Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Power train12
- Suspension8
- Electrical system6
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Structure3
- Unknown or other2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Air bags2
- Steering2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant failed the safety check 1.59% of the time — 7% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 85,883 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
30 first registered in 1998 are on Dutch roads; 23% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde20
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm11
- Band onvoldoende profiel10
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen8
- CO meer dan wettelijk toegestaan8
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt7
- Stuurkogel te veel speling6
- Stadslicht werkt niet (goed)5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
17 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 85 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
11 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 267,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
133 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 51% arrived as used imports, 45% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mitsubishi told its dealers about the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635109 | INFORMATION ON CRANKSHAFT IDENTIFICATION MARKS - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TT |
| 634624 | SUBJECT REGARDING CORRECTED AIR CONDITIONER MAGNETIC CLUTCH SERVICE PROCEDURES. *JG |
| 618250 | SUBJECT REGARDING POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACEMENT. *JB |
| 614011 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE PROCEDURES AND WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION FOR OBD-II DRIVE CYCLE ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 6088731 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 6088726 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS RECOMMENDED MANUAL TRANSMISSION / TRANSAXLE MAINTENANCE INFORMATION. *TT |
| 606605 | EXHIBITING ROUGH IDLE AFTER WARM-UP. *TT |
| 604259 | THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS SNOW TIRE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CERTAIN CARS AND SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLES. *TT |
| 602934 | INFORMATION CONCERNING A CHANGE IN SPARK PLUG. *YC |
| 602455 | EXPERIENCING A/T HARSH 3-2 DOWNSHIFTS. *TT |
| 601998 | THE PARK/NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH CONTINUITY CHECK TABLE IS INCORRECTLY PRINTED IN THE AFFECTED SERVICE MANUAL PAGES. *YC |
| 601990 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LONG COLD START TIMES, SAG DURING WARM-UP, AND STALLING. *TT |
| 601988 | PROCEDURES ON FULE PUMP OPERATION CHECK. *YC |
| 600573 | REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR AUDIO FAILURE ON VARIOUS MODEL YEARS. *YC |
| 600571 | INFORMATION ABOUT IMPROVED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE END CLUTCH. *TT |
| 54034 | PREVENTING DUST FROM ENTERING THE INTERIOR. *YC |
| 54029 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUNROOF SIDE DECORATION COVER COMES LOOSE. *YC |
| 54025 | REPAIR INFORMATION FOR CORRECTING A COLD START GENERATOR DRIVE BELT NOISE CONDITION ON SOME VEHICLES. *YC |
| 54023 | SERVICE MANUAL REVISION ON CORRECTED CRANKSHAFT BEARING PROCEDURES. *YC |
| 10211530 | This Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between normal dew condensation, which is a natural phenomenon, and water penetration caused by improper sealing or a defective/broken part. |
| 10170852 | This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals. |
| 10170100 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170099 | This is an index of Tech Talk newsletter articles released in 2012. |
| 10170097 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
| 10170096 | This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)