RoadVitals

1986 Mitsubishi 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.
4
Latest Nov 12, 2000
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 May 24, 1995
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.
1
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
0 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Mitsubishi Galant, most frequently naming the seat belts, brakes and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 6 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

  • Seat belts350.0%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Steering116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

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
95V103004

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
658,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov
88E023000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

Sep 19, 1988
156 units potentially affected
The defect: HEAT SHIELD WAS INSTALLED ON LOWER SIDE OF MUFFLER INSTEAD OF THE UPPER SIDE.
The risk: THE HEAT SHIELD ASSISTS IN DISSIPATION OF HEAT FROM THEUPPER PORTION OF THE MUFFLER. WITHOUT THE HEAT SHIELD, THE MUFFLER MIGHTCONTACT THE TRUNK OF THE CAR, DAMAGING THE CONTENTS.
The remedy: A HEAT SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE MUFFLER.
MIDAS INTERNATIONAL CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA95004ClosedEngineering Analysis

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Mar 10, 1995
Closed Aug 1, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103004

Recent owner complaints

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

BrakesSteeringVisibility
Filed Nov 12, 2000

THERE CONTINUES TO BE EXCESSIVE SCRAPING SOUND WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT COME BACK TO SAME POSITION AFTER MAKING TURN-THIS IS EVEN AFTER A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT SEARS-ELMHURST, NY ON 10/30/00. HEATER BLOWS COLD AIR IF NOT SET ON AUTO-THERMOSTAT ; AND THEN MUST BE SET AT LEAST 75 DEGREES; WAS IN MITSUBISHI DEALER ON 11 AVENUE NYC OVER PAST 2 YEARS; HEATER CORE WAS REPLACED; EVIDENTLY NOT THE PROBLEM; MITSUBISHI DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE WAS BUT WOULDN'T REFUND ME FOR THE PART THEY ORIGNALLY REPLACED *AK

NHTSA ID
736200
Seat belts
Filed Mar 25, 1997
Crash reported1 death reported

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX. 35MPH, 1:30 ON FRONT BUMPER, WHEN SWERVED TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, HIT TELEPHONE POLE, SHOULDER /LAP BELT BUCKLE UNBUCKLED, VEHICLE ROLLED, DRIVER WAS THROWN OUT OF DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND WAS KILLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
810408
Seat belts
Filed May 9, 1995

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LATCH AND DRIVER GETTING HARD TO LATCH. TT

NHTSA ID
965046
Seat belts
Filed Feb 24, 1995

DIFFICULTY LATCHING SEAT BELT ON DRIVER. BROKEN. TT

NHTSA ID
960575
Incident
Jan 1, 1995

Manufacturer communications

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

TT253

EQUIPMENT

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

TSB-19-00-008

EQUIPMENT

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

TT237

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

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

TSB-13-42A-002

STRUCTURE

This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals.

TSB9711003

VALVE LASH ADJUSTER PROCEDURES - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW

TSB9654012

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

ANTENNA TIGHTENING TORQUE. *TW

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 Galant by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012900—
2011300—
2010910—
2009160043.1
2008600—
2007241044.0
2006241044.0
2005263045.6
2004611038.7
20031263259.4
20021353262.0
20011518166.5
20001367057.5
19992156057.0
1998532045.1
1997802051.5
19961364161.5
19952096161.4
19941984262.6
1993900—
1992391247.0
1991631346.4
1990211345.7
1989191152.1
1988701—
1987921—
1986Viewing421—
1985010—
1984000—

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.