Total Complaints
2 filings
MITSUBISHI PICKUP · model year
1988 MITSUBISHI PICKUP
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988MITSUBISHIPICKUP carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 PICKUP is power train:automatic transmission with 1 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly (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 PICKUP. 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.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050731POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES ON A 1988 MITSUBISHI, SPX WITH LESS THAN 200,000 MILES. TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN USED TO HAUL OR TOW ANYTHING, AND MOST OF THE MILES HAS BEEN INTERSTATE MILES. *NM
Mileage: 70,000
19980716CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP DUE TO THE PIN WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS NOT WELDED, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, MANUFACTURER HAS DONE NOTHING. THE PIN WAS WELDED BY THE MECHANIC, VEHICLE IS RUNNING FINE EXCEPT FOR GRINDING NOISE AFFECTED BY LOOSENED PIN. *TT
Compare 1988MITSUBISHIPICKUP to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 MITSUBISHI PICKUP have?▼
The 1988 MITSUBISHI PICKUP has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 MITSUBISHI PICKUP?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 MITSUBISHI PICKUP is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1988 MITSUBISHI PICKUP 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.