RoadVitals

1996 Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Nov 29, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Apr 6, 2001
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 12 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags116.7%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%
  • Suspension116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
00V421003

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Apr 6, 2001
5,164 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEANView on NHTSA.gov
99V066004

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

May 19, 1999
3,789 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The 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.
MITSUBISHI CARIBBEANView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Suspension
Filed Nov 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 WERE CLOSE TO 1000.00. *JB

NHTSA ID
10144274
Incident
Jul 1, 2005
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 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

NHTSA ID
10111487
Incident
Jan 17, 2005
Mileage
131,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 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

NHTSA ID
10107326
Incident
Jul 13, 2004
Mileage
128,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2004
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10100004
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Airbags
Filed Nov 3, 1999

AIR BAGLIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. CONTACTED THE DEAL, THEY FIXED IT. IT WORKED FOR THREE DAYS, BUT STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
852497
Incident
Sep 15, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED, APPROXIMATELY 65MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKES SHIMMY OR VIBRATE VERY BADLY. CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ROTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID
850489
Incident
Sep 20, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-21-00-010

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to provide instructions and Material Safety Data Sheets for Biosol 100 use.

TIN-21-00-003

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers reminding them of the importance of customer satisfaction.

TT-20-00-002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Tech Talk is a service newsletter that was sent out to dealers. It covers various topics and reviews the previous months publications.

TIN-20-42A-001

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers informing that MMNA has recently received information from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) about the effects of the Waterborne (WB) paint process on Mitsubishi vehicles.

TSB-20-42A-005

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin informs dealers they may find a stain or cloudy spot on the body panels after removing the transportation film.due to improper installation of the film.This TSB instructs the dealers of the repair procedure for removal of the stain.

TT218

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; POWER TRAIN; VISIBILITY; WHEELS

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Caribbean Galant by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001311—
2000140—
1999130—
1998110—
1997110—
1996Viewing620—
1995020—
1994120—
1991010—
1990010—
1989110—
1987010—
1986010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.