Most common 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi 3000GT complaints by model year
Best 3000GT years: 1999, 1998. Years to avoid: 1995, 1997. Compare all years →
1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT recalls (1)
Power train › Transfer case (4-wheel drive)
On certain passenger vehicles, a condition exists that allows oil to leak from the all-wheel drive transfer case.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transfer case for indications of oil leakage or damage. Vehicles that have oil leakage will have the transfer case resealed and re-fill the transfer case to the proper level, or replaced the…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT:
Transfer case lockup
There is no summary currently available
What 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 1997 Mitsubishi 3000gt. While driving 60 MPH the vehicle stalled without warning. She was able to move the vehicle on the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the garage for diagnostic testing which indicated that the transmission transfer case wasn't sealed properly causing the fluid to leak. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer in April of 2003 for recall 02V143001 power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive), but the vehicle was not serviced. The manufacturer stated that the recall was performed; therefore they will not offer any assistance. The failure and the current mileages were 180,000.
At 85mph the whole car locked up due to seized diffrential case - car spun out of control and off of the highway with out warning. This is the second time this car has had sudden powertrain failure resulting in loss of control - while on the highway with the cruise control set.
Seat belts
Driver and passenger seat belts don't retract correctly. When the seat belt doesn't retract, it leaves several inches of slack. In the event of an accident, this defect could cause serious injury or death. This defect is common in from 1991 to 1999 for the Mitsubishi 3000gt and Dodge stealth gt models which technically are the same vehicle with the same part numbers.
I own a 1997 Mitsubishi 3000gt and the seat belt restraint system for the drives and passenger side fail to retract. The only way to resolve the problem is to remove the seatbelt while driving and manually feed the belt back into the system.
Wheels & tires
1997 Mitsubishi gt 3000 - defective chrome wheels flake, peel and wear inside so that a seal cannot be maintained. Constantly, inflate tires where of a horrific safety hazard. Stranded with flats. Expensive chrome wheels came standard with this vehicle. Mitsubishi has so far elected to replace only one of 4 wheels that have severe wear and affect reliability and drivable of the car.
This car (not my first of this make and model) has been in the shop constantly. The dealers have been told that mitsu refuses to pay for warranty repairs and that dealers must pay out of pocket. Therefore, customers are not receiving the level of service that is safe. For example - my transmission fluid was changed but not the filter! Conflicting reports on poor brake pads LED to my replacing them out of pocket. $800 worth of new tires due to consistent failure of oe wheels (rusting in a matter of weeks). Noisy engine with inconsistent performance - not found in previous editions of car. I believe they stripped the safety and quality out of the 97 models to increase profit on a poorly selling model. Many mitsu owners in daytona want class action suits against this dealer, also, for unsafe levels of service. An investigation might be prudent. …
1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 3000GT rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the 3000GT at the same age. It is one of the 3000GT years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT?
The transmission & drivetrain — 12 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the seat belts (12) and wheels & tires (8).
How many recalls does the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT, the most recent from May 14, 2002 (transfer case (4-wheel drive)). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mitsubishi 3000GT?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999 and 1998. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1997. See the full Mitsubishi 3000GT years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 90,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.