Total Complaints
9 filings
MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX · model year
1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX
9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988MITSUBISHIMIGHTY MAX carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 MIGHTY MAX is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and tires (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1988 MIGHTY MAX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20180329SEAT 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 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.
Mileage: 131,000
19990305SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MECHAMISM FAILED. PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
19971103TIRES
ALL FOUR TIRES FAILED DUE TO BUBBLES IN THE TREA/BELTS.
19960822SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HAVE PARTS UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. RECALL#95V103004.*AK
19960725ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK. *DH
19950509SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
19950310SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SEATBELT NO LONGER BUCKLES. WHEN CLIP IS PUT INTO END OF BUCKLE IT POPS BACK OUT. TT
19950224SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES HAVE BROKEN. TT
19950221SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH. TT
Compare 1988MITSUBISHIMIGHTY MAX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX have?▼
The 1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and TIRES.
Is the 1988 MITSUBISHI MIGHTY MAX safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.