AI Damage1990 Mitsubishi Mighty MAX: common problems
Owners of the 1990 Mitsubishi Mighty MAX filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about seat belts and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Seat belts 57% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- Seat belts: 4 complaints (57% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Consumer noticed smoke coming from the engine, and engine was dripping gas. Fuel injector would not cut off, which flooded the engine. The repair shop found that the main control module failed which caused about 1 gallon of gas to be spilled into the engine oil.
I don't know if I have an isolated problem wwith my specific truck or all owners of this vehicle are having the same prroblem. I can tell by the pricing of this component ($930.00) that they are in high demand. There must be a pattern because even the salvage yards are asking $450.00 for a salvaged unit.
While driving occupants are capable of pulling out key from ignition.
The driver side seat belt got caught around the seat control arm . Tt
Buckle on passenger side broke, allowing pieces to fall down inside buckle, result inoperative. Tt
Driver side buckle will not latch properly and so middle seat buckle will not latch. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mighty MAX has 6 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Mitsubishi Mighty MAX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: seat belts, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (29%), smoke, burning smell, fire (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 Mitsubishi Mighty MAX?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1990 Mitsubishi Mighty MAX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1990 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.