FaultScore report
Owners have filed 42 complaints about the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT with NHTSA between 1999 and 2014. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 37/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Mitsubishi 3000GT.
How this is worked out42
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
90,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
18%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 38,000 miles
Median failure at 90,000 miles
Median failure at 90,000 miles
Median failure at 90,000 miles
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
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.
Risk: LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
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.
NHTSA complaint #730258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
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.
NHTSA complaint #730258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STEERING
MY CAR IS WELL KEPT AND GARAGED AT NIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2012, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC OF 20 YEARS THAT MY "TOTAL FRONT END" ON THE CAR NEEDED REPLACED. THIS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF GASKETS, AN OAL FLEX, RACK & PINION, AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB WITH THE EXPLANATION GIVEN THAT IT WAS "WORN OUT." NOW, THE STEERING IS A PROBLEM WITH STRANGE SOUNDS AND THE PERIODIC MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING. AN INSPECTION OF THAT DISCLOSED THAT NOW, THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL" NEEDS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I AM FINDING OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CARS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT IS THE CASE FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FOR THIS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT AM WONDERING WHY SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR (AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE) IS HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS NOW. I WAS EVEN TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION WILL BE ANOTHER FUTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY MANUFACTURER PURPOSELY SEALED THEM WHEN THEY WERE MADE WHICH MAKES THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVICE AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NEVER TOLD TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED IT. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR THESE REPAIRS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10565587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY CAR IS WELL KEPT AND GARAGED AT NIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2012, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC OF 20 YEARS THAT MY "TOTAL FRONT END" ON THE CAR NEEDED REPLACED. THIS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF GASKETS, AN OAL FLEX, RACK & PINION, AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB WITH THE EXPLANATION GIVEN THAT IT WAS "WORN OUT." NOW, THE STEERING IS A PROBLEM WITH STRANGE SOUNDS AND THE PERIODIC MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING. AN INSPECTION OF THAT DISCLOSED THAT NOW, THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL" NEEDS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I AM FINDING OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CARS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT IS THE CASE FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FOR THIS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT AM WONDERING WHY SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR (AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE) IS HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS NOW. I WAS EVEN TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION WILL BE ANOTHER FUTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY MANUFACTURER PURPOSELY SEALED THEM WHEN THEY WERE MADE WHICH MAKES THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVICE AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NEVER TOLD TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED IT. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR THESE REPAIRS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10565587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR IS WELL KEPT AND GARAGED AT NIGHT. IN NOVEMBER 2012, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CAR AND WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC OF 20 YEARS THAT MY "TOTAL FRONT END" ON THE CAR NEEDED REPLACED. THIS REQUIRED THE REPLACEMENT OF GASKETS, AN OAL FLEX, RACK & PINION, AND A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB WITH THE EXPLANATION GIVEN THAT IT WAS "WORN OUT." NOW, THE STEERING IS A PROBLEM WITH STRANGE SOUNDS AND THE PERIODIC MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING. AN INSPECTION OF THAT DISCLOSED THAT NOW, THE "INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON THE STEERING WHEEL" NEEDS REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, I AM FINDING OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CARS RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT IS THE CASE FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICES FOR THIS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT AM WONDERING WHY SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR (AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE) IS HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS NOW. I WAS EVEN TOLD THAT THE SUSPENSION WILL BE ANOTHER FUTURE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY MANUFACTURER PURPOSELY SEALED THEM WHEN THEY WERE MADE WHICH MAKES THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO SERVICE AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THIS WAS NEVER TOLD TO ME WHEN I PURCHASED IT. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR THESE REPAIRS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10565587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS STOP WORKING OVER TIME, CAUSING EXTREME SLACK ON THE SEAT BELT. THERE IS NO TIGHTNESS LEFT ON SEAT BELT, EVEN WHEN WEARING WHILE DRIVING. IF A CRASH WERE TO OCCUR, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT'S JOB.
NHTSA complaint #10401468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
TL*THE 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.
NHTSA complaint #10348856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10200648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I OWN A MITSUBISHI 1997 3000GT VR4, AND A 1996 3000GT BASE MODEL. ON BOTH CARS THERE WAS TREMENDOUS SLACKS IN THE SEAT BELTS. I WORRY THAT IF NOT RECALLED THEY WOULD DO LITTLE TO PROTECT ME IN A COLLISION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10196549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
MITSUBISHI HAS NOT HONORED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY ON THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 02V143001 FOR MY 1997 3000GT VR4. THE LOCAL ZONE REP HAS TURNED IT DONE WITHOUT A PERSONAL VISIT . I HAVE FORCED A MEETING WITH HIM FOR THURSDAY JAN 18TH BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A WASTE OF MY TIME BY THE LOCAL DEALER. MY CAR HAD THE OIL LEAK AND AFTER RUNNING DRY I HAVE HAD DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFER CASE LEAVING THE CAR IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. MOST DISTURBING WAS THE FACT THAT THE DEALER TOLD MY 18 YEAR OLD SON IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE HOME. IF THE GEARS HAD LOCKED UP HE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME PUT PRESSURE ON MITSUBISHI TO ACT RESPONSIBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10178888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT NORMALLY. THEY REQUIRE SOME EXTRA FORCE. IT STARTED WHERE IT ONLY HAPPENED EVERY NOW AND THEN AND NOW IT IS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO CORRECT THIS YET.
NHTSA complaint #10177395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE SEAT BELT IN MY 1997 SOHC 3000GT DOES NOT ALWAYS RETRACT AND SOMETIMES LOCKS UP WHEN I LEAN FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS DUE WIGGLING OUT OF THE PREDICAMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10176303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE: 1997 MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR4 THE FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, THEREBY LEAVING ENOUGH SLACK IN THE SEAT BELT TO DEEM IT UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING. THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM ON MY '94 3000GT AND I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FROM MANY OTHER OWNERS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS IT EFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS.
NHTSA complaint #10165333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1997 MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR-4 SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT WHEN YOU RELEASE THEM AND YOU HAVE TO FEED IT BACK INTO THE PANEL.
NHTSA complaint #10164866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10163353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
WHEN THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1997 MITSUBISHI 3000GT IS PULLED ON, IT SOMETIMES DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING ENOUGH SLACK IN THE BELT THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, IT WOULD NOT SERVE ITS PURPOSE AS A SAFETY RESTRAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10159494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I OWN A 1997 3000GT VR4 AND ALSO OWNED A 1998 3000GT SL. THE SEAT BELTS IN BOTH OF MY CARS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN THE SEAT BELT IS PULLED ON IT DOES NOT RETRACT, LEAVING ENOUGH SLACK IN THE BELT THAT IF AN ACCIDENT WERE TO OCCUR, IT WOULD NOT SERVE ITS PURPOSE AS A SAFETY RESTRAINT. BOTH SEAT BELTS ARE IN GREAT CONDITION WITH NO DAMAGE TO THEM. PLUS WITH ME HAVING A BABY I CAN NOT AND WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS DEFECT OF A SAFETY DEVICE.
NHTSA complaint #10158802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
SUPPORT FOR A SEAT BELT RECALL ON THE MITSUBISHI 3000GT/DODGE STEALTH ALL YEARS SEAT BELTS ARE NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. SURE THEY MAY START FRAYING A LITTLE OVER TIME BUT THEY SHOULD ALWAYS RETRACT ON THEIR OWN. EVERYTIME I LEAN FORWARD TO TURN ON THE RADAR DETECTOR, CHANGE THE STATION ON THE RADIO, ETC I HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THE SEAT BELT IN. ITS NOT SAFE AT ALL. IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10158292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
1 - SEAT BELTS IN THE MITSUBISHI 3000GT FAIL TO WORK ON A NUMBER OF CARS 2 - THIS FAILURE TO RETRACT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD BE MAJOR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10155130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10041790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
NHTSA RECALL 02V143000 CONCERNING TRANSFER CASE. THIS RECALL FAILED ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. A CONDITION EXISTED THAT ALLOWED OIL TO LEAK FROM TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE). DEALER WILL INSPECT THE TRANSFER CASE FOR INDICATIONS OF OIL LEAKAGE OR DAMAGE. VEHICLES THAT HAVE OIL LEAKAGE WILL HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE RESEALED AND REFILLED THE TRANSFER CASE TO THE PROPER LEVEL OR REPLACED THE TRANSFER CASE IF THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 9, 2002.
NHTSA complaint #10042732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS:RIM
AIR LEAKING OCCURS IN 2 TIRES. MITS SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED TIRES & STATED THEY ARE FINE. THEY STATED THE PROBLEM IS AIR LEAKING AROUND THE 2 RIMS AND THAT SEALS ARE BREAKING, POSSIBLY DUE TO WHEEL CORROSION. THE PROBLEM IS WORSENING. THIS IS THE 2ND SET OF WHEELS. MITSUBISHI REPLACED ALL 4 WHEELS ONCE BEFORE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM--AT THAT TIME, AIR LEAKED OUT OF ALL 4 TIRES. MITSUBISHI STATES THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THIS SET OF WHEELS DUE TO VEHICLE AGE AND PROBABLY NO INVESTIGATION ALTHOUGH AT LEAST 9 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE ARE LOGGED ON THE SAME MAKE/MODEL. NOT SURE WHY ANYONE SHOULD EXPECT IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO NEED A 3RD SET OF RIMS FOR A 6-YEAR-OLD CAR. COINCIDENCE?
NHTSA complaint #10000866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING AT THE TIME THAT I PURCHASED THIS CAR. THE DEALER WHO I HAD INSPECT THE CAR TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH IT EVENTUALLY WAS. HOWEVER, I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THESE TRANSMISSION FAIL ON A VERY WIDESPREAD BASIS, WHICH I WAS NOT TOLD. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE CAUGHT MY PROBLEM WITH JUST 3 MONTHS LEFT ON THE WARRANTY. NO DOUBT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. THE MFG. ALSO CREATED THESE TRANSMISSIONS IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THEY CAN NOT BE REPAIRED, ONLY REPLACED. IT WOULD HAVE COST ME $6000 TO REPLACE THIS HAD I NOT NOTICED IT UNTIL 3 MORE MONTHS HAD GONE BY. THIS IS NOT RIGHT. DT
NHTSA complaint #769289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
OEM TRANSFER CASE LEAK . CAUSING THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS TO OVERHEAT AND CEASE UP WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE . RESULTING IN ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKING UP AND GOING INTO AN OUT-OF-CONTROL STATE .
NHTSA complaint #766765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
A LEAK WAS COMING FROM TRANSFER CASE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8017884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. CONSUMER CONCERNED ABOUT TRANSFER CASE LOCKING UP WHICH IS POSING A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP CAUSING ALL THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP
NHTSA complaint #8017910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #764180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.