1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report seat belts that do not retract fully, followed by transmission problems such as sudden failure, slipping, and fluid leaks. Transfer case oil leaks and lock-ups are also described, and where mileage is given these reports cluster at higher mileage.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Seat belts that do not fully retract

   • 13 complaints (23%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 11.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2006–2007

   Owners say the seat belts do not retract properly, leaving slack, or only retract after being fed back by hand. Some describe the belt twisting in its guide or sticking, and one says leather conditioner helped for a period of months before the problem returned. Several owners worry about how the belt would restrain them in a crash, and one says the repair is no longer covered because the time frame has passed. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 35,000 to 105,000 miles, and some describe the problem starting soon after purchase.

   What to check: Pull each seat belt out fully and let it retract on its own, checking that it locks and does not stay loose. Ask the seller whether any belt repair or replacement was done and request the paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Both driver and passenger side seat belts do not properly retract. I have used leather conditioner on the belts, which will for a period of at least half a year fix the problem. But after a while they will go back to not retracting. I have not been in an accident so I do not have first hand experience if this issue defects the safety use of the seat belt.”

   NHTSA complaint #10155129, filed 2006-04, 63,000 miles

   “My seat belt (driver and passenger) does not retract. It will if you feed it back through the slot from where it comes out of or after an extended period of time. The only events leading to this failure in my opinion is repeated use. The failure of the seat belt to retract can cause injury to myself/passenger in the event of a crash since I would be jolted farther forward than I would normally with a properly working seat belt.”

   NHTSA complaint #10157955, filed 2006-05, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission failure, slipping or fluid leaks

   • 21 complaints (38%)
   • median 107,200 mi at 12.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2016

   Owners describe transmissions that failed without warning, including one where the car moved only in reverse. Other reports describe slipping, irregular or harsh shifting, gears that would not engage, and fluid leaking from seals. Some owners say a rebuilt or replacement transmission developed the same problems, and one says a dealer could not find a replacement for a turbo model and a new unit was needed. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 47,000 to 109,000 miles, with some after a prior rebuild or replacement.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, and look under the car for fluid, then ask for service records of any rebuild or replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving my transfer case froze up and locked, it destroyed my transmission/ transfer case and may have caused damage to my rear end differential and front axles, also cost me a clutch totaling near $8000.”

   NHTSA complaint #749863, filed 2001-08

   “Dt: the contact complained about transmission problems. The previous owner had the transmission rebuilt on october 4, 2003. Later, the transmission was again rebuilt. The contact was having problems again with the transmission when the vehicle was totaled in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144152, filed 2005-12, 56,064 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transfer case oil leaks and sudden lock-up

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 118,350 mi at 14.3 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2018

   Owners describe oil leaking from the all-wheel-drive transfer case, sometimes first noticed as oil on the ground under the car. Other reports describe the transfer case freezing or shutting down so the wheels lock while driving, including at highway speed, and one says the failure destroyed the transmission and may have damaged other drivetrain parts. According to complaints, the recall repair was treated as unavailable, either because it had already been done or because the car was too old to qualify. Where mileage is stated, these reports range from about 105,000 to 151,000 miles.

   Recall 02V143001

   What to check: Look for oil on the transfer case housing or on the ground beneath the car, and ask whether recall 02V143001 was performed and documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Regarding NHTSA recall id: 02v143001 for the transfer case on the 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT vr-4. My car's transfer case began leaking about 100 miles ago. Through my car club I was informed that there was a safety recall issued on this and to call the dealer. I called the dealer to see when I could schedule my repair and they asked for my VIN#. When they ran the VIN# they found out that the previous car owner took the car in dec. Of 2002 and the transfer case passed inspection so the safety recall was no longer available for my car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10157540, filed 2006-05, 127,700 miles

   “The contact owns a 1995 Mitsubishi 3000GT. While driving 68 MPH, the transfer case (driveshaft) on the vehicle shut down and caused the wheels to lock in the middle of traffic. The failure almost caused a serious crash on the highway. The current and failure mileages were 109,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10235551, filed 2008-07, 109,000 miles
4. 4
   Wheels

   Rim and tire air loss or failure

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 12.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Owners describe rims that lose air, with tires needing daily inflation and new tires ruined by underinflation. One owner says chrome peeling and bubbling around the rim bead broke the tire seal, which led to air loss. Other reports describe a rear wheel splitting in two places around the time of a crash, and a tire inner wall separating from the bead and tread on the highway; one owner says the dealer agreed to replace only one rim after the warranty ended. None of these reports states mileage, and one describes repeated underinflation over about two years of ownership.

   What to check: Check the rims near the bead for peeling, bubbling or flaking chrome, and monitor tire pressure over several days to see whether it holds.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the contact's vehicle crashed. The rear passenger wheel split in two places. The driver lost control and over corrected. The vehicle proceeded into a fence and was totaled. A police report was taken , and insurance report is on file.”

   NHTSA complaint #10144060, filed 2005-11

   “While driving on the highway the inner wall of the tire became completely detached between the bead and the tread causing my vehicle to completely loose control and spin offf the road. (DOT number: cxjx tiresize: 24540zr18)”

   NHTSA complaint #756385, filed 2002-01

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year should test seat belt retraction and transmission behavior on a test drive and ask for service records. Because transfer case leaks are reported mostly at higher mileage, check for oil under the vehicle and ask for documentation of any recall repair.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 41 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.