Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Mitsubishi Galant problems

Owners filed 86 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant with NHTSA between Mar 1997 and Aug 2023. The most-cited component is suspension (19).

Complaints
86
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension19
  2. Power train16
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  4. Engine and engine cooling11
  5. Steering9
  6. Electrical system9
  7. Air bags8
  8. Structure3
  9. Latches/locks/linkages2
  10. Seat belts2
  11. Exterior lighting2
  12. Equipment2
  13. Vehicle speed control2
  14. Visibility2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19975
199811
19993
20006
200113
200211
20039
200411
20052
20063
20072
20085
20092
20100
20110
20121
20130
20140
20150
20161
20170
20180
20190
20200
20210
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

19 reports1 related recall
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2016SuspensionODI 10899397

Power train

16 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2012Power train, EngineODI 10481062

Service brakes, hydraulic

12 reports1 crash
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2003Service brakes, hydraulic, Fuel system, gasolineODI 10014304

Engine and engine cooling

11 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 1, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10123756

Steering

9 reports1 crash
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2007Steering, SuspensionODI 10211408

Electrical system

9 reports1 fire
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 17, 2003Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10048058
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.