1998 Mitsubishi Galant Owner Complaints

ON JAN. 9, 2013, WHILE I WAS BACKING UP MY MITSUBISHI GALANT 1998 (VIN # [XXX]) IN MY DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. AFTER BACKING UP, WHEN I DROVE FORWARD, MY CAR SEEMED TO BE QUITE JUMPY AND WANTED TO LURCH FORWARDS. AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ABOUT HALF A MILE FROM HOME, WHILE I WAS STOPPED, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED MOVING FORWARDS. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED HARD ON THE BRAKE. THIS WAS EXTREMELY UNUSUAL AND SCARY. LATER WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL, I COULD SENSE THAT THE CAR WAS AGAIN QUITE JUMPY AND WANTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I STOPPED AT A SHOP FOR SOMETHING AND THEN WHEN I GOT BACK TO THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE ENGINE AGAIN, I NOTICED THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAD JUST COME ON. I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE AND HAD IT TOWED TO KLAHANIE CHEVRON IN ISSAQUAH, WA, VERY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. I WAS LATER INFORMED BY THEM THAT THE ??IDLE CONTROL MOTOR?? FOR MY CAR WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND DUE TO THIS I WAS EXPERIENCING ALL THESE CAR ??JUMPINESS?? ISSUES. THE ??IDLE CONTROL MOTOR?? WAS REPLACED AND NOW THE CAR APPEARS TO BE RUNNING FINE. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN UP TO DATE WITH MY CAR MAINTENANCE. THE BEHAVIOR OF THIS CAR IN WHICH THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN IS DANGEROUS AND MITSUBISHI ENGINEERS SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS FOR POSSIBLE RECALL\REMEDIATION, SINCE THIS CAN GREATLY ENDANGER THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THE CAR AND ANYBODY ELSE SHARING THE ROAD AT THAT TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10493837

Incident

Jan 9, 2013

Mileage

119,955 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 MITSUBISHI GALANT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NUT THAT HELD THE LOWER BALL JOINT BECAME LOOSE AND DETACHED, CAUSING THE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES PRIOR FOR THE SAME EXACT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART FOR A LIFETIME HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE PART WOULD BECOME LOOSE VERY EASILY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10427210

Incident

Sep 8, 2009

Mileage

150,000 mi

LOWER LATERAL ARM BALL JOINT BROKE CAUSED MY CAR TO CRASH INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AS I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228904

Incident

May 25, 2008

Mileage

135,000 mi

LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS FOUND TO HAVE A PROBLEM UPON INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166554

Incident

Aug 24, 2006

Mileage

113,200 mi

THE BLACK PAINT ON MY 1998 MITSUBISHI GALANT ES HAS WORN OFF IN AN A TYPICAL PATTERN. THE PAINT HAS COME OFF IN A GRID-LIKE FASHION - AS THOUGH A GIANT ACIDIC TIRE HAS ROLLED OVER IT. IT IS EFFECTING THE ROOF, HOOD AND TRUNK AREA OF THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER MITSUBISHI GALANTS (AND ECLIPSES) OF THE SAME YEAR WITH SIMILAR PAINT PEELING PROBLEMS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163181

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

WHEN YOU START THE CAR IT MAKES A LOAD NOISE UNTIL FULLY HEATED, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS PULLING AND MAKING NOISE, IT GETS STUCK IN GEAR AND WILL NOT MOVE TO NEXT GEAR, JUST STALLS AND THEN KICKS IN. FIRST IT WAS JUST SKIPPING GEARS FOR THE LAST FIVE DAYS SO I CHECKED THE FLUID IT ONLY COULD USE NOT EVEN A HALF OF COURT, I HAD NO WARNING LIGHT AT ALL UNTIL THE SIXTH NIGHT WHEN IT GOT STUCK IN GEAR AND STEERING TO CHANGE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10145140

Incident

Dec 13, 2005

Mileage

96,600 mi

THE BLACK PAINT ON MY 1998 MISTUBISHI GALANT ES HAS WORN OFF IN AN A TYPICAL PATTERN. THE PAINT HAS COME OFF IN A GRID-LIKE FASHION - AS THOUGH A GIANT ACIDIC TIRE HAS ROLLED OVER IT. IT IS EFFECTING THE ROOF, HOOD AND TRUNK AREA OF THE CAR. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER MISTUBISHI GALANTS (AND ECLIPSES) OF THE SAME YEAR WITH SIMILAR PAINT PEELING PROBLEMS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10135749

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

IN NOVEMBER 2003, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 TO 25 MPH, FRONT PASSENGER TIRE FELL OFF, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT BALL JOINTS FAILED. IN APRIL 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NOTICE CONCERNING BALL JOINT PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10067260

Incident

Apr 16, 2004

Mileage

104,810 mi

BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED PRIOR TO CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10065311

Incident

Feb 17, 2004

Mileage

133,770 mi

THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE STEERING WHICH ENDED UP ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD CRASHING INTO AN EMBANKMENT. 3 YEARS AFTER ACCIDENT, CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON LOWER BALL JOINTS THAT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF STEERING. *LA THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS INJURED AND FEELS THAT THE DEALER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES. RECALL#00V421001. *SC

NHTSA ID

10060994

Incident

Sep 10, 2001

Mileage

55,238 mi

CAR STARTED STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS, HAD TRANSMISSION FILTER CHANGED, FOUND A LOT OF METAL IN FLUID. DROVE CAR 500 MORE MILES BEFORE LOSING REVERSE AND OVERDRIVE. TRANSMISSION UNABLE TO RUN AT 71,000 MILES. *LA

NHTSA ID

10051088

Incident

Oct 5, 2003

Mileage

70,987 mi

THE BEDDING ON THE DASH IS COMING OFF, INCLUDING THE BEDDING ON THE AIR BAG. I HAVE CALLED MITSUBISHI, THEY SAY A SERVICE PERSON WILL CALL ME BACK IN 72 HOURS AND THEY NEVER DO. MITSUBISHI MOTORS 1998 GALLANT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037165

Incident

Aug 17, 2003

Mileage

52,000 mi

MITSUBISHI GALANT 1998 - PADDED COVER OVER CONSOLE AND AIR BAG IS COMMING LOOSE, PROBABLY DUE TO POOR GLUE.IT MAY NOT BE SAFE, BUT I CANNOT GET MITSUBISHI TO FIX IT OR EVEN TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO HEAR CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10033494

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STRUT MOUNTS POPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY BECAUSE THE FRAME SHOULD NOT BE TEARING EASILY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030115

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. WITH UNDER 20000 MILES ON THE CAR TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY MADE AN ADJUSTMENT AND IT WAS FINE. THEN, AT 76000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN TRAFFIC. *JB

NHTSA ID

10021483

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

Mileage

76,000 mi

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID

10020365

Incident

Apr 9, 2003

Mileage

38,000 mi

IN JUNE OF 2002, AUTO TRANSMISSION SOLENOID PACK FAILED AT 74,000 MILES. WAS REPLACED BY AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP (NOT UNDER WARRANTY). SHOP FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE FLUID. LESS THAN ONE MONTH LATER (AUGUST 15, 2002) TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY AT 78,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION REPLACED COMPLETELY AT 78,000 MILES. DT

NHTSA ID

768721

Incident

Aug 15, 2002

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I ASKED THE SALESMAN WHAT THAT WAS HE TOLD ME THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE CAR RUNS. A FEW MONTHS LATER I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I CALLED THE DEALER AND MADE A BIG STINK ABOUT IT AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. I DID, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. I WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND TOOK IT TO A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WHO DROPPED THE PAN AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS, NOT A LOT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO MY MECHANIC TO HAVE IT SERVICED AGAIN AND THIS TIME WHEN HE DROPPED THE PAN THERE WERE LARGE CHUNKS OF METAL. ONE LOOKED LIKE A GEAR HEAD. I THEN CALLED MY DEALER TO SEE WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD NO INFORMATION PROVING THAT I HAD A WARRANTY AND ALL THE TIME I DID. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT MITSUBISHI MOTORS TO GET MY WARRANTY INFORMATION, THE LADY THERE TOLD ME I DID HAVE A WARRANTY AND THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF AS A DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILE. I AM NOW PERSUING LEGAL ACTION.*AK

NHTSA ID

763534

Incident

Apr 24, 1999

I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS PART WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THIS WAS COVERED AT THE TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

763402

Incident

Jan 25, 2001

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED MECHANIC NOTICED THEAT ENGINE WAS MALFUNCTIONING DUE TO DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IN ENGINE. THIS CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011323

WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, AND HAVING IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS MECHANIC NOTICED THAT OIL FILTER/BRACKETS WERE DAMAGED AND RIGGED FOR SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES. UNTIL VEHICLE WAS SOLD CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM. DEALER STATED MALFUNCTION WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011322

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL. MECHANIC STATED RADIATOR CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8011321

WHEN WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BYE A LITTLE TAR PELLET FROM A SHORT DISTANCE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD STARTED CRACKING BADLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010694

RECALL ON LOWER BALL JOINT BOOT WAS DONE IN JANUARY 2002. ON 30 APRIL CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER AT SLOW SPEED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP.*JB

NHTSA ID

8009017

Incident

Apr 30, 2002

THE VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED QUITING SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LEAVING DRIVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. IT IS A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN BUSY METROPOLIS (HOUSTON, TX) WHERE CAR IS DRIVEN. ALSO THE CAR CAN LEAVE PASSENGERS STRANDED IN REMOTE OR DANGEROUS LOCATIONS WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID

755345

Incident

Sep 27, 2001