Mitsubishi MIGHTY MAX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
107,281 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 1995 model years. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 42 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.4% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 3; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Tires: 2
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 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 36 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 | 18 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
1995: 18; 1996: 3; 2000: 3; 2001: 5; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 2; 2008: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 882413 · 2001-03-07 (March 7, 2001)
VEHICLE STALLED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER FOUND COMPUTER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK IDLE SPEED CONTROL FAILED, ELECTRICAL ENGINE CONTROL MODULE UNABLE TO CONTROL, IT BURNED ITSELF UP. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563558 · 2001-10-03 (October 3, 2001)
THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT DOWN WITH NO PRIOR WARNING, THE COIL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED (35000) AND LAST MONTH IT FAILED AGAIN, AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 3 DAYS THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 981103 · 1996-03-22 (March 22, 1996)
VEHICLE LEAKES GAS FROM THE GAS TANK. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 981103 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115283 · 2005-08-26 (August 26, 2005)
WHILE 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115283 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758895 · 2002-03-04 (March 4, 2002)
THIS PART HAS BROKEN PROBABLY MORE THAN SIX TIMES. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES, THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC RATHER THAN THE DEALER, THINKING THAT THIS WAS JUST A SMALL PROBLEM. AFTER TWO VISITS TO THE SAME MECHANIC, THE TRUCK WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FIRST TIME AT THE DEALER (DOBBS BROS. MITSUBISHI-MEMPHIS), I WAS TOLD THAT THE BALANCE SHAFT WAS OUT OF BALANCE. $715.78 LATER (THIS PART IS NOW UNDER A ONE YEAR/12,000 MILE WARRANTY), THE SHAFT FORK BREAKS AGAIN. THIS TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A PART FAILURE. 4000 MILES LATER, IT B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079568 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE PEDAL AND IT TRAVELED TO FLOOR. THE CONSUMER DOWN SHIFTED FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. *AK THE ABS HAD RUSTED IN THE AREA WHERE THE LINES RAN BETWEEN THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND THE EXHAUST PIPE/MUFFLER. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 83,562 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079568 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
1985: 0; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 1; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1991: 1; 1992: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0