Most common 1998 Mitsubishi Galant problems
Share of the 53 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mitsubishi Galant complaints by model year
Best Galant years: 2008, 2010, 2012. Years to avoid: 1999, 2001, 2000, 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
1998 Mitsubishi Galant recalls (1)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. If the rubber boots on the lower lateral arm ball joints of the front suspension were damaged during assembly, dirt and water can intrude. Also, mmc has added the potential of leaking moisture, which can cause the ball stud to corrode.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the lower lateral arm ball joint for wear. Ball joints that exhibit wear beyond the established tolerance will be replaced with newly designed lateral arm ball joints.
What 1998 Mitsubishi Galant owners say
Brakes
I started to have problems with the car earlier in the year and had brought the car to two different locations to see if it was the brakes because that is what I thought it was at first. The car would not move properly after I had stopped at a signal light or a stop sign, it had felt as if the brakes were still on when I pushed my foot on the gas pedal, yet the car would stand still. Another time when we were slowing for a corner at around 5mph, the car had jerked back and forth until I had gave it gas and it worked out fine. Some days the car was fine and other days the car would act up. So, we called the dealership to have the car checked out and they have said that the transmission has problems but didn't say as to what. …
At 41,500 miles I had a basic front brake job performed on my car due to the steering wheel shaking severely while braking. Approximately 6 months later I had the rotors resurfaced due to the steering wheel shaking severely while braking. Approximately 7 months after that I had the rotors resurfaced again due to the steering wheel shaking severely while braking. I have contacted Mitsubishi for reimbursement to have this problem fixed and they stated that they will not since it is not a "safety issue". It is. How can Mitsubishi say this isn't a "safety issue"? What do I need to do to get a recall for this problem so that lives don't have to be lost?
Transmission & drivetrain
When you start the car it makes a load noise until fully heated, and the transmission is pulling and making noise, it gets stuck in gear and will not move to next gear, just stalls and then kicks in. First it was just skipping gears for the last five days so I checked the fluid it only could use not even a half of court, I had no warning light at all until the sixth night when it got stuck in gear and steering to change.
Automatic transmission locked up with no prior warning. With under 20000 miles on the car transmission would not shift. Took to dealer and they made an adjustment and it was fine. Then, at 76000 miles the transmission locked up in traffic.
Suspension
The consumer's daughter had difficulty with the steering which ended up on the opposite side of the road crashing into an embankment. 3 years after accident, consumer received a recall notice on lower ball joints that could lead to loss of steering. The consumer's daughter was injured and feels that the dealer should be responsible for damages. Recall#00V421001.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Mitsubishi Galant. The contact stated that the front passenger side lower ball joint failed. The contact stated that the nut that held the lower ball joint became loose and detached, causing the lower ball joint failure. The vehicle had been repaired three times prior for the same exact failure. The manufacturer extended the warranty for the part for a lifetime however, the contact believed the failure to be an extreme safety issue because the part would become loose very easily. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 150,000.
1998 Mitsubishi Galant engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 27 / 23 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant a good car?
Based on 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 Galant rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Galant at the same age. 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 1998 Mitsubishi Galant?
The brakes — 12 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components › disc › pads. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (12) and suspension (8).
How many recalls does the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Mitsubishi Galant, the most recent from December 18, 2000 (lower ball joint). 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 Galant?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2010 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2001, 2000, 2002 and 2003. See the full Mitsubishi Galant years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Mitsubishi Galant problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 105,000 miles; 8% 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.