Mitsubishi›Mighty Max›1988›2.6L/mitsubishi/mighty-max/1988/2-6l/

1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max — 2.6L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Mighty Max 2.6L.

Engine 2.6L

The 1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max is a compact pickup built around a 2.6L engine that calls for 4.6 quarts of oil in viscosities ranging from 20W-20 up to 20W-50, giving owners a broad operating-temperature window for what was designed as a straightforward work truck. With just nine total owner complaints on record and a single recall centered on seat belts rather than any mechanical system, this model year sits at the quiet front edge of a complaint history that, from 1990 through 1996, never rose above eleven complaints in a given year and tapered to as few as three by 1996. For a researcher, that trajectory places the 1988 Mighty Max squarely within a platform known for sustained, unremarkable reliability—exactly the kind of steady durability that makes it a dependable data point rather than a problem child in any vintage-truck analysis.

Model year1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.6 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50OEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter MZ690116. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	MZ690116
Engine air filter	MD604887 alt MD604880
Fuel filter	MB433774
Spark plug	MS851188
Front wiper blades	MB415739
Serpentine belt	MD025826 alt MB239498
Thermostat	MD972903 alt MD184011

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.6 qt of 20W-20 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 engine oil, 85W-90 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil	85W-90 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3.2 Pints,
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	ABOVE 32 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity	4.6 qt
Power Steering Fluid	Use Mitsubishi PS fluid

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Jet Valve (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 50,000 mi	Carburetor (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Air Injection System (inspect) · Air Injection System Solenoid Control Valve Air (replace) · Distributor Assembly (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Thermostatically Controlled Air Cleaner Assembly (inspect)
Every 80,000 mi	Oxygen Sensor (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Fuel Evaporative Canister (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1988 Mitsubishi Mighty Max exhibits a targeted complaint profile led by Seat Belts (7), followed by Tires (1) and Engine & Engine Cooling (1), with zero crash or fire complaints reported. While the federal record begins in 1990, the target year's minimum of 9 total complaints places it squarely within the early, higher-complaint phase of the generation, preceding a steady decline to just 3 complaints by 1996. Across the documented arc, recalls were isolated to 1990 and 1991, and as complaints dropped over time, TSBs increased significantly from 5 to 19, suggesting manufacturers progressively addressed early design flaws. Because 1988 predates this recorded timeline, it sits at the unrefined beginning of the generation's lifecycle, and the data does not specify the root cause of its notable seat belt issues. Consequently, the 1988 model is not an ideal year to buy; its early position in the generation's arc means later models offer proven refinements and significantly lower complaint volumes.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’94 ’95 ’96

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 9 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Seat Belts7

Tires1

Engine & Engine Cooling1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103004Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

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. 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
TT253	2019-11-26	Equipment	This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-19-00-008	2019-07-30	Equipment	This is a Technical Service Bulletin sent to dealers. This bulletin supersedes…
TT237	2018-02-26	Equipment	This is a service newsletter (Tech Talk) that was sent out to dealers.
TSB-13-42A-002	2013-01-29	Structure	This Technical Service Bulletin updates the door adjustment procedure in the Body Section…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mighty Max. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.6 qt Engine oil filter MZ690116 Engine air filter MD604887 Fuel filter MB433774 Spark plug MS851188

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Mighty Max 2.6L take?

4.6 qt of ABOVE 32 degrees F: 20W-20, 20W-40, 20W-50, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Mighty Max have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.