NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 35 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mitsubishi dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT owner complaints

Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT, describing incidents dated January 12, 1997 to November 23, 2012.

Most-cited components

Power Train 12 complaints
Seat Belts 12 complaints
Wheels 7 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint

Of the 35 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10565587 · Filed February 24, 2014
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…
ODI #10401468 · Filed May 18, 2011
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. *TR
ODI #10348856 · Filed August 11, 2010
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…

Read all 35 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE02-013: TRANSFER CASE LOCKUP
Closed June 3, 2002
- Recall 02V143001
- Recall 02V143002

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

MITSUBISHI AMERICA/TRANSFER CASE OIL LEAKAGE

NHTSA #02V143001 · Power Train — Transfer Case (4-WHEEL DRIVE) · NHTSA notice

Reported May 14, 2002 · MITSUBISHI AMERICA

Potentially affected: 15,000 vehicles

Mitsubishi campaign SR-02-003 · Owners notified December 9, 2002 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CONDITION EXISTS THAT ALLOWS OIL TO LEAK FROM THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSFER CASE.

Safety consequence

LOW OIL LEVELS IN THE TRANSFER CASE COULD CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE AND RESULT IN DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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 TRANSFER CASE IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DECEMBER 9, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MITSUBISHI AMERICA AT 1-888-648-7820 OR MITSUBMISHI CARIBBEAN AT 1-787-251-8715.

Notes

MITSUBISHI RECALL BULLETIN NO. SR-02-003. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

35 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT.

Steering; Suspension; Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10565587

Incident: November 23, 2012 · Filed: February 24, 2014

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. *TR

Seat Belts

ODI #10401468

Incident: May 10, 2011 · Filed: May 18, 2011

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. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10348856

Incident: August 4, 2010 · Filed: August 11, 2010

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.

Seat Belts

ODI #10200648

Incident: January 12, 1997 · Filed: August 24, 2007

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. *TR

Seat Belts; Equipment

ODI #10196549

Incident: July 14, 2007 · Filed: July 17, 2007

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.*AK

Power Train

ODI #10178888

Incident: January 9, 2007 · Filed: January 17, 2007

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. *NM

Seat Belts

ODI #10177395

Incident: January 12, 2005 · Filed: December 30, 2006

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. *NM

Seat Belts

ODI #10176303

Incident: December 16, 2006 · Filed: December 16, 2006

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. *NM

Seat Belts

ODI #10165333

Incident: August 12, 2006 · Filed: August 12, 2006

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. *NM

Seat Belts

ODI #10164866

Incident: August 7, 2006 · Filed: August 7, 2006

1997 MITSUBISHI 3000GT VR-4 SEAT BELTS DON'T RETRACT WHEN YOU RELEASE THEM AND YOU HAVE TO FEED IT BACK INTO THE PANEL. *JB

Other Mitsubishi 3000GT model years

Check your 1997 Mitsubishi 3000GT VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mitsubishi 3000GT at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Mitsubishi VIN