1997 Mitsubishi Galant Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1997 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated that after stopping at a service station, after entering and restarting the vehicle, the driver’s, and passenger’s side air bags independently deployed. The contact stated that the windshield on the passenger side was cracked by the air bag. The contact stated he was injured by the driver's side air bag. The contact stated that he suffered deep abrasions on his nose and his lips were bruised. The contact stated that his glasses fractured, and his right eye was bruised. The contact was transported to an emergency room by ambulance. The contact stated that the vehicle was left at service station. The police were not contacted. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 375,461.

NHTSA ID

11539015

Incident

Aug 16, 2023

Mileage

375,461 mi

I PURCHASED A USED CAR IN 2004. LATER WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE BALLJOINT RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO GET INVOLVE IN ASSISTING ME IN PURSUING THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE CAR REGARDING OTHER CRITICAL ISSUES WITH THE DRIVABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN JUMKED WHICH I EVENTUALLY ENDED UP DOING. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY AND I ONLY DROVE IT ON CITY STREETS ONLY. THE DEALERSHIP I BELIEVE SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME A LOANER CAR INSEAD OF ME RISKING MYSELF IN A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. THE WYNN'S EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE ASSISTED ME MORE IN PURSUING THE CORRECT REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN SALVAGED FROM A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. RIGHT NOW I AM OUT OF $1000 WARRANTY AND A VEHICLE PURCHASED AT $5000. YOU WILL HAVE TO HOLD THE WARRANTY WYNN;S OR THE BUSINESS THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE RESPONSIBLE. THIS BUSINESS TRIED TO WELD THE TRANSMISSION CASING BROKEN IN THE ACCIDENT BACK WHICH I LATER FOUND OUT AT ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP. THIS DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR THE REPUTATION OF THE COMPANY OR THE BRAND. ANY RECOURSE DO I OR NHTSA HAVE AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER IS OUT OF BUSINESS

NHTSA ID

10899397

Incident

Apr 4, 2004

I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND I PRESSED ON THE GAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON, SHIFTED IT INTO DRIVE, AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL. IT HAS NOT MOVED EVER SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10481062

Incident

Oct 11, 2012

DEFECTIVE REAR DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLIES; BOTH SIDES. I HAVE REPLACED WITH OTHER USED PARTS AND THOSE PARTS CONSISTENTLY FAILED TOO. I HAVE FOUND FOUR ASSEMBLIES, ON OTHER USED GALANTS, AND THEY HAVE ALL FAILED. I AM AWARE THAT NEW PARTS WOULD HAVE BEEN IDEAL, HOWEVER I BELIEVE THAT IF THESE PARTS WERE MANUFACTURED TO MITSUBISHI'S USUALLY HIGH STANDARDS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295783

Incident

Dec 14, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

DOOR LATCHES HAVE FLOWN OPEN OR UNLATCHED BY THEM SELVES WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH REAR DOORS. THE REAR DOOR DO NOT STAY CLOSED ANYMORE. PASSENGERS COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273515

Incident

Apr 20, 2009

Mileage

140,000 mi

I HAVE A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE SEATBELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IT COMES OFF WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CALLED TWO MITSUBISHI DEALERS IN VIRGINIA BEACH AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. I THOUGHT SEATBELTS LASTED THE LIFETIME OF THE CAR. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING THIS FIXED. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN WHO RIDE WITH ME DAILY AND WOULD HATE FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN AND MY KIDS HAVE TO WITNESS THEIR MOM GO THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO UNSAFE SEATBELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251475

Incident

Nov 8, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SHOCK TOWER AND WHEEL WELL WALL WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. METAL WAS WELDED TO REINFORCE THE SHOCK TOWER. APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SHOCK TOWER AND WHEEL WELL WALL RUSTED THROUGH WITH MORE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID

10249371

Incident

Sep 21, 2006

Mileage

97,000 mi

LEFT TURN SIGNAL SWITCH STUCK ON FLASHING AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF AFTER CANCELING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238934

Incident

Aug 13, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE IN PIECES. THE VEHICLE IS STEERING TO THE LEFT EXTREMELY BADLY AND THE CONTACT HEARS METAL RUBBING TOGETHER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V421001 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE PURCHASE DATE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 03-25-08 *BF THE FAILURE WAS NOT OBVIOUS TO SPIN INVESTIGATION UNTIL 84,000 FAILURE HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED. UPDATED 03/25/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10219998

Incident

Dec 1, 2007

Mileage

78,000 mi

TOOK MY 1997 MITSUBISHI TO CHERRY HILL TRIPLEX DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED MY FRONT LATERAL ARMS REPLACED; THAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO FALL OFF. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR; THAT'S NOT DAMAGE I COULD DO IN A YEAR. I WANT TO REQUEST THAT MITSUBISHI COVERS THE COST OR REIMBURSES ME FOR THIS SIGNIFICANT DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216860

Incident

Feb 2, 2008

Mileage

169,865 mi

RECEIVED RECALL FOR LOWER BALL JOINT IN 2001. BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SHOW DAMAGE, THE DEALER ONLY LUBRICATED THEM. THE RIGHT ONE WENT OUT ALONG WITH THE TIE ROD END IN 2/07. I HAD IT REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHICH COST OVER $600.00. NOW, THE LEFT ONE IS GOING OUT. LUBRICATING A DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLY IS LIKE PUTTING ON A BANDAID, WHICH HAS NOW PROVEN TO BE THE CASE WITH BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVING TO BE REPLACED PLUS A TIE ROD END. I'M NOT ONLY UPSET ABOUT THE COST OF THE REPAIR, BUT THE SAFETY ISSUE IS MUCH MORE OF A CONCERN. HEARING A NOISE COMING FROM YOUR FRONT END CAN BE ANYTHING AND IGNORED, BUT IGNORING THIS PARTICULAR NOISE PUTS THE DRIVER AND ANYONE AROUND THEM AT A VERY HIGH RISK OF INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. IS THE DEALER LIABLE FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE ASSEMBLIES IN THE FIRST PLACE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10211408

Incident

Feb 10, 2007

1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT-AUTO TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED ON 08/03/2006 AND COST AROUND 2 GRAND. I NOTICED THAT VEHICLE'S GEAR SHIFT CAN BE ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BECAUSE THIS GEAR CHANGE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE BRAKES TO BE PRESSED NOR THE GEAR SHIFT BUTTON TO BE PRESSED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS UNSAFE. I WOULD LIKE TO PRESS THE BUTTON AND SHIFT GEARS BY MYSELF. MY TEENAGER NORMALLY SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, I AM REALLY WORRIED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164518

Incident

Aug 3, 2006

WE PURCHASED A USED CAR THAT HAD A RECALL ON IT. AFTER MY WIFE AND CHILD ALMOST HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT I FOUND OUT THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE. I ASKED THE DEALER IF IT WAS DONE AND THEY SAID YES. WE HAVE HAD COUNTLESS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH CAR. ARE THEY LIABLE FOR THIS??*JB

NHTSA ID

10152795

Incident

Mar 11, 2006

DT: THE HARMONIC BALANCE FAILED. WHEN THE PART WAS TAKEN OFF THE MOTOR, IT FELL APART IN THE OWNER'S HANDS. THE PULLEY SEPARATED FROM HARMONIC BALANCER, AND CAUSED FAILURE OF THE BELTS. IT RESULTED IN CAR BEING NOW INOPERABLE. THE DRIVER WAS AT A LOW SPEED OF 10-15 MPH. IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN AT A HIGHER SPEED IT WOULD BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS WAS VERY SUDDEN ,AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS BEFORE. ALSO, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE OWNER IS REPLACING THE HARMONIC BALANCER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10123756

Incident

May 31, 2005

Mileage

95,087 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLES RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LITERALLY CAME OFF THE AXLE. THIS HAPPENED WHEN CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO OFFICE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS NO RESULT IN INJURY. CONSUMER'S BACK SEATS MOVE FRONT AND BACK, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. IT CAME TO THE POINT WHERE CONSUMER HAD TO TIE THEM TOGETHER SO THEY WOULDN'T MOVE. THERE WAS A CHILD SEAT BEING USED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10101648

Incident

Nov 24, 2004

FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. RECALL 00V421001. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092016

Incident

Aug 20, 2004

Mileage

11,000 mi

CONSUMER RECEIVED ARECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEALER REFUSED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. SERVICE MANAGER MIKE SWEITZER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075921

Incident

Jun 8, 2004

REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS DONE PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE. *PH THE VEHICLE'S BALL JOINTS FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V421001). THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IN NOW REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10072104

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT FOR BALL JOINT REPAIR PRIOR TO RECEIVING RECALL. *PH THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES WHILE IN MOTION DUE TO THE BALL JOINT(S). *SC

NHTSA ID

10071430

1997 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES W/ AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ("TRANSAXLE"): VEHICLE'S GEARSHIFT CAN BE ACCIDENTLY BUMPED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL BECAUSE THIS GEAR CHANGE DOES NOT REQUIRE THE BRAKES TO BE PRESSED NOR THE GEARSHIFT BUTTON TO BE PRESSED. I HAVE TWICE NOW BUMPED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL FROM DRIVE BY REACHING OVER THE GEARSHIFT, BOTH TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION (ONCE WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE). THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT BOTH TIMES HAD I NOT QUICKLY DISCOVERED THAT MY CAR WAS NO LONGER IN DRIVE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DEFECT AS THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE CAR CAN BE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKES OR THE SHIFT BUTTON. INCIDENT ON 02/15/2004 WAS WHILE GOING 55MPH, INCIDENT ON 04/18/2004 WAS WHILE GOING 20MPH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10066496

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

Mileage

80,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10066738

Incident

Mar 30, 2004

Mileage

118,925 mi

I WAS SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. THE FORCE WAS ENOUGH TO BREAK MY ARM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, AS NO WARNING LIGHT OR MESSAGE APPEARED AT ANY TIME. MOREOVER, I HAD NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR PRIOR TO THIS OCCASION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10054985

Incident

Oct 9, 2003

Mileage

100,000 mi

CAR STALLS WHEN STOPPING, AND VIBRATES. FELLS LIKE CAR IS NOT GETTING GAS. RPM'S GO UP WHILE DRIVING. AFTER 3 ATTEMPS, TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS CLAIM THEY CANNOT COME UP WITH A CODE, SO NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. ANY SUGGESTIONS? WHAT OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE YOU RECEIVED?

NHTSA ID

10069091

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

67,241 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050520

Incident

Dec 8, 2003

Mileage

75,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH CONSUMER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES MELTED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 15 MPH VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE FLYWHEEL AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, RADIATOR HOSE SPLIT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048058

Incident

Jun 17, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi