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1986 Mitsubishi Mighty Max

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

7 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2013
Engine

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) EXHA…

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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 ODI #10498419

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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 ODI #10108507

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 STATE…

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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 ODI #10031058

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

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 ODI #705747

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1996
Seat Belts

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 ODI #803869

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1995
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #960510

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1995
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #958411

Official recalls

1

95V103004 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

May 24, 1995

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.