The 1997 Mitsubishi Galant has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 567,432 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION00V4210012000-12-18567,432 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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…
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
12
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
7
6crashes5injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
5
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
3
POWER TRAIN
3
Total complaints110
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 1997 mitsubishi galant. The contact stated that after stopping at a service station, after entering and restarting the vehicle, the driver’s, and passenger’s side air bags independently deployed. The contact stated that the windshield on the passenger side was cracked by the…”
“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”
“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”
“Defective rear door lock assemblies; both sides. I have replaced with other used parts and those parts consistently failed too. I have found four assemblies, on other used galants, and they have all failed. I am aware that new parts would have been ideal, however I believe that if these parts were…”
“Door latches have flown open or unlatched by them selves while driving on both rear doors. The rear door do not stay closed anymore. Passengers could have fallen out of the vehicle. *tr”
“I have a 1997 mitsubishi galant. The seatbelt on the driver's side will not stay locked. It comes off when I am driving down the road. I called two mitsubishi dealers in virginia beach and they told me that this was not covered under any warranty. I thought seatbelts lasted the lifetime of the…”
“Left turn signal switch stuck on flashing and would not shut off after canceling. *tr”
“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…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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