1990 Mitsubishi Galant problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant get?

The 1990 Mitsubishi Galant has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (5 versions).

1990 Mitsubishi Galant at a glance

Safety recalls1

Owner complaints24

Combined19–22 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1990 Mitsubishi Galant recalls 1

Power Train:automatic Transmission NHTSA Campaign #98V168000 · 22/07/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ALL WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER VEHICLES. LOCKUP OF THE TRANSFER CASE CAN OCCUR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR ADEQUACY OF THE TRANSFER CASE OIL VOLUME, TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AND OPERATIONAL DEGRADATION OF THE TRANSFER CASE MECHANISM. IF OIL VOLUME IS INSUFFICIENT, THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF OIL WILL BE ADDED. IF THERE IS TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE, AFFECTED COMPONEN…

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1990 Mitsubishi Galant common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train

Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Vehicle Speed Control

Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Tires

Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

1990 Mitsubishi Galant MPG & running costs

Combined19–22 mpg

City19 mpg

Highway24 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,270

EPA size classCompact Cars

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd

Passenger volume94 cu ft

Cargo volume11 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$4,350 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 5 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1990 Mitsubishi Galant costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,350

Fuel only$16,350

Per mile$0.22

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 3

TRANSFER CASE LEAKAGE Closed

THE TRANSFER CASE OF THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD), MITSUBISHI GALANT, ALLEGEDLY LEAKS OIL CAUSING ONE OR MORE WHEELS TO LOCKUP; OR THE INABILITY TO TRANSMIT ENGINE POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. THE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME TRANSFER CASE DESIGN AS THE ECLIPSE VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME ALLEGED DEFECT.

NHTSA #RQ98007 · Power Train · opened May 1998 · closed Aug 1998

TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP Closed

NHTSA #EA98002 · Wheels · opened Jan 1998 · closed Apr 1998

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE Closed

NHTSA #EA95004 · Seat Belts · opened Mar 1995 · closed Aug 1995

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 9

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT253 · Equipment · Nov 2019

This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes TSB-18-00-003, issued April, 2018, to add updated information for Carrying Capacity Reduced Label.

Bulletin TSB-19-00-008 · Equipment · Jul 2019

This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.

Bulletin TT237 · Equipment · Feb 2018

This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section of the applicable service manuals.

Bulletin TSB-13-42A-002 · Structure · Jan 2013

INFORMATION REGARDING CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FOR REMANUFACTURED SHORT BLOCKS. *TT

Bulletin TSB9911007 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 1999

INFORMATION ABOUT IMPROVED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE END CLUTCH. *TT

Bulletin TSB9723015 · Power Train · Dec 1997

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SOLENOID RESISTANCE - SERVICE MANUAL REVISION. *TW

Bulletin TSB9723007 · Jun 1997

NEW VALVE LASH ADJUSTER NOISE CHECKING AND TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES. *JD

Bulletin TSB9711002 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Feb 1997

ANTENNA TIGHTENING TORQUE. *TW

Bulletin TSB9654012 · Equipment · Dec 1996

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the GALANT. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Mitsubishi Galant

The Mitsubishi Galant is an automobile which was produced by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi from 1969 until 2012. The model name was derived from the French word galant, meaning "chivalrous". There have been nine distinct generations with total cumulative sales exceeding five million units. It began as a compact sedan, but over the course of its life evolved into a mid-size car. Initial production was based in Japan, with manufacturing later moved to other countries.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1990 Mitsubishi Galant vehicles on record

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ504205

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE32ALZ500309

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE32ALZ500306

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ500329

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32ALZ503947

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32ALZ502482

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE39ALZ500268

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE32AMZ501345

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE32ALZ501272

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32ALZ502118

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE34AKZ301749

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ502115

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ501440

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE33AKZ520863

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJA3CX56R1LZ018243

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE32ALZ500866

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ502031

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32ALZ501405

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE33AKZ519902

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ505018

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE33AJZ000147

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBSNE32AMZ504413

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE33AKZ522260

1990 Mitsubishi GalantJMBLNE34AMZ800110

Other Mitsubishi Galant model years

1990 Mitsubishi Galant — frequently asked questions

Does the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant?

Across all 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, seat belts, engine and engine cooling.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Mitsubishi Galant get?

The 1990 Mitsubishi Galant has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (5 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.