RoadVitals

1988 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.
9
Latest Mar 29, 2018
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and tires & wheels 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

  • Seat belts777.8%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Tires & wheels111.1%

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
95V103004

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

View all 9
Seat belts
Filed Mar 29, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE DEFECTIVE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE THE TONGUE FROM THE BUCKLE OF THE SEAT BELT, THE TONGUE SEIZED IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WESTGATE MITSUBISHI (4809 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616, (919) 890-5500) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

NHTSA ID
11082058
Incident
Jul 7, 2017
Mileage
131,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 3, 1997

ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED DUE TO BUBBLES IN THE TREA/BELTS.

NHTSA ID
526616
Incident
Oct 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Sep 13, 1996

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MECHAMISM FAILED. PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.

NHTSA ID
508710
Incident
Jul 6, 1992
Seat belts
Filed Aug 22, 1996

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HAVE PARTS UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. RECALL#95V103004.*AK

NHTSA ID
801200
Engine
Filed Jul 15, 1996

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. *DH

NHTSA ID
506510
Incident
Jun 28, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 9, 1995

THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON BROKE THERE IS PLASTIC PIECE INSIDE SO IT WILL NOT LATCH THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEN. TT

NHTSA ID
965128
Incident
Oct 1, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Mar 10, 1995

THE DRIVERS SEATBELT NO LONGER BUCKLES. WHEN CLIP IS PUT INTO END OF BUCKLE IT POPS BACK OUT. TT

NHTSA ID
961650
Incident
Feb 7, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Feb 24, 1995

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN. TT

NHTSA ID
960588

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—
1988Viewing910—
1987410—
1986710—
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.