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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2004 Mitsubishi EndeavorRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 182 owner complaints for the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor. Most complaints involve structure (59) and engine and engine cooling (22). The EPA rates it 17–18 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
17–18mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Feb 2010
Owner complaints
182
Top: structure
Fuel cost / yr
$4,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Fuel system

Free remedy

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 ENDEAVOR VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WASHINGTON D.C. COLD STATES INCLUDE NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, COLORADO, WYOMING, MONTANA, IDAHO, WASHINGTON, OREGON, AND UTAH. ADJOINING STATES INCLUDE ARKANSAS, TENNESSEE, AND NORTH CAROLINA. IN SEVERE CORROSIVE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE ROAD SALTS ARE FREQUENTLY USED IN WINTER VEHICLES MAY BE EXPOSED TO ROAD DEBRIS (MUD) MIXED WITH ROAD SALT. THIS MATERIAL CAN BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN A REINFORCING BRACKET AND THE FUEL FILLER PIPE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING CORROSION. OVER TIME, CORROSION COULD CREATE A LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER PIPE THAT COULD RESULT IN A FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN FUELING THE VEHICLE.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Feb 25, 2010NHTSA 10V065000

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 120,000 MY 2004-2006 ENDEAVOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING VEHICLE USE, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE (WHICH IS A COMPONENT OF THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM) MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCKING CAM TO FALL FORWARD AND ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.

Electrical systemReported Mar 26, 2008NHTSA 08V139000

Parking brake

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL CABLE LOCK NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION. THE LOCK NUT MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, WHICH WILL REDUCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PARKING BRAKE.

Parking brakeReported Mar 2, 2005NHTSA 05V069000
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

182 complaints filed with NHTSA · Aug 2003 – Sep 2026
  1. Structure59
  2. Engine and engine cooling22
  3. Power train17
  4. Visibility16
  5. Electrical system15
  6. Equipment15
  7. Air bags13
  8. Fuel system, gasoline12
  9. Fuel/propulsion system9

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Endeavor model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004182
200540
200620
200721
200814
201011
20118
Crashes reported
14
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
11
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Structure

59 reports1 crash
“THE CAR HAS BEEN ACCUMULATING FLUID ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE. USURE OF WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS, WE HAVE BEEN ABSORBING THE WATER AND AIRING OUT THE CAR. MOLD HAS ACCUMULATED AS WELL (BLACK MOLD) AND NOW I KNOW WHY I'VE HAD REPEATED RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, INCLUDING PNEUMONIA THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. RUST IS ALSO FORMING DUE TO THE CONSTANT HUMIDITY LEVELS INSIDE THE CAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO BE RUSTING AS WELL AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE CHAIR FLOOR MOUNT. I CANNOT SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING, AS IT IS COVERED BY THE PANELS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES THAT DUE TO THE LIQUID ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE, MY FOOT HAS SLIPPED WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE WHICH HAS LED TO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. AS I CANNOT SEE THE FLOOR ITSELF (DUE TO THE CARPETING), I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS RUSTING OUT AS WELL. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A DEALER YET, SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS... I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE RAIN WAS GETTING INTO THE CAR SOMEHOW. WELL, SINCE IT HASN'T RAINED IN OVER ONE WEEK, AND THE PUDDLE IN THE CAR WAS WORSE THAN EVER BEFORE, I SUSPECTED THE A/C SYSTEM. I WENT ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND YET THERE IS NO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2017Electrical system, Structure, Service brakesODI 10995423

Engine and engine cooling

22 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE A/C DRAIN TUBE LEAKS AND CAUSES WATER TO POOL UP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD UNDERNEATH THE CARPETING. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT TWO TIMES AND ALL THEY CAN DO IS BLOW THE TUBE OUT, WHICH ONLY TEMPORARILY FIXES THE PROBLEM. IT IS RECOMMENDED TO HAVE THE DASH REMOVED IN ORDER TO GET TO THE BOX WHERE THE DEBRIS IS LOCATED TO REPAIR THE SEAL. I DON'T HAVE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO HAVE THIS DONE, NOR CAN I DO WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS! THIS SHOULD BE MADE A RECALL BECAUSE IT BECOMES NOT ONLY A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT ALSO A HEALTH HAZARD. THE WATER MAKES THE FLOORBOARD WET, CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO FOG UP ON THE INSIDE AND CAUSES THE FLOORING UNDER THE CARPETING TO POSSIBLY BECOME CORRODED. PLUS, IT CAUSES MOLD TO GROW WHICH MAKES MY ALLERGIES FLAIR UP. SO, MITSUBISHI IF YOU READ THIS, PLEASE CONSIDER RECALLING ALL ENDEAVORS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2013Engine and engine cooling, StructureODI 10549000

Power train

17 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR FROM DRIVE TO NETURAL TO DRIVE WHILE BOTH LIGHTS ARE SHOWING THE CAR IS IN THAT GEAR . WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE WENT BACK INTO DRIVE ,AND I HAD TO DRIVE HIW AT A VERY LOW SPEED TO MAKE IT HOME.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2020Power trainODI 11331883
All 2004 Endeavor problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S4)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Endeavor
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP · Front-Wheel Drive
152118$4,200494
Endeavor
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
152017$4,400523
  • Endeavor
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP
    15 city · 21 hwy · $4,200/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Endeavor
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L, SOHC, CMODE CLKUP
    15 city · 20 hwy · $4,400/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor as of Nov 12, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 1224
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2004 Endeavor questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor problems?

Owners filed 182 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (59), engine and engine cooling (22), power train (17). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor get?

The EPA rates the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor at 17–18 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026