Total Complaints
284 filings
MITSUBISHI GALANT · model year
284 NHTSA complaints, 46 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994MITSUBISHIGALANT carries 284 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 46 crashes, 6 fires, 24 injuries, and 4 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 1994 GALANT is air bags:frontal with 32 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint (30) and power train:automatic transmission (13). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
284 filings
Crashes Reported
46 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 32 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 30 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 12 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 11 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 10 |
| AIR BAGS | 9 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 8 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 7 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 6 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 5 |
PURCHASED 3 TIRES JUNE 18TH 2016. BY THE END OF THE DAY MY SPARE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY I TOOK IT BACK AND HAD A NEW ONE PUT BACK ON IT. JUNE 19TH THE TIRE THAT WAS PUT ON MY CAR ALSO WENT FLAT WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT. I DECIDED TO FILE THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY REFUSED TO GIVE ME A REFUND OF $30 FOR THE BAD TIRE. ALSO DUE TO THE FACT THAT TWO OF THE THREE TIRES PURCHASED TWO WENT FLAT AND LESS THAN 48 HOURS OF PURCHASE DATE.
FRONTAL AUTO ACCIDENT 1994 MITSIBISHI GALANT LS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY! *TR
Mileage: 168
THE WHEEL OF MY DAUGHTER'S MITSUBISHI GALANT FELL OFF! WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT OUR HOME, THE GALANT'S BALL JOINT ON THE LOWER LATERAL CONTROL ARM FAILED. THE BALL JOINT PULLED OUT OF THE SOCKET AND THE TRANSAXLE PULLED OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS RESULTED IN THE WHEEL FALLING AGAINST THE WHEEL WELL (LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE CAR!) THERE WAS NO GREASE IN THE BALL JOINT SOCKET. THANKFULLY, THIS OCCURRED AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED. IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT! THIS 1994 GALANT HAS ONLY 86,000 MILES ON IT, AND HAS NO OPEN RECALLS. MY DAUGHTER HAD TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE INCIDENT BECAUSE SHE SOMETIMES HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL AREA. THE SHOP WRONGLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TIE ROD ENDS. THEY SAID THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE SAFETY CONCERNS. *JB
Mileage: 86,000
A NEAR MISS. THE NUT ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAME OFF ON DRIVERS SIDE. 75 MPH AND THANK GOODNESS I WAS STRONG TO PULL THE ASPHALT EATING FRONT END TO THE SIDE. GOING DOWNHILL HEARD WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A PEBBLE HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND THEN WAS BEING PULLED UNDER THE ONCOMING SEMI. UPON FINALLY STOPPING ON THE SHOULDER, I GOT OUT LOOKED AT MY TIRE SITTING PERPENDICULAR TO THE CAR, THE CARS FRONT END SITTING ON THE GROUND,(I HAVE PHOTO'S) I LOOKED BACK TO SEE A GROVE AND A BLACK LINE TRAVELING FROM THE LEFT LANE TO THE CENTER LINE BACK TO THE LEFT LANE AND TO MY GALANT'S RESTING PLACE. AT 48 YEARS OLD I HAVE DRIVEN MANY A CAR, NEVER HAVE I COME SO NEAR TO MEETING MY MAKER. THE MECHANIC, 300 MILES FROM MY HOME SAID THE BALL JOINT BOOT FAILED AND ALLOWED THE BOLT TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE TRAVEL JUST UNSCREWED THE NUT. ALL THE THREADS WERE THERE, NON WERE STRIPPED. 3 DAYS LATER I BRAVELY LOADED MYSELF AND MY YOUNGER SISTER INTO THE CAR WITH SOME MAKE DUE REPAIRS AND A NEW LOWER C
DURING REPLACEMENT OF STRUTS SERVICE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT BALL JOINTS HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY. *TS THE MANUFACTURER HAS RECALLED MANY BALL JOINTS RECALL #SR-04-001 ACCORDING TO ALLDATA. *NM
PURSUANT TO THE BALL JOINT RECALL FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT, I TOOK MY CAR TO OURISMAN MITSUBISHI IN 2004 WHO THEN INSPECTED THE BOOT, NOTICED THE BOOT WAS BROKEN YET THE SERVICEMAN RESEALED THE BOOT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE INTACT. IN AUGUST 2005, WHILE I WAS HAVING MY CAR SERVICE FOR A WATER PUMP PROBLEM, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JB
PURSUANT TO THE BALL JOINT RECALL FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT, I TOOK MY CAR TO OURISMAN MITSUBISHI IN 2004 WHO THEN INSPECTED THE BOOT, NOTICED THE BOOT WAS BROKEN YET THE SERVICEMAN RESEALED THE BOOT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE INTACT. IN AUGUST 2005, WHILE I WAS HAVING MY CAR SERVICE FOR A WATER PUMP PROBLEM, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JB
PURSUANT TO THE BALL JOINT RECALL FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT, I TOOK MY CAR TO OURISMAN MITSUBISHI IN 2004 WHO THEN INSPECTED THE BOOT, NOTICED THE BOOT WAS BROKEN YET THE SERVICEMAN RESEALED THE BOOT AND INFORMED ME THAT THE CAR WAS CHECKED AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE INTACT. IN AUGUST 2005, WHILE I WAS HAVING MY CAR SERVICE FOR A WATER PUMP PROBLEM, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE IT REPLACED. *JB
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 1994 MITSUBISHI GALANT LS ,AND I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, OURISMAN MITSUBISHI, LAST YEAR CONCERNING THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINT. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. AFTER HAVING MY CAR INSPECTED BY MY PRIVATE AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THIS VERY PART. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT IS IN SERIOUS NEED OF REPLACEMENT.*AK
Mileage: 71,904
DT: CALLER SAYS THE CAR STALLED AT ANY SPEED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT REPLACE PARTS UNTIL THEY FIND THE ONE THAT WORKED MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TWICE. *AK
Mileage: 124,000
THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY THE BRAKES FAILED.*AK
Mileage: 161,500
I BOUGHT MY 94 MITSUBISHI GALANT IN DECEMBER OF 1998. THE FIRST TIME MY ALTERNATOR BELT BROKE WAS AUGUST OF 1999. SINCE THEN MY BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 12 TIMES (7 TIMES THE BELT WAS REPLACED BY A MECHANIC). MOST OF THE TIME, MY HUSBAND OR MYSELF HAVE BEEN DRIVING WHEN THE BELT BRAKES LEAVING US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE BELT ALSO SQUEAKS REALLY BAD. I'VE TRIED TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO SQUEAK. I'VE HAD ALTERNATOR'S REPLACED, BELTS REPLACED, AND THE PULLEY ADJUSTED. NONE OF IT WORKED, BUT I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR IT. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK
Mileage: 70,000
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL 00V421003 REPAIRS. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER CONSUMER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE TO TAKE AN HOUR RIDE AND VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO OTHER MECHANICS, WHO DETERMINED THAT DEALER HAD DONE SOMETHING THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AND UPON ENTERING THE BAY AT THE SHOP, THE LOWER BALL JOINT FELL OFF. RECALL NO. 00V421001. *JB
Mileage: 126,572
THE RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATED ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*MR *LA
THE RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT SEPARATED ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.*MR *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE OVERHEATED, DEALERSHIP URGED CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. *AK
LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FELL OFF. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STOP AND FALL FLAT TO THE GROUND. *AK
Mileage: 98,000
WHILE TURNING 5 MPH, THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND AXLE SNAPPED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *PH
Mileage: 121,000
WHILE TURNING 5 MPH, THE FRONT BALL JOINT AND AXLE SNAPPED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEARS TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *PH
Mileage: 121,000
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.