Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 31 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.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
TRANSMISSION FLUID DIPSTICK IMPOSSIBLE TO READ, NOTIFIED DEALER, DEALER SAID THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS DESIGNED. I'M WORRIED BECAUSE TRANMISSIONS ARE A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS GENERATION OF MITSUBISHI GALANT. CAN THIS BE CORRECTED BY A DIPSTICK REDESIGN?
THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF MY 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND REENGAGES. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS LOST WHEN THIS HAPPENS.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY @ 96,498 MILES IN 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT VIN# [XXX].....COLEMAN TAYLOR TRANSMISSION/MEMPHIS TN ATTEMPTED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION FOR 3 WEEKS.....HAD TO REMOVE AND GET ANOTHER REBUILT TRANSMISSION......4 DAYS AFTER PICKING CAR UP.....GEARS 1-3 SLAM SEVERELY IN AND OUT OF GEARS UP AND DOWN......GEARS 4-5 OK AN EXPRESSWAY......REPORTED PROB TO COLEMAN TAYLOR....SUGGESTED (ON A SATURDAY) TO REMOVE GROUND FROM BATTERY TO RE-SET COMPUTER AND TOLD TO TEST DRIVE....TEST DROVE AND TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLAMMING IN AND OUT OF GEARS 1-3 SEVERELY AND MAKING A TERRIBLE NOICE, CAUSING DRIVER TO RUN INTO A DITCH.....CAR IS EXPECTED TO BE DETERMINED A TOTALED BY PROGRESSIVE INS TODAY...........AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER.........CAUSED A $75.00 TOWING AND FINE BY MEMPHIS POLICE DEPT FOR FAILING TO MAINTAIN OUTLOOK (THEY FELT SORRY FOR US!)...*AK
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED THREE TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND WHEN I GOT HOME, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE NEXT DAY, I PLACED THE GEAR IN DRIVE, AND PRESSED THE GAS; IT SOUNDED AS IF THE ENTIRE EVERYTHING WOULD FALL OUT. MY TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT WITHOUT WARNING, AND I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL. I NOW SEE THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MITSUBISHI TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND COMPENSATE US, THE CONSUMERS. IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL ONLY LOSE CUSTOMERS. THANKS.*AK
HI, I AM WRITING THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY LASTED FOR 1 OR IF WE WERE LUCKY 2 YEARS. NOW WE ALL READY PUT THREE OF THEM IN THE CAR IN THE PAST 4 YEARS, TWO WERE NEW AND ONE WAS USED. NOW I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY TO SOME PEOPLE BUT WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO SUPPORT THREE KIDS THAT'S A LOT. WELL MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY ARE WE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS A DEFECT THAT WHEN THEY BUILT THIS CAR THAT THEY WERE TEST CARS .AND THEY SAID THAT AS LONG AS I OWN THIS CAR I WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM OVER AND OVER. AND THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS THE ONE IN LIVERPOOL NEW YORK . SO PLEASE IF YOU CAN HELP LET ME NOW WHAT I CAN DO. THANK YOU. *JB
I OWNED MY CAR FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROX. 40000 MILES WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. APPROX. 1 YEAR LATER THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THAT TIME AND I HAD TO PAY $1700 TO REPAIR IT. 4 MONTHS AFTER THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT A THIRD TIME, I BOUGHT A USED TRANSMISSION AND HAD IT INSTALLED. THE TRANSMISSION STILL DOES NOT ACT RIGHT, SHIFTING HARD AND THUMPING A LOT. THERE IS DEFINITLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THESE CARS AND OR TRANSMISSIONS. DT
ON MARCH 20, 1999 I PURCHASED THE MITSUBISHI GALANT FROM MARK ESCUDE TOYOTA OF 955 I-20 S. FRONTAGE RD JACKSON< MS 39204 (601) 948-3420. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, ABOUT 15-20 MILES AWAY THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT & HAD TO BE TOWED BACK. ON MARCH 24, 1999 WE RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, 2 HOURS AWAY, TO PICK UP THE CAR. NOW, ALMOST 30000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE OUT ONCE AGAIN, MAKING THIS THE THIRD TRANSMISSION TO BE PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER GOING ONLINE & DOING CHECKS ON THE '96 GALANT'S TRANSMISSION I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS CASES AFTER CASES OF THE SAME GALANT S SERIES IN WHICH I HAVE WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING TO BE REPLACED. UNDOUBTABLEY, THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS PATICULAR MODEL THAT IS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH 2 DIFFERRENT PEOPLE WITH MITSUBISHI MOTORS & THEY FEEL THAT IT IS JUST COINSIDENCE THAT THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, & MODEL WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I FEEL THAT BY PUTTING ANOTHER TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR WILL NOT SOLVE ANYTHING BUT ONLY RUIN ANOTHER TRANSMISSION COSTING THE CONSUMER. DT
WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION LAGGED THE KICKED INTO GEAR. WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED, IT LAGGED AND SOMETHING POPPED AND HAD NO GEARS AT ALL. THE CAR DID STILL RUN, PRESSING THE GAS DID NO GOOD.*AK
TRANSMISSION WILL STOP PULLING WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS INFORMED ABOUT PROBLEM. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED IN ONLY FOUR YEARS, THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION WAS RECALLED BUT REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
GOING 55MPH ON I-84 TO WATERBURY CI. CAR DIDN'T ACCELERATE TO MAINTAIN SPEED GOING UPHILL. STOPPED TO CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID. RESEVOIR WAS FULL. ON ATTEMPTING TO RESUNE THE JOURNEY THE CAR WENT FWDD. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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
TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING FOR A FEW DAYS. AT CERTAIN SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN ACT LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN POP BACK INTO GEAR. ONE DAY, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. AFTER REPLACING THAT ONE, WE ARE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU FIRST ATTEMPT TO TAKE OFF THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. EVEN AFTER LETTING IT WARM UP FOR 10-15 MINUTES THE SAME THING HAPPENS. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO THE SAME THING WHEN YOU TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN INTO TRAFFIC. WE JUST PRAY THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IT WILL POP BACK INTO GEAR. I HATE THIS CAR AND I AM HAVING TROUBLE GETTING RID OF IT. EVIDENTALLY EVERYONE IS AWARE OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM--EXCEPT MITSUBISHI. *AK
AT 32,383 MILES DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION DUE TO LEAKEAGE. CURRENTLY,AT PRESENT MILEAGES, TRANSMISSION STOPPED OPERATING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWICE AT 30,000 MILES AND 58,000 MILES. *AK IN ADDITION TO RECURRING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE HEAD LIGHT PLUGS HAD BURNED OUT. THE HEAD LIGHT PARTS AND THE A/C SYSTEM FOR THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THE CONSUMER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ENGINE OIL LEAK NEAR FRONT CRANK SEAL. OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING. *YH
WHEN DRIVING AND UPON TAKING OFF VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED FORWARD. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING TIRES TO SKID. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. AK THE CONVERTER LOCKS SOMETIMES DUE TO TCC SOLENIOD FAILURE. *YH
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN SEPT.OF 96 BRAND NEW. FOUR YEARS LATER, MY TRANSMISSION FAILS ME. I BELIEVE THESE TRANSMISSIONS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED AND RECALL. EVERYWHERE I CALL AROUND FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS, NO ONE HAS THEMS OR TELLS ME THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. THESE TRANMISSIONS ARE NO GOOD THE CAR REPAIR MEN TELL ME. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER. I REALLY LIKE MY CAR BUT I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SPEND $1600-1800 FOR A TRANSMISSION WHEN THIS ONE SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO QUICKLY. PLEASE RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY. THANKS.*AK
THE VEHICLE STALLS CONTINUALLY WHILE MAKING A STOP. *MJS
TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR AFTER STARTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND THEN FROM SECOND TO FIRST. GOT DIAGNOSTICS TEST DONE AT CANTINS IN LACONIA THEY STATED THAT THE PARK/NEUTRAL SWITCH WAS WET THEY CLEANED IT THEN STATED IT WAS FINE. PICKED CAR UP AND THEY HADN'T FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND REMAINS ON WITH THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURING. ALSO, HAD A RECALL ON THIS CAR FOR THE LATERAL CONTROL ARM BOOT ASSEMBLY . CANTINS SAID IT WAS FINE ON THE CAR BUT THINK THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT FOR WHEN I BRAKE IT HAS A GRINDING SOUND TO IT.
MY 1996 MITSUBISHI GALANT HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING, BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE CHANGED MORE THAN USUAL, TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE PARKED. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS /WINDSHIELD WERE CONSTANTLY FOGGY. THE START KEY COULD ONLY BE TAKING OUT BY PRESSING THE BREAK. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER LOCKS, THEY WILL NOT OPEN, LEAKS FROM THE SUNROOF. THE HORN COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING AFTER THREE YEARS. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER NEVER ISSUED A BALL JOINT RECALL WHICH I NOW FOUND OUT WAS DEFECTIVE WITH THE CAR AND AFTER RETURNING MY VEHICLE UPON MY LEASE TERMINATION THEY ARE REQUESTING 1000 + DOLLARS FOR WEAR AND TEAR ETC. THE DEALER HAS NOT PROPERLY FOLLOWED GUIDELINES AND ARE BEEN SUED BECAUSE OF THESE FAILURES AND THE CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED THESE CARS ARE BEEN CHARGED MORE MONEY BY THE DEALER.
TRANSMISSION FLUID RAN OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR/INSURANCE DID NOT FIX TRANSMISSION. *AK
THIS CAR HAS HAD 3 TRANSMISSIONS INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL,STILL HAS PROBLEMS.NOW THAT IT IS OVER WARRANTY MITSUBISHI SAYS NOT PROBLEM BUT ACCORDING TO TSB9823014 IT IS., AND OTHER BULLETINS.DEALER IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS!!! *AK
VEHICLE PASSED MARYLAND STATE INSPECTION EARLIER THAT DAY, ONLY TO NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE IN REVERSE LATER. GEARSHIFT WENT INTO THE REVERSE POSITION EASILY, BUT CAR WOULD NOT MOVE, AND EMITTED A SCRAPING/HISSING SOUND. MITSUBISHI SERVICE CENTER IN ANNAPOLIS, MD SAYS THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS, BECAUSE WE CANNOT PRODUCE RECEIPTS/PAPERWORK TO SHOW ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE. WE FEEL THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT FOR THIS TO OCCUR AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. *AK
MY WIFE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, TRIED TO TAKE OFF, BUT NOTHING. TRANSMISSION WAS GONE. DEALER SAID THINGS SOMETIMES HAPPEN. MANUFACTURER SAID WARRANTY WAS OUT AT 60,000MI. ESTIMATE WAS AT $2600. SHOP SAID IT COULD NOT BE REBUILT. THEY TRIED TO BLAME ON US AND SAID IT WAS OVER FULL ON FLUID. WE'VE NEVER PUT ONE DROP IN AND EVEN IF IT WAS OVER FULL IT WOULD NOT CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE UP IN A MATTE OF SECONDS. WE HAD THE CAR FIVE MONTHS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I AM VERY ANGRY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MFG. FOR NOT DISCLOSING THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY SAID, "OH, NO"! *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .