Model year record

1990 Mitsubishi Galant recalls & problems

The 1990 Mitsubishi Galant has 1 safety recall and 21 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (13 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints21filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainJul 22, 1998

Automatic transmission

Recall 98V1680009,560 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED. IF THE TRANSFER CASE SHOWS OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION, THE TRANSFER CASE WILL BE REPLACED.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Galant

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Galant

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Galant

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Galant

20mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel

Galant

19mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 21 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift	13	4	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	7	1	—
Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Front › Retractor	7	0	—
Vehicle speed control	2	0	—
StructureFrame and members	1	0	—
Tires	1	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood	1	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Seat belts › Front › Retractor
DRIVERS LAP SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. WHILE EXTENDING IT TO BUCKLE, A NOISE LIKE A TAPE MEASURE RAPIDLY CLOSING WAS HEARD, THEN IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. IT EXTENDS OUT TO ITS FULL EXTENT, AND IS APPARENTLY WORTHLESS IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK
Sep 1, 2003 · 143,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID SPEED. *JB
Apr 8, 2003
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
HARMONIC BALANCER FELL APART. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS OEM PART. I THINK THEY ARE MADE FROM OLD TUNA CANS.*AK
Aug 10, 2002
Power train › Automatic transmission
CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS, AND HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES. *AK
Jul 1, 2002
Seat belts › Front
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, CONSUMER IS HAVING DIFFICULTY "LATCHING" THE LAP BELT, SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING IS POPPING ON THE INSIDE OF THE LATCH. *JG
Jan 24, 2002
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
RECALL 98V168000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL SR-98-003/ TRANSFER CASE FAILURE. IN DECEMBER CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE MAKING LOUD NOISES AND LOCKING UP. DEALER BLAMED IT ON WHEEL BEARING, AND VALVE COVER THAT MIGHT BE LEAKING. CONSUMER HAD A SECOND OPINION, AND THEY DISAGREED WITH DEALER.*AK
Dec 1, 1999
Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhoodFire
I PULLED INTO GAS STATION. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. SMALL FIRE AROUND FUEL LINE, IGNITION WIRES, COIL, WIRE HARNESS CONTAINING INJECTOR WIRES. PUT OUT W/ EXTINGUISHER. ONLY 2 WIRES TO 1 INJECTOR DAMAGED, FUEL LINE/PLUG WIRES DAMAGED, COMPUTER FAILED. HAVE HAD ALOT OF LARGE COSTLY PROBLEMS W/ THIS CAR IN THE PAST, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO DIFFERENTIAL TWICE, TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE. TIMING BELT FAILURE 18 MONTHS AGO, CAUSED DAMAGE TO VALVES (GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON THIS THE DAY B4 THE FIRE). DEALER WEATHERFORD HAS BEEN WORKING ON MY CAR SINCE AUG 1996 AND TIMING BELT RECALL JUST CAME (MAILED FEB 1 1999) PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS! JKM
Feb 4, 1999
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER. TOOK VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, NO PROBLEMS OCCURRED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION , CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM DID EXIST, AND HAS CAUSED OTHER MALFUNCTIONS TO OCCUR. RECALL NUMBER 98V169001. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Jan 20, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGEClosedLed to recall 98V168001
THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS.THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.
RQ98007 · opened May 11, 1998 · closed Aug 28, 1998
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUPClosedLed to recall 98V069001
EA98002 · opened Jan 30, 1998 · closed Apr 30, 1998
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILUREClosedLed to recall 95V103004
There is no summary currently available
EA95004 · opened Mar 10, 1995 · closed Aug 1, 1995