1998 Mitsubishi GALANT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10020365 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
NAR 05/21/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020365 at NHTSA ↗
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 10030115 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS POPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY BECAUSE THE FRAME SHOULD NOT BE TEARING EASILY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033494 · 2003-08-25 (August 25, 2003)
MITSUBISHI GALANT 1998 - PADDED COVER OVER CONSOLE AND AIR BAG IS COMMING LOOSE, PROBABLY DUE TO POOR GLUE.IT MAY NOT BE SAFE, BUT I CANNOT GET MITSUBISHI TO FIX IT OR EVEN TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO HEAR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037165 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
THE BEDDING ON THE DASH IS COMING OFF, INCLUDING THE BEDDING ON THE AIR BAG. I HAVE CALLED MITSUBISHI, THEY SAY A SERVICE PERSON WILL CALL ME BACK IN 72 HOURS AND THEY NEVER DO. MITSUBISHI MOTORS 1998 GALLANT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037165 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 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 10065311 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 133,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065311 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 ↗