The 1990 Mitsubishi Galant has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 9,560 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
POWER TRAIN98V1680001998-07-229,560 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
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…
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
5
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
5
1fires
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1
1fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
Total complaints32
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“Harmonic balancer fell apart. This is the second failure of this oem part. I think they are made from old tuna cans.*ak”
“Consumer has had vehicle for 5 years, and has replaced transmission 3 times. *ak”
“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,…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA95004 Opened 1995-03-10 · closed 1995-08-01
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationEA98002 Opened 1998-01-30 · closed 1998-04-30
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
InvestigationRQ98007 Opened 1998-05-11 · closed 1998-08-28
TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE
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.
InvestigationRQ98007 Opened 1998-05-11 · closed 1998-08-28
TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE
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.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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