1996 Mitsubishi GALANT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005851 · 2003-02-14 (February 14, 2003)
PAID FOR REPAIRS ON A 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005851 at NHTSA ↗
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 10020045 · 2003-05-19 (May 19, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND DAMAGED THE AXLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,524 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020045 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 10066309 · 2004-04-16 (April 16, 2004)
TOOK IN MY 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES FOR IT'S YEARLY INSPECTION. VECHICLE FAILED DUE TO OBD READINESS MONITOR SAYING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE LIGHT WAS NOTON AND IN FACT WOKRED PERFECTLY AS TESTED BY TURNING ON THE ENGINE, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AS PART OF THE START UP THEN TURN OFF. I HAD TWO SHOPS READ THE ECM WITH A SNAP ON TOOLS COMPUTER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY CODES IN THE COMPUTER. THERE WERE NONE, BUT IT DID SAY THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T. I TOOK IT INTO THE SALT LAKE COU…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066309 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 ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V237000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-08-25 (August 25, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. CRACKS CAN OCCUR IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DUE TO AN IMPROPER SPOT WELD ON THE BAFFLE PLATE TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK.
Consequence: A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK COULD ALLOW FUEL OR FUMES TO ESCAPE. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK FOR ANY SIGNS OF CRACKING. IF NO CRACKING OR LEAKING IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SEALING PROTECTOR PLATE. IF ANY CRACKING OR LEAKAGE IS FOUND, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗00V421001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2000-12-18 (December 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: 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 ↗99V066001 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 1999-04-05 (April 5, 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 ↗