RoadVitals

1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 17, 2013

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 · filed Feb 3, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 3, 2005

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 · filed Aug 8, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Oct 22, 1996

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

NHTSA ID 960510 · filed Feb 23, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Apr 18, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .