1997 Mitsubishi GALANT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
61 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
87,944 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 61 complaints (18.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 13.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift | 3 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 4; Electrical System: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 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). 43 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 | 6 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 12; 2002: 11; 2003: 9; 2004: 9; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2012: 1; 2016: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000048 · 2002-12-14 (December 14, 2002)
THE ENGINE HAS AN UNEVEN IDLE AND HESISTATES AT 2200 RPM. FOUR LIFTERS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 23K MILES. THE ENGINE WAS REMANUFACTURED UNDER WARRANTY TO FIX AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM AT 28K MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 75K MILES AND IS AGAIN BURNING OIL AT 1 QUART/1K MILES. THE CASTER ALIGNMENT IS OFF BY 1.2 DEGREES AND CANNOT BE FIXED. THE FRONT BUMPER IS FALLING OFF BECAUSE THE THIN METAL PLATE THAT HOLDS IT ON HAS RUSTED OFF. THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES, DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE GROUND AND WIRING IN GENERAL.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000048 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001855 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAID THE CRANK SHAFT BROKE CAUSING THE FAN BELT TO POP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002605 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, WHEN THE RADIO CAUGHT ON FIR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006560 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS--------------770787. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007371 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008543 · 2002-11-05 (November 5, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING, ALL LIGHTS DIM RANDOMLY FOR 1-3 SECONDS. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHT SWITCH FAILS TO TURN THE DOME LIGHT ON WHEN SET TO "ON" AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT TURN THE LIGHT ON WHEN SET TO "DOOR" WITH THE DOOR OPEN. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER REARVIEW MIRRORS NO LONGER MOVE THESE DEFECTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. *****DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****769329. *AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009980 · 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010834 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
NOTICED "SQUEAKING" NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT MINIMAL SPEED-ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AUTO MECHANIC SAID THE STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, BRAKES HAVE BEEN CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH ROTOR DAMAGE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010834 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗