1996 Mitsubishi Caribbean GALANT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
129,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 1; Tires: 1
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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
2004: 1; 2005: 3
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10100004 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
A RED LIGHT FLASHED ON LEFT SIDE OF STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER, THEN GRAY SMOKE FROM FRONT. CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND TOTALED. *BF *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107326 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE IRE BLEW. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND CHANGED THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. GOODYEAR TIRE SIZE 18570R/14 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111487 · 2005-02-14 (February 14, 2005)
THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. THERE WERE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TIED THE DOOR WITH DOME STRING. LATER, THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR OPENED. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE LATCHES ON BOTH DOORS WERE DEFECTIVE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144274 · 2005-11-29 (November 29, 2005)
BOTH BALL JOINTS ON THE CONSUMERS 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT FAILED, BREAKING THE DRIVE AXLE. *TS AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE BALL JOINTS. THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF NOTIFICATION. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, HOWEVER THAT PROVED TO BE NOT TRUE AND SINCE THEN THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR THE COST OF THE BALL JOINT, BUT NOTHING ELSE WHICH WOULD BE A LITTLE OVER 200.00, HOWEVER THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIR BILLS WE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144274 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V421003 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2001-04-06 (April 6, 2001)
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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V066004 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1999-05-19 (May 19, 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗