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1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
9Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19857
19864
19879
19882
19897
199010
1991
Compare all Mighty Max years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
7Engine And Engine Cooling
1Tires
1

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: 1 of 9 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

9 reports
131,000 miles · Mar 29, 2018
Seat Belts

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 …

Read full complaint

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 ODI #11082058

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1997
Tires

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

NHTSA ODI #526616

Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1996
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #508710

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 1996
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #801200

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. *DH

NHTSA ODI #506510

Mileage unknown · May 9, 1995
Seat Belts

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 ODI #965128

Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1995
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #961650

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1995
Seat Belts

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN. TT

NHTSA ODI #960588

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1995
Seat Belts

BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH. TT

NHTSA ODI #960309

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.