RoadVitals

1991 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.
63
Latest Nov 28, 2007
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.
1
Latest Jul 22, 1998
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.
3
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 63 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Mitsubishi Galant, most frequently naming the transmission, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 9 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

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

1 campaign 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
98V168000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Jul 22, 1998
9,560 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

RQ98007ClosedRecall Query

TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE

Opened May 11, 1998
Closed Aug 28, 1998

THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONLed to recall 98V168001
EA98002ClosedEngineering Analysis

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP

Opened Jan 30, 1998
Closed Apr 30, 1998
WHEELSLed to recall 98V069001
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

View all 63
Steering
Filed Nov 28, 2007

I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM OFF AND ON SINCE 1997 HAVE PUT IN THREE ECM COMPUTERS WHY WAS THIS PROBLEM NEVER ADDRESSED BY MANUFACTURER CHECK OUT THIS SITE -HTTP://WWW.90GSX.COM/ECLIPSE/CAP/CAPS.HTM ALONG WITH OIL LEAKAGE RECALL OF 97-98 WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF & JUST FOUND OUT WITH MY CAR LEAKING OIL EVERY WARE & NOW POWER STEERING LEAKAGE FROM STEERING KNUCKLE SPINDLE ARM THAT WAS RECALLED IN JAPAN 2001 BUT NOT HERE ! HELP *TR

NHTSA ID
10210185
Incident
Oct 16, 1997
Transmission
Filed Feb 26, 2006

TRANSMISSION FAILURE TO SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR AFTER REPLACING TRANSMISSION WITH OTHER UNIT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. ( APRIL 2005) MAKES A LOUD BANG WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO 1ST GEAR UPON STOPPING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151227
Incident
Jan 21, 2006
Mileage
199,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Jan 15, 2004

RIGHT BOOT HAS SELF DESTRUCTED FOR THE THIRD TIME (THE FIRST TIME WAS AROUND 35000 & I WAS TOLD THEY SHOULD BE GOOD FOR AT LEAST 60000 - THE LEFT ONE WAS). LEFT BOOT HAS ONLY HAD TO BE REPLACED 1 TIME (AROUND 65000)& WAS NOT AS BADLY DAMAGED AS THE RIGHT HAS BEEN EVERY TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM & WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. COMPUTER CHIP DIED AROUND 95000 EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD IT WOULD LAST LONGER. FRIEND'S MITSUBISHI CHIP DIED ALSO BUT IT WAS AT 120000. REPAIR SHOP STATED THEY HAVE HAD MANY MITSUBISHI COMPUTER CHIP PROBLEM CARS BROUGHT IN - MOST PEOPLE JUNK THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I HAD TO REPLACE A WORN BELT ("GOOD FOR 60000") AT 25000. GEAR SHIFT CABLE BROKE A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR (NEW). ARE THESE PROBLEMS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD?

NHTSA ID
10070668
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
105,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PURCHASED A VEHICLE AT EASTABOGA AUTO SALES. DROVE THE CAR FOR 1 DAY THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT HE TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF DAYS BECAUSE HE HAD JUST PUT A NEW MOTOR IN IT AND IT HAD BEEN SITTING UP FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS TO DRIVE IT AND LET EVERYTHING GET BROKEN IN.SO THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULDNT MOVE . SO IT SIT IN MY YARD FOR ANOTHER DAY. FINALLY IHAD TO HAVE MY HUSBAND PUSH ME TO GET IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT .HE SAID HE'D FIND A TRANSMISSION SO NOW HE WANTS ME TO PY $900.00 TO FIX IT AND ALL I WANT HIM TO DO IS GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK BECAUSE HE HAS THE CAR. BUT HE REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING. WHAT AM I SUPPOSE TO DO?

NHTSA ID
10070552
Incident
Jul 15, 2003
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 4, 2003

REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF BOTH FRONT AXLES IN 1991 MITSUBISHI GALANT AFTER ONLY 55,577 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10037239
Incident
Jul 23, 2003
Mileage
55,500 mi
Engine
Filed May 28, 2003

I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAIN ABOUT THE ECU FAILURE OF MY 91 MITSUBISHI GALANT. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED THREE YEARS AGO. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE ERROR CODE SHOWED A BAD BAROMETRIC PRESSURE SENSOR. I REPLACED IT AND COULDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. A SHOP REPLACED IT AGAIN AND THE ERROR CODE WAS STILL THERE. THEY FINALLY DIAGNOZED A BAD ECU. I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE EARLY 90S MITSUBISHI GALANT ECU AND HAVE KNOWN AT LEAST TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD THE SAME CAR BEFORE, AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE ECU FAILURE. FORTUNATELY HE WAS NOT INJURED. HOWEVER, IT'S DEFINITELY A SEVERE ISSUE. I KNOW ANOTHER GUY HAS THE SAME CAR WHEN I AM DOING THE REPAIR. HE HAD A BAD ECU TOO. I AM WONDERING IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINS REGARDING THE ECU.

NHTSA ID
10020629
Incident
May 23, 2003
Mileage
120,090 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 23, 2002

VEHICLE HAD A RECALL DONE ON VEHICLE REGARDING TRANSFER CASE A FEW YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED AGAIN. TRANSFER CASE WILL LOCK UP WHILE CONSUMER IS DRIVING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.AK

NHTSA ID
8019181
Incident
Aug 20, 2002
Transmission
Filed May 13, 2002

OVERDRIVE FLUID IS LEAKING, ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO GET RECALL REPAIRS DONE, BUT ALL DEALER DID WAS TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. THEN, DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING. THEY DID NOT REPLACE ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK RECALL CAMPAIGN 98V16800. *MJ

NHTSA ID
8009700
Incident
Jan 1, 2002

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.

TSB9911007

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

INFORMATION REGARDING CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FOR REMANUFACTURED SHORT BLOCKS. *TT

TSB9723015

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

INFORMATION ABOUT IMPROVED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE END CLUTCH. *TT

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
1991Viewing631346.4
1990211345.7
1989191152.1
1988701—
1987921—
1986421—
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.