1997 Mitsubishi Galant Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 15about this part
- Share
- 19%of 80 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,800miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 15 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant, 19% of the 80 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,800 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“1997 Mitsubishi Galant es w/ automatic transmission ( transaxle ): vehicle's gearshift can be accidently bumped from drive to neutral because this gear change does not require the brakes to be pressed nor the gearshift button to be pressed. I have twice now bumped the car into neutral from drive by reaching over the gearshift, both times while the car was in motion (once while trying to merge onto the interstate). This could have lead to an accident both times had I not quickly discovered that my car was no longer in drive. …”
NHTSA complaint #10066496, filed 2004-04, 80,800 miles“Car stalls when stopping, and vibrates. Fells like car is not getting gas. Rpm's go up while driving. After 3 attemps, two different dealers claim they cannot come up with a code, so not sure what to do. Any suggestions? What other complaints have you received?”
NHTSA complaint #10069091, filed 2004-01, 67,241 miles“While driving 35 MPH transmission blew out. Consumer managed to pull over, and had the vehicle towed. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10066738, filed 2004-04, 118,925 miles“I was at a stop sign and I pressed on the gas, all of a sudden the car just stopped moving. I put the car in park, shut it off, turned it back on, shifted it into drive, and it would not move, it seemed like it was stuck in neutral. It has not moved ever since.”
NHTSA complaint #10481062, filed 2012-10“While driving at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicles right front wheel literally came off the axle. This happened when consumer was pulling into office driveway. There was no result in injury. Consumer's back seats move front and back, especially when coming to an immediate stop. It came to the point where consumer had to tie them together so they wouldn't move. There was a child seat being used in the back seat of this vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10101648, filed 2004-11Related service bulletins
- 10170074Aug 28, 2015This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170071Jul 22, 2015This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170096Mar 5, 2013This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170100Feb 6, 2013This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
- 10170086Nov 1, 2012This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | 11% |
| 2010 | 1 | 11% |
| 2009 | 1 | 6% |
| 2007 | 1 | 4% |
| 2006 | 1 | 4% |
| 2004 | 3 | 5% |
| 2003 | 6 | 5% |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% |
| 2001 | 20 | 13% |
| 2000 | 3 | 2% |
| 1999 | 16 | 7% |
| 1998 | 12 | 23% |
| 1997 | 15 | 19% |
| 1996 | 36 | 26% |
| 1995 | 29 | 14% |
| 1994 | 25 | 13% |
| 1992 | 23 | 59% |
| 1991 | 39 | 62% |
| 1990 | 9 | 43% |
| 1989 | 4 | 21% |
| 1987 | 2 | 22% |
Other parts of the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant
18 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsAir bags
8 complaintsEquipment
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
2 complaintsOther or unknown
2 complaintsSeat belts
2 complaintsBody and structure
2 complaintsVehicle speed control
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Mitsubishi Galant
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology