Total Complaints
32 filings
MITSUBISHI GALANT · model year
1990 MITSUBISHI GALANT
32 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990MITSUBISHIGALANT carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 6 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 GALANT is power train:automatic transmission with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (5) and power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1990 GALANT. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
32
Complaints
0
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030904SEAT 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
Mileage: 143,000
20030408VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT A RAPID SPEED. *JB
20020821ENGINE 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
20020731POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER HAS HAD VEHICLE FOR 5 YEARS, AND HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION 3 TIMES. *AK
20020514SEAT 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
20020207SEAT 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
20010214POWER 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
19990325POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1,LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE CAR NEEDED A HEAD GASKET,TIMING BELT AND A WATER PUMP MIND YOU THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED ONCE. 2,AT 30,000 MILES THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT. 3,AT 59,000+ MILES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT. 4,NOW THE CAR BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL A MONTH. HELP,I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
19990325ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
1,LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE CAR NEEDED A HEAD GASKET,TIMING BELT AND A WATER PUMP MIND YOU THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED ONCE. 2,AT 30,000 MILES THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT. 3,AT 59,000+ MILES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT. 4,NOW THE CAR BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL A MONTH. HELP,I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
19990325ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1,LESS THAN 20,000 MILES THE CAR NEEDED A HEAD GASKET,TIMING BELT AND A WATER PUMP MIND YOU THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED ONCE. 2,AT 30,000 MILES THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WENT. 3,AT 59,000+ MILES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION WENT. 4,NOW THE CAR BURNS 2 QUARTS OF OIL A MONTH. HELP,I CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
19990217POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE LEAKED FLUID PRIOR TO RECALL, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO MAKE AND MODEL/YEAR 98V069000 AND 98V069001.
19990217POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
TRANSFER CASE FAILED AND LOCKED UP, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF 98V069000 BUT HAS THE SAME DRIVETRAIN.
19990216FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
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
19990216FirePOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
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
19990216FirePOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
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
19990216FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
19990216FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
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
19990216FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
19990120POWER 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
19981110POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOCKED UP AND BACK END CAME AROUND, WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR WAS TOWED TO AUTO SHOP, WHERE STATEMENTS MADE STATED THAT TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE WERE DEFECTIVE, CONSUMER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE, TWO YEARS LATER, THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, DEALER WILL NOT REFUND THE FUNDS OF THE REPAIRS TO THE CONSUMER. *AK
Compare 1990MITSUBISHIGALANT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 MITSUBISHI GALANT have?▼
The 1990 MITSUBISHI GALANT has 32 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 6 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 MITSUBISHI GALANT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 MITSUBISHI GALANT is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT.
Is the 1990 MITSUBISHI GALANT safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.