Tl* the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi galant. The contact stated that routine maintenance was being performed on the vehicle when she was notified that the frame was corroded. The mechanic stated that the vehicle needed to be destroyed and was no longer safe to operate. The damage was beyond repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The failure and the current mileage was 179,000.
The worst 1996 Mitsubishi Galant problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Transmission36
- Brakes30
- Airbags20
- Suspension19
- Engine16
- Body13
- Visibility8
- Acceleration7
- Electrical6
- Seat belts5
- Steering4
- Fuel system2
- Seats2
- Tires2
- Wheels2
Specific symptoms reported on the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
Ball joint 18No deployment 12Brake failure 7Transmission failure 7Grinding brakes 6
Recalls 3
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
- Risk
- This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. This campaign supercedes mmc's previous safety recall campaign, see 99v‑066.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints. Ball joints that are within the established tolerance will be cleaned and a special sealant will be applied to prevent intrusion of moisture.
Recall number 00V421001 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Cracks can occur in the top of the fuel tank due to an improper spot weld on the baffle plate to the top portion of the fuel tank.
- Risk
- A crack in the fuel tank could allow fuel or fumes to escape. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the upper surface of the fuel tank for any signs of cracking. If no cracking or leaking is found, dealers will install a sealing protector plate. If any cracking or leakage is found, dealers will replace the fuel tank assembly.
Recall number 00V237000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude.
- Risk
- This condition could cause the lower lateral arm ball joint to separate, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rubber boots, and if the boot is damaged, they will replace the lower lateral arm and ball joint on the affected vehicles.
Recall number 99V066001 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
Defect investigations
Lower contrtol arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
RQ00015
Technical service bulletins for the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant 49
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew...
- This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers
- This TSB contains troubleshooting steps for diagnosis of various customer complaints relating to the audio...
- This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012.
- This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the...
- Obd-ii drive cycle
- Subject regarding power steering pump replacement
- This bulletin contains obd-ii drive cycle procedures and warranty claim information for obd-ii drive cycle...
- This bulletin contains recommended manual transmission / transaxle maintenance information
1996 Mitsubishi Galant fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4‑cyl | FWD | 19-21 | 26-28 | 22-23 |
What 1996 Mitsubishi Galant owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I currently bought the 1996 mitsubishi galant for my wife and 11 month old daughter. The dealer told me I needed a front end alignment to get the pull and shake out of my front end. I took it to an alignment shop and the ase master tech. Told me my control arms were bent due to corrosion of the ball joint, he then told me there was a recall on these vehicles and if I don't get the problem fixed it could result in a loss of steering. I don't think it would be safe for my wife to lose steering with our infant daughter so now I got bigger problems then a twenty five dollar front end alignment. I'm upset at the dealer for not informing me with these recalls not the manufacture for making the bad part. Please help before it is too late.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi galant. While attempting to change a flat tire, the jack went straight through the frame while the vehicle was being lifted. The contact had the vehicle towed to a shop and they informed him that there was excessive rust in the rear subframe. The contact sold the vehicle rather than have it repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi galant. The rear wheel assembly is attached to the subframe, which is attached to the body. The entire part is extremely rusted and prevented the contact from jacking the vehicle and changing the tire. The dealer notified the contact of this failure. The failure is noticeable while driving 20 MPH. The failure mileage was 130,000 and current mileage was 162,000. Updated 01-11-08. *kb updated 12/31/07
The rear undercarriage of my 1996 mitsubishi galant has severe rust damage to the point that you cannot even jack up the car as the jack penetrates they sub frame. The strut from the right rear also came loose from the tower. The rear wheels that are attached to the sub frame are extremely unsafe.
Tl* - the contact owns a 1996 mitsubishi galant. During routine maintenance checks the mechanic discovered rust on the frame under the vehicle in front of each rear wheel. The current mileage was 157000 and the failure mileage was 155000. *ak updated 2/27/2007 -
Transmission fluid dipstick impossible to read, notified dealer, dealer said that's just how it is designed. I'm worried because tranmissions are a common failure on this generation of mitsubishi galant. Can this be corrected by a dipstick redesign?
The manual transmission of my 1996 mitsubishi galant slips out of gear at various speeds and reengages. Control of the vehicle is lost when this happens.
After receiving a recall 00v421001, an appointment was made. Vehicle was taken to the dealer, and consumer was told that the ball joints were not defective. Consumer later purchased tires, and was told that the ball joint had excessive play.
A truck dropped some boxes on the freeway. A car stopped suddenly to avoid the boxes, another car hit them, finally we hit that car. It was a 3 car pileup. I was driving and my wife was in the passenger seat. We were the last car in the line and hit at about 45+ MPH. We were in a 1996 mitsubishi galant with only 78k miles and we were both wearing our seatbelts. Neither airbag deployed! It was a direct hit right in the front of our car at over 45 MPH. Now my wife may have permanent back pain. I can get the VIN number if you need it. I just dont have access to it today.
Compare the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
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Questions about the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant
Is the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant reliable?
Owners have filed 136 complaints about the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant, 5.7 times a typical Galant model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant?
Transmission and drivetrain, with 36 complaints. Next is brakes (30).
How many recalls does the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant have?
3 recalls, covering suspension and fuel system, gasoline.
What year does the Mitsubishi Galant have bad transmission?
The Mitsubishi Galant model years with the most transmission complaints are 1991 (39 complaints), 1996 (36 complaints) and 1995 (29 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant get?
Official estimates for the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant range from 22 to 23 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.4L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 19-21 city and 26-28 highway.
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