALF OF COURT, I HAD NO WARNING LIGHT AT ALL UNTIL THE SIXTH NIGHT WHEN IT GOT STUCK IN GEAR AND STEERING TO CHANGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 96,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561710 · 2001-06-20 (June 20, 2001)
BATTERY FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. *ET
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860589 · 2000-04-19 (April 19, 2000)
WHEN USING ELECTRICAL WINDSHIELD WIPERS HEADLIGHTS WILL DIM. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS UNSAFE BECAUSE MECHANIC TOLD HIM IT COULD CAUSE AND ELECTRICAL FIRE, OR LIGHTS COULD KEEP FLICKERING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860589 at NHTSA ↗