RoadVitals

1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Feb 17, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max, most frequently naming the engine, other / unspecified and seat belts categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine444.4%
  • Other / unspecified222.2%
  • Seat belts222.2%
  • Electrical111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
658,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
MITSUBISHI AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2013

THIS ENGINE (1983-1986 - 1997CU.IN./2.0L SOHC L4 G63B) PRODUCED BY MITSUBISHI CORPORATION WAS FITTED WITH EXHAUST MANIFOLDS CREATED WITH INFERIOR MATERIALS. THESE MATERIALS WERE USED TO CREATE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS FOR THESE MOTORS UNDER NORMAL USE, DEVELOP CRACKS. THE CRACKS WOULD EMIT HIGH TEMPERATURE CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND THE DRIVER & PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF THESE DEFECTIVE LIFE THREATENING PARTS WERE REPLACED BY THE MITSUBISHI CORPORATION WITH THE EXACT SAME INFERIOR MATERIAL DESIGN PARTS AND DEVELOPED THE SAME ISSUES AS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THESE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS WERE PLACED ON RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE OF CO INHALATION AND FIRE DANGER TO THE PASSENGERS, BUT WERE REMOVED FROM THE GOVERNMENT RECALL LIST FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. BE IT A STATUE OF LIMITATIONS OR FULFILLMENT, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED CORRECTLY AND REOCCURS QUICKLY. I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT MITSUBISHI CORPORATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THOUGH I UNDERSTAND THE VEHICLE IS NOT NEW, THEY CONSIDERED IT A JOKE THAT I HAVE ASKED FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS ITEM THAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO REPLACE IN THE PAST FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THESE VEHICLES STILL HAVE ANOTHER RECALL FOR SEATBELTS THAT ARE LISTED, BUT THE MANIFOLDS HAVE BEEN MYSTERIOUSLY REMOVED FROM THE LIST. ITEMS THAT ARE REPLACED BECAUSE OF DANGEROUS CONDITIONS TO OCCUPANTS IN A VEHICLE, THEN REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE MATERIAL DESIGN NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATION BY GOVERNMENT RECALL INVESTIGATORS OF AUTOMOBILES. THE MITSUBISHI CORPORATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGLIGENCE AND INSTALLATION OF DEFECTIVE AUTOMOBILE PARTS THAT ARE DANGEROUS TO ALL PASSENGERS RIDING IN THESE VEHICLES WITH THE PARTICULAR ENGINES INSTALLED. CARBON MONOXIDE IS COLORLESS, ODORLESS, TASTELESS GAS THAT IS SLIGHTLY LIGHTER THAN AIR. IT IS TOXIC TO HUMANS AND ANIMALS ENCOUNTERED.

NHTSA ID
10498419
Incident
Mar 1, 1988
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 3, 2005

DEVELOPING EXPANSION CRACK IN COLLECTOR OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD OF THE 1986 2.0L MITSUBISHI MIGHT MAX PU. THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER CASTING OF MATERIALS DURING PRODUCTION AND WHEN REPAIRED, IT IS REPLACED WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE UNIT OF THE SAME NATURE.

NHTSA ID
10108507
Incident
Feb 3, 2005
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 8, 2003

86 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX PU:EXHAUST MANIFOLD:CRACKS DEVELOPED IN CASTING. CO INTO ENGINE/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT CAUSES FIRE/CO POISONING TO DRIVER/PASSENGER. COMPLAINT: QUESTION ARE THEY ONLY REQUIRED TO REPAIR ONCE WITH SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS? NOTIFIED BY MITSUBISHI CORP. RECALL ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON ABOVE VEHICLE. RECALL STATED DUE TO PROBLEMS IN MANUFACTURING/CASTING OF MATERIALS OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD, CRACKS DEVELOP IN MANIFOLD WHICH RELEASE CO INTO ENGINE/PASSENGER COMPARTMENTS. THIS COULD CAUSE FIRE OR CO POISONING PASSENGERS. VEHICLE SERVICED RECALL AT DEALER, NOT SURE STILL EXIST AUTOWEST MITSUBISHI FREMONT,CA. AFTER TIME, I NOTICED LARGE CRACK OUTSIDE CASTING OF MANIFOLD. ALMOST 360 AROUND COLLECTOR OF 4 EXHAUST TUBES OF MANIFOLD. CRACK IS EMITTING CO BECAUSE A RESIDUE DEVELOPED BY EXHAUST ESCAPING CRACK.(BLACK CARBON). I CALLED DEALER SPOKANE, WA; APPLEWAY MITSUBISHI. ASKED ABOUT REPAIRS FOR MANIFOLD, CONTACT MITSUBISHI CORP. 1-800-222-0037. I CALLED AND TALKED TO 2 PEOPLE ABOUT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. 1ST SAID, NO RECALL FOR MANIFOLD, 1 ISSUED FOR SAFETY HARNESS.I ASKED TO TOW VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. HE COULD NOT ANSWER QUESTION. TRANSFER TO 2ND. 2ND SAID, EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS REPAIRED ONCE, WILL NOT REPAIR IT AGAIN,NO LONGER PART OF SAFETY CAMPAIGN AND VEHICLE TOO OLD. VEHICLE IS OLDER, BUT FAR FROM EFFECTS OF AGE, I STATED TO EMPLOYEE. HE STATED NO LONGER REPAIR EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. I ASKED TOWING VEHICLE FOR SEATBELT RECALL. 2ND PERSON ACTUALLY LAUGHED AT REQUEST, AFTER SHORT TIME AWAY FROM PHONE, SAID" NO WE WILL NOT TOW VEHICLE, NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. STATE WA. SEATBELT FINE $86 REPORTED *HE MADE COUPLE SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING SEATBELT LAWS, 1) USE RUBBER BAND, MAKE LOOK LIKE ITS ON.(SMERK, YA RIGHT) 2) DON'T HIT ANYTHING. 3) HE ASKED, "WHY VEHICLE USED SO LONG WITH BUSTED BELT. I SAID,"RECALL STATED IN ACCIDENT, IT COULD RELEASE, CAUSING INJURY. I HAVENT TESTED THEM YET.(LAUGHING? I WAS)HE ASSURED NO TOWING.

NHTSA ID
10031058
Incident
Aug 8, 2003
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE TRYING TO START MY TRUCK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE SOLDER CONNECTION ON THE IGNITION SWITCH MELTED THE SOLDER CONNECTION OF THE WIRE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
705747
Incident
Nov 15, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Oct 22, 1996

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. RECALL#95V103004. *AK

NHTSA ID
803869
Seat belts
Filed Feb 23, 1995

(404-941-3893H) DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEATBELT HARNESS WILL NOT STAY FASTEN INTO LATCH MECHANISM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
960510
Incident
Feb 23, 1995
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 1995

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM; THERE IS BLACK SMOKE FUMES COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PURCHASE TRUCK USED. TT

NHTSA ID
958411

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TT253

EQUIPMENT

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

TSB-19-00-008

EQUIPMENT

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.

TT237

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

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

TSB-13-42A-002

STRUCTURE

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

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mitsubishi Mighty Max by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998000
1996000
1995300
1994400
1993000
1992900
1991101032.4
1990710
1989210
1988910
1987410
1986Viewing710
1985200
1983000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.