RoadVitals

1992 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.
39
Latest May 18, 2009
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.
2
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.
3

Overview

Our database contains 39 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Mitsubishi Galant, most frequently naming the transmission, tires & wheels and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 10 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

  • Transmission1535.7%
  • Tires & wheels819.0%
  • Engine49.5%
  • Electrical37.1%
  • Powertrain (other)24.8%
  • Brakes24.8%
  • Fuel system24.8%
  • Seat belts24.8%

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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 39
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed May 18, 2009

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

NHTSA ID
10269309
Incident
May 18, 2009
Mileage
133,582 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 21, 2006
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10169101
Incident
Aug 13, 2006
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 2, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10144334
Incident
Nov 1, 2005
Mileage
8,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 21, 2005

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

NHTSA ID
10137177
Incident
Sep 19, 2005
Mileage
113,049 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 22, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10064649
Electrical
Filed Jan 14, 2004

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

NHTSA ID
10053159
Incident
Nov 8, 2003
Mileage
111,580 mi
Powertrain (other)Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 23, 2003

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

NHTSA ID
10044617
Interior & seats
Filed Oct 18, 2002

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

NHTSA ID
8021134
Incident
Oct 18, 1999

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—
1992Viewing391247.0
1991631346.4
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.