RoadVitals

1997 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.
18
Latest Aug 30, 2016
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.
23%
of 80 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.
0
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 1997 Mitsubishi Galant submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 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, 2016

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
Suspension
Filed Nov 20, 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
Suspension
Filed Mar 4, 2008

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
Suspension
Filed Feb 4, 2008

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
SteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 10, 2007

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
Suspension
Filed Mar 15, 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
Suspension
Filed Sep 14, 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
Suspension
Filed Jun 8, 2004

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
Suspension
Filed May 4, 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
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 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
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 6, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V421001 CONCERNING THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION BEING DAMAGE. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM MANUFACTURER. *TT

NHTSA ID
566010
Suspension
Filed Sep 20, 2001

WHILE MAKING REPAIRS DEALER NOTICED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR WHEEL KNUCKLE HAD CRACKS ALL AWAY AROUND, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE WHEEL WOULD COME OFF. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID
896589
Incident
Sep 19, 2001
BrakesSuspension
Filed Sep 18, 2001

FRONT BRAKES DOING 100% OF BRAKING, REAR BRAKES NEVER SET TO CONTACT DRUMS. ROTORS REPLACED 7 TO 8 TIMES IN PAST FEW YEARS WHILE REAR BRAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN REPLACED. I STOPPED GOING TO BOCH MITSUBISHI AND WENT TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST WHO TOLD ME THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS NO GOOD AND THE REAR BRAKES HAD ZERO WEAR ON THEM AFTER 3 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN LIED TO BY THIS DEALER TOO OFTEN. I WENT IN FOR A LOWER BALLJOINT RECALL AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE BUT MY INNER TIERODS NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO LOOSENESS. I WENT TO MY BRAKE MAN WHO TOLD ME THE TIERODS WERE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER AND DID NOT NEED REPLACING.*AK

NHTSA ID
752353
Suspension
Filed Sep 12, 2001

THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO WORN OUT LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT, PRIOR TO RECALL. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *YH

NHTSA ID
563029
Suspension
Filed Sep 5, 2001

NHTSA RECALL 00V421001/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 98V020000 FOR LOWER BALL JOINTS. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED FOR REMEDY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
895752
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 16, 2001

I FELT THE CAR STEERING WASN'T TRACKING AND DELAYED WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN INTO A CURVE ON THE ROAD AND THE STEERING WAS DELAYED IN RESPONDING TO THE TURN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND HE REPLACED THE LF LOWER LATERAL ARM BECAUSE OF PLAY IN BALL JOINT. BUT THE DEALER NEVER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HE CHARGED ME TO HAVE THE LF LATERAL ARM REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
744101
Incident
Jan 25, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jan 14, 1998

VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT DUE TO FRONT CASTER VALUES NOT BEING WITHIN SPECIFICATION. AS OF O8/18/97, LEFT FRONT CASTER WAS 2.6 DEGREES AND RIGHT FRONT CASTER WAS 3.9 DEGREES. MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFIED RANGE IS 2.8 TO 5.8 DEGREES, A DIFFERENCE OF 1.3 DEGREES. *AK

NHTSA ID
523010
Incident
Aug 22, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jan 12, 1998

WHEN BRAKES ARE LOCKED, VEHICLE HAS AN INORDINATE TENDENCY TO SKID ON ROADS THAT ARE BARELY WET EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS (20-30 MPH).

NHTSA ID
528278

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 .