1997 Mitsubishi Galant Problems

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

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.

THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE BRAKES SEEM TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN. I HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES AT A FAR DISTANCE TO PREVENT FROM RUNNING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR AWHILE AND NOTED TO SERVICE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN BRAKING. YOU CAN HEAR THE GAS SHAKING FROM IN THE TANK. THIS IS A CONCERN WHEN TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT. DON'T KNOW IF THE TANK WILL EVENTUALLY EXPLODE OR IGNITE A FIRE. *NLM

NOTICED "SQUEAKING" NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT MINIMAL SPEED-ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AUTO MECHANIC SAID THE STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, BRAKES HAVE BEEN CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH ROTOR DAMAGE. *NLM

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

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

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

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

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

NOTICED "SQUEAKING" NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT MINIMAL SPEED-ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. AUTO MECHANIC SAID THE STEERING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, BRAKES HAVE BEEN CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH ROTOR DAMAGE. *NLM

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

CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK, WHEN THE RADIO CAUGHT ON FIR DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

VEHICLE BRAKES HAVE BEEN FIXED TWICE BY DEALER WITH SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER INSISTS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HAD ACCIDENT WITH BRAKING PROBLEMS APRIL, 1997 WHEN BRAKES FAILED TO GIVE GOOD RESPONSE. CAR WAS FIXED BY DEALER BUT HAS NOT BEEN THE SAME SINCE. ALWAYS HAVING PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. REPLACE BRAKES EVERY 3 - 6 MONTHS.

DEFROSTER SYSTEMS LACKS SUFFICIENT AIR FLOW. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT DISC BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN AT 7,070 MILES.

THE ENGINE HAS AN UNEVEN IDLE AND HESISTATES AT 2200 RPM. FOUR LIFTERS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AT 23K MILES. THE ENGINE WAS REMANUFACTURED UNDER WARRANTY TO FIX AN OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM AT 28K MILES. THE CAR NOW HAS 75K MILES AND IS AGAIN BURNING OIL AT 1 QUART/1K MILES. THE CASTER ALIGNMENT IS OFF BY 1.2 DEGREES AND CANNOT BE FIXED. THE FRONT BUMPER IS FALLING OFF BECAUSE THE THIN METAL PLATE THAT HOLDS IT ON HAS RUSTED OFF. THE HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING SEVEN DIFFERENT TIMES, DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE GROUND AND WIRING IN GENERAL.

THE FRONT BUMPER HAS COME OFF TWICE ON THIS SAME CAR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SAME MODEL/MAKE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM.

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

JUST PULLED OFF A MAIN STREET AND HEARD LOUD BANGING NOISE , GAS PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR ,AND ACCELERATOR CABLE BROKE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. CONTACTED THE DEALER, HAD VEHICLE TOWED. ALSO, CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, NO WARRANTY. *AK

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

CENTER BUCKLE IS PLACED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IN ORDER TO BUCKLE UP IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR , SEATBELTS HAVE TO BE CRISS-CROSSED. *AK

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

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

WHEN CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE IT SHOOK AND VIBRATED. ALSO A LEAK WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE. TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THERE WERE BUBBLES LOCATED ON OUTER SIDE OF TIRES. VEHICLE JERKED WHEN IN DRIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE BRAKES SEEM TO MAKE A POPPING NOISE WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN. I HAVE TO APPLY BRAKES AT A FAR DISTANCE TO PREVENT FROM RUNNING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR AWHILE AND NOTED TO SERVICE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, NOISE CAN BE HEARD FROM THE GAS TANK WHEN BRAKING. YOU CAN HEAR THE GAS SHAKING FROM IN THE TANK. THIS IS A CONCERN WHEN TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT. DON'T KNOW IF THE TANK WILL EVENTUALLY EXPLODE OR IGNITE A FIRE. *NLM

THE VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE COMPRESSOR. *MJS