1992 Mitsubishi Galant

Routine

Owners filed 39 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission › lever and linkage › column shift. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift13
000
Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)6
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Module2
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Automatic Transmission98V168000
Filed Jul 22, 19989,560 vehiclesMitsubishi America

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Rear
Filed May 18, 2009133,582 milesLA

I WAS DRIVING MY MOTHER-N-LAWS 1992 MITSUBISHI GALANT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED TO SWERVE FROM RIGHT TO LEFT MAKING A WEIRD SCRAPPING SOUND MAKING ME THINK THE BRAKES WERE PROBABLY LOCKED UP. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE SMOKE KEPT COMING OUT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR MORE THAN 10 MINUTES. MY KID'S AND I WERE ALL AFRAID TO GO NEAR THE CAR. BUT THE SMOKE STARTED TO SUBSIDE AND I TOOK A CHANCE TO GO VIEW WHAT MAY BE THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKES WERE OKAY BUT I HAD SEEN SOME THICK OIL WITH SMALL GRAINS OF METAL IN IT PROTRUDING OUT FROM THE CENTER OF THE I GUESS WAS THE HEAD OF THE AXLE. I TOOK THE HUB CAP OFF TO GET A BETTER LOOK. I WAS ONLY FIVE MINUTES OR LESS FROM HOME AND TOOK A CHANCE TO DRIVE IT THERE....BUT WHEN I HAD ARRIVED AND TRIED TO PARK IT. THE WHOLE FRIGGIN TIRE CAME RIGHT OFF. I STARTED TO DO SOME INVESTIGATION AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINT SITES. SO NOW I AM HERE WRITING UP ONE AND TRYING TO SEE IF AT ALL ANYONE CAN HELP MY MOTHER-N-LAW GET HER CAR FIXED? PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO SEE WHY THIS OCCURRED? I WAS SO AFRAID FOR THE LIVES OF MY KID'S AND OTHER'S AROUND ME. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT COULD OF HAPPENED TO US IF I NEVER HAD THE FEELING TO GET OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. DEBORAH... PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!??? THANK YOU!! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Sep 21, 2006IL

1992 MITSUBISHI GALANT CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *KB A NEW ENGINE HAD BEEN INSTALL 3000 MILES PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *NM

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Dec 2, 20058,000 milesNC

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V168000 CONCERNING THE TRANSFER CASE. RECALL REPAIRS WAS PERFORMED ON 10-20-03. IN NOVEMBER 2005 WITH ONLY 8000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE THE TRANSFER CASE BEGAN TO LEAK FLUID, AND ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOUSE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED, AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WOULD CALL HIM BACK FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEE CONTACTED. *AK

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Sep 21, 2005113,049 milesIL

DT: THE CONTACT STATES IN AUGUST 04 HE HAD H CAR INSPECTED AND IT PASSED INSPECTION, AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSFER CASE IN TRANSMISSION. HE HEARD THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRANSFER CASE, HE HAD IT CHECKED. ABOUT THREE DAYS AGO THE REAR WHEELS ON 1992 MITSUBISHI GALLANT LOCKED UP. HE HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ARE REFUSED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS A DRAIN PLUG MISSING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. NEITHER THE PREVIOUS OWNER NOR THE CURRENT OWNER HAS EVER TOUCHED THE TRANSFER CASE. *AK

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Mar 22, 2004IA

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V168000 CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE , BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Jan 14, 2004111,580 milesWI

MY CAR HAD BEEN STALLING SINCE AUGUST 2003. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT INTO HAVE IT SERVICED AT FIRESTONE, THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2003 MY CAR WAS STALLING AGAIN AND I LOST POWER DRIVING IT, AS THE CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF. I HAD BROUGHT MY CAR IN AGAIN TO A DIFFERENT FIRESTONE. I TRUST THE MECHANIC, I HAVE BEEN BRINGING MY CAR THERE FOR YEARS. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION CONTROL MODULE. I HAVE A MITSUBISHI GALANT 1992. ACCORDING TO FIRESTONE THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER MITSUBISHI CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR ECM. A COMPANY IN TEXAS HAS DATA SHOWING OTHER ECM THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS COMPANY IS: ECM TO GO AUTOMOTIVE COMPUTER SUPPLY, 2280 EAST MAIN SUITE B-7, LEAGUE CITY TEXAS 77573 1 888-326-8646. WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ECM ON MY CAR IT WAS VERY COSTLY, $755.03 TOTAL. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHY MITSUBISHI HAS NOT RECALLED ECM'S. THANK YOU, SANDRA PELLICORI. *AK

Power Train › Axle Assembly
Filed Oct 23, 2003CA

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS SMOKE CAME FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. INITIALLY THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT THE REAR TRANS AXLE SHOULD BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER TO GET A SECOND OPINION. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL 98V168000 CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER, WHO REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Oct 18, 2002AL

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE WILL NOT START. HAD VEHICLE SERVICED THIS WAS A RESULT OFF THE MAIN COMPUTER CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONING. HAD IT REPLACED PROBLEM REACCURED. MR

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Filed Oct 16, 2002WI

THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED IN JAPAN (JULY 2000) AND IN FEBRUARY (2001) CITING SAFETY REASONS DUE TO THIS AND RELATED PROBLEMS. IT WAS NOT RECALLED IN AMERICA. WAITED ALL THESE MONTHS TO SEE IF IT WILL BE RECALLED. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JAPAN, I FULLY EXPECTED TO SEE THIS VEHICLE IN MITSUBISHI'S RECALL EFFORT. CONTACTED THEM AT 1-888-648-782002 BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT GIVE ME A NUMBER TO CONTACT AT MITSUBISHI AMERICA ON HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THIS SAFETY PROBLEM FIXED. THEREFORE CONTACTING NHTSA AS THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR WHICH VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED IN JAPAN DUE TO QUALITY CONTROL PROBLEMS. MR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jan 7, 2002RI

BURNS OIL DIED RIGT ON HIGWAY NOW I OWN ANTHE R ONE ND IT DOES HE SAMETHING. *AK

Power Train
Filed Aug 28, 2001NJ

DEALER SAID THE RECALL WAS DONE, A LEAK CAN OCCUR AND POTENTIALLY LOCK UP ALL WHEELS AT ANY GIVEN SPEED. DUE TO INADEQUATE REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM STILL IS OCCURING.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Aug 20, 2001NJ

THE DEALERS ARE NOT FIXING THE RECALL PROPERLY AND REFUSING YOU WHEN YOU GO BACK. THIS AFFECTS ALL AWD MITSUBISHI 1990'-1999. I AM IN NEED OF A NEW TRANSFER CASE (MITSU$1800) AND SUPPORTING YOKES AND SEALS AS DAMAGE RESULTS FROM LEAKING WHEN NOT PROPERLY FIXED AND CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE REAR WHEEL LOCKUP.*AK (TIRESIZE: 15)

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Jul 18, 2000PA

RECALL 98V168001/TRANSFER CASE: WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY AT SPEED OF 55 MPH REAR WHEELS COMMENCED TO LOCK UP AND CAUSED STEERING TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. LATER ON RECEIVING A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE, DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Oct 26, 1999TX

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERNCE TO RECALL NUMBER 98V168001, DEALER MADE, RECALL REPAIRS TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER IS CURRENTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSFER CASE, NEARLY LOCKING UP WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED BOTH DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. BOTH REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 10, 1999TX

OIL SEALS NEED REPLACING ABOUT EVERY TWO YEARS ST 75,000 MILES THEN AT 130,000 THEN AT 160,000. REPAIR IS $400-$500

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Sep 3, 1999MO

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WAS HIT HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 3, 1999OR

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT CABLE FELL OFF THE TRACK, AND THE BELT IS DANGLING FROM THE HOOD OF CAR. SEATBELT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 25, 1998IL

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND SOMETIMES FIRST GEAR. REVERSE WOULD ENGAGE ONLY AFTER GRINDING THE GEARS.

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Jul 1, 1998WA

OWNER BELIEVES VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE TRANSFER CASE LOCK UP RECALL FOR SIMILAR MODELS LIKE TALON AND ECLIPSE (98V069003).

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed May 20, 1998FL

ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILED

20 of 39 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20129000Routine
20113000Routine
20109100Routine
200916000Routine
20086000Routine
200724100Routine
200624110Routine
200526310Routine
200461101Fatalities reported
2003126341Fatalities reported
20021353101Fatalities reported
20011518110Routine
20001367160Routine
19992156101Fatalities reported
199853200Routine
199780210Routine
1996136440Routine
1995209650Above average
1994198452Fatalities reported
19939000Routine
1992 — this page39120Routine
199163110Routine
199021110Routine

Compare every Galant year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 22, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.