RoadVitals

1996 Mitsubishi Galant Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Aug 30, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 136 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Aug 30, 2010

I CURRENTLY BOUGHT THE 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT FOR MY WIFE AND 11 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT TO GET THE PULL AND SHAKE OUT OF MY FRONT END. I TOOK IT TO AN ALIGNMENT SHOP AND THE ASE MASTER TECH. TOLD ME MY CONTROL ARMS WERE BENT DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BALL JOINT, HE THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES AND IF I DON'T GET THE PROBLEM FIXED IT COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE FOR MY WIFE TO LOSE STEERING WITH OUR INFANT DAUGHTER SO NOW I GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS THEN A TWENTY FIVE DOLLAR FRONT END ALIGNMENT. I'M UPSET AT THE DEALER FOR NOT INFORMING ME WITH THESE RECALLS NOT THE MANUFACTURE FOR MAKING THE BAD PART. PLEASE HELP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352659
Incident
Jul 24, 2010
Suspension
Filed Sep 13, 2004

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL 00V421001, AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER LATER PURCHASED TIRES, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091897
Incident
Apr 26, 2004
Mileage
107,000 mi
Suspension
Filed May 19, 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE BALL JOINTS SEPARATED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STEER TO THE LEFT AND DAMAGED THE AXLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10020045
Incident
May 17, 2003
Mileage
70,524 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 14, 2003

PAID FOR REPAIRS ON A 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES SUSPENSION FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT.

NHTSA ID
10005851
Incident
Jan 31, 2003
Suspension
Filed Sep 19, 2002

CONSUMER HAD LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT REPAIRED UNDER RECALL LAST YEAR. 6 MONTHS LATER, RIGHT BALL JOINT BROKE. CONSUMER HAD REPAIRED IT. ON 9/14/02 LEFT BALL JOINT BROKE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
8019108
Incident
Sep 14, 2002
Suspension
Filed Aug 8, 2001

DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE FOR RECALL 00V421001. DEALERSHIP IN EACH COMMUNICATION WITH CONSUMER CHANGED NAME OF THE COMPONENT THAT WOULD BE REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE PART WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON WAS NOT THE PART COVERED UNDER RECALL , LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
893798
Incident
Jun 5, 2001
EngineSuspensionTransmission
Filed Mar 8, 2001

LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS HAD A LOT OF PLAY. VEHICLE WAS MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN MAKING TURNS. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MECHANIC CHECK IT. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE BALL JOINTS, 00V421001, HOWEVER DEALER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
882523
Incident
Feb 12, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jan 4, 2001

WHILE DRIVING, BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY FAILED, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO COME OFF AND FRONT END OF VEHICLE DROPPED, DURING RECALL 99V066001, DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, HOWEVER AFTER INSPECTING THE PART STATED IT WAS OKAY AND MADE NO CHANGES TO VEHICLE, THREE MONTHS LATER THE RECALL PARTS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
877460
Incident
Dec 30, 2000
Suspension
Filed Dec 12, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH LOWER BALL JOINT FELL OFF VEHICLE. HAD THIS COMPONENT LOOKED AT UNDER RECALL 99V066001 IN SEPTEMBER 2000. WAS TOLD BALLJOINT WAS FINE. CURRENTLY, DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT WAS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT CAUSED THE BALL JOINT TO FELL OFF. *YH

NHTSA ID
876352
Incident
Dec 8, 2000
Suspension
Filed Nov 13, 2000

RECALL 99V066001/ LOWER BALL JOINTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER NOVEMBER AND OCTOBER 13,2000, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX RECALL. DEALER IS RAYSKILLMAN MITSUBISHI, 8424 HIGHWAY 31, GREENWOOD, IN (317) 8852700. *AK AFTER MANY CALLS MITSUBISHI AGREED TO FIX DAMAGE. *YH

NHTSA ID
874808
Incident
Nov 12, 2000
Suspension
Filed Sep 6, 2000
Crash reported

RECALL RECEIVED ON BALL JOINT, BALL JOINT BOOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS OK ON 7/28/00. ON 9/4/00 THE BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO TURN SIDEWAYS AND CAUSING A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID
730368
Incident
Sep 4, 2000
SteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 23, 2000

RECALL 99V066001. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WANTED TO CHARGE OWNER TO REPLACE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM.*AK THE DEALER FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM TO BE STRUTS (SHOCKS) AND INNER TIE ROD FAILURES. *YH

NHTSA ID
868461
Suspension
Filed Dec 27, 1999

RECALL 99V066001. DEALER IS TRYING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR RECALL SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
854403
Suspension
Filed Nov 20, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH THE BALL JOINT CAME OUT OF JOINT, CAUSING THE AXLE TO BREAK. A RECALL WAS RECEIVED ON THE BALL JOINTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER PASSED THE VEHICLE OFF, STATING THAT THE SUSPENSION AND BALL JOINTS WERE OK. NOW WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING BOTH MITSUBISHI AND/OR THE DEALER THAT PASSED IT OFF TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AFTER ANOTHER MECHANIC HAS SINCE CHECKED SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY BALL JOINT. *AK

NHTSA ID
715040
Incident
Nov 18, 1999
Suspension
Filed Nov 9, 1999

RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED, HOWEVER CONSUMER CHARGED FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS DURING REPAIR, POSSIBLE DAMAGED COMPONENT DUE TO DEFECT. (99V-066). MJS

NHTSA ID
549461
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Suspension
Filed Sep 30, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE LOWER BALL JOINT FELLOFF, CAUSING THE WHELL TO COLLAPSEE AT AN ANGLE,.THE WHEEL WAS HELD ON BY THE RUBBER BOOT WHILL THE VEHICLE WAS SLIDING FOR ABOUT 75F. UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP. DEALER HS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
849424
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Aug 9, 1999

RECEIVED NOTICE #99V066001. CONTACTED DEALER.RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO BALL JOINTS BREAKING. AXLE BROKE & WENT INTO TRANSMISSION. LOST CONTROL. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR BECAUSE BALL JOINTS DID NOT BREAK THE RIGHT WAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
844646
Incident
Jul 9, 1999
Suspension
Filed Jun 22, 1999

LOWER BALL JOINT CAME APART WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
838077
Incident
May 10, 1999
Suspension
Filed Nov 8, 1996

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
804722
Incident
May 2, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .