Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Mitsubishi Galant owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
A truck dropped some boxes on the freeway. A car stopped suddenly to avoid the boxes, another car hit them, finally we hit that car. It was a 3 car pileup. I was driving and my wife was in the passenger seat. We were the last car in the line and hit at about 45+ MPH. We were in a 1996 Mitsubishi Galant with only 78K miles and we were both wearing our seatbelts. Neither airbag deployed! It was a direct hit right in the front of our car at over 45 MPH. Now my wife May have permanent back pain. I can get the VIN number if you need it. I just dont have access to it today.
Consumer has experienced problems with driver's and passenger's side airbags. During a head-on collision in which the consumer was driving 20 MPH, and other vehicle was going 60 MPH, airbags failed to deploy. The manufacturer has been contacted.
While driving at 65 MPH consumer suddenly lost control of vehicle, causing it to hit a telephone pole head-on. Upon impact, driver's side and passenger's side air bags failed to deploy. Two people were injured in accident.
While driving in the rain, slammed on brakes and the engine shut off. Also the steering locked up and vehicle had a head-on accident and the air bag did not deploy. This happened all in the same day.
Involved in three vehicle collision that resulted in front smashed. Neither driver's nor passenger's air bags deployed along w/shoulder belt not restraining. There was one injury in accident.
The driver's head hit the windshield after running into a ditch while trying to miss hitting a deer on the road because the front seat belts did not lock upon impact, and the airbags did not deploy.
While trying to stop vehicle the brake pedal went all the way to the floor which caused the vehicle to hit another vehicle , when the two vehicles hit the air bag did not deploy.
Vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at 65mph. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy, resulting in minor injuries.
Dual airbags did not deploy during front end collision, vehicle rearened another vehicle, speed 40 MPH, cause unknown.
Air bag did not deploy when hit on front right side at 40mph, cause unknown, vehicle in shop for repairs.
Airbag complaints in other Galant years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant, 15% of the model year's 136 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (12 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Mitsubishi Galant airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1996 Mitsubishi Galant, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Mitsubishi Galant airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 0 fires and 18 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.