1986 Mitsubishi MIGHTY MAX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine: 1; Equipment: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 7 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 1999: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10031058 · 2003-08-08 (August 8, 2003)
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 SERV…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108507 · 2005-02-03 (February 3, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10498419 · 2013-02-17 (February 17, 2013)
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 INFERI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10498419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 705747 · 1999-04-18 (April 18, 1999)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 705747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 803869 · 1996-10-22 (October 22, 1996)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 803869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 958411 · 1995-01-09 (January 9, 1995)
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM; THERE IS BLACK SMOKE FUMES COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PURCHASE TRUCK USED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960510 · 1995-02-23 (February 23, 1995)
[phone removed]H) DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEATBELT HARNESS WILL NOT STAY FASTEN INTO LATCH MECHANISM. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960510 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V103004 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1995-05-24 (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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 803869OWNER 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 | 375.0%ODI 961016DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT FASTEN FOR USE DUE TO BROKEN PIECES INSIDE LATCH FASTENER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT | 555.6%ODI 801200OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HAVE PARTS UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. RECALL#95V103004.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 960833DRIVER SIDE BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND SO MIDDLE SEAT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH. TT | 220.0% | 111.1%ODI 751559THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE BUCKLE (WHERE THE LAP/SHOULDER BELT LOOPS THROUGH) HAS BECOME BRITTLE, AND CRACKED ON ALL THREE BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. SAFETY HAZARD. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 966189DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELTS ARE NOT LOCKING. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 440.0%ODI 816899CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH THE COMPUTER SHUT DOWN, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL .THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANIUFACTURER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 220.0%ODI 831607ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM . DEALER STATED THAT THIS DEFECT ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY A DEFECT WITHIN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 150.0%ODI 10069928THIS VEHICLE IS A 1985 MITSIBISHI D-50 DIESEL PICKUP.EVERY THING HAS WORKED FINE UNTIL OCTOBER WHEN THE ENGINE TEMP OVERHEATED AND I BEGAN TO LOSE COOLANT OUT OF THE EXPANSION TANK. NOTED ALSO THAT THE TEMPRATURE GUAGE DID NOT READ HIGH . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MITSIBISHI OF SAN DIEGO FOR EVALUATION OF OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL AS THIS,AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WASTE ANY MONEY ON IT BECAUSE THE HEAD WOULD CRACK GUARANTEED AT 50,000 MILES . | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10115283WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE TO COAST OFF THE RAMP. CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND ENGINE WAS DRIPPING GAS. FUEL INJECTOR WOULD NOT CUT OFF, WHICH FLOODED THE ENGINE. *AK THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND THAT THE MAIN CONTROL MODULE FAILED WHICH CAUSED ABOUT 1 GALLON OF GAS TO BE SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE OIL. THERE WAS GAS ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND A LARGE POLL OF GAS UNDER THE CAR. *NM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 342.9%ODI 1003105886 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 SERV… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 899173CLUTCH WILL EASILY BREAK. IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 CLUTCH BROKE , AND IN APRIL 2001 CLUTCH BROKE AGAIN. DEALER WAS NO LONGER WILLING TO REPAIR CLUTCH. *AK | 222.2%ODI 757659SHAFT AND FORK PIECE BROKE IN HALF. THIS HAS OCCURED 3 TIMES, 1998,1999 AND CURRENT. ONCE WITH THE ORIGINAL PART AND TWICE WITH THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. IT IS A HAZARD WHEN DRIVING IN MOTION. YOU'RE JOLTED WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE WHEN IT BREAKS WITHOUT NOTICE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED. MAY CAUSE CAR FOLLOWING IN REAR TO BACK END VEHICLE AND CREATE AN ACCIDENT.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 508710PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MECHAMISM FAILED. PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. | 150.0%ODI 515556RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED BY DEALERSHIP DUE TO CUSTOMER REFUSAL TO PAY FOR ADDITIONAL WORK OUTSIDE OF RECALL. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Tires | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 110.0%ODI 10231096 · 80,000 miTIRE TREADS ARE SEPARATING/CRACKING IN BETWEEN THE TREADS. NOT A FAILURE YET, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS NORMAL OR SAFE, AND JUST WANT IT TO BE KNOWN IN CASE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10103383 · 154,000 miCONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, AND WHEN TURNING, VEHICLE WENT ONTO THE SHOULDER. THEN, CONSUMER PUT IT BACK ON THE ROAD. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND IT WENT ONTO THE OTHER SIDE, AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER ON ITS ROOF. TWO FRONT TIRES CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1994: 2 complaints · 1995: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | Engine | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 10108507DEVELOPING 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. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Equipment | 1ODI 10108507DEVELOPING 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. | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.