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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2005 Mitsubishi EndeavorRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 40 owner complaints for the 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor. Most complaints involve structure (10) and electrical system (7). The EPA rates it 17–18 mpg combined.

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Combined MPG
17–18mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Feb 2010
Owner complaints
40
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

Fuel system

Free remedy

MITSUBISHI IS RECALLING 45,988 MY 2005-2007 ENDEAVOR, GALANT, ECLIPSE COUPE, AND MY 2007 ECLIPSE SPYDER VEHICLES. THE BRACKET THAT IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FORMED DURING A METAL STAMPING PROCESS. THE PROCESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE METAL TO HAVE A SPLIT IN THE AREA WHERE THE BOLT THAT HOLDS ONE OF THE TWO FUEL TANK STRAPS TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS LOCATED. IN THE EVENT THE FUEL TANK IS FULL AND THE VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A SEVERE COLLISION, THE BRACKET MAY BREAK AND ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO DROP DOWN, POSSIBLY CAUSING A FUEL LEAK.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Sep 9, 2008NHTSA 08V454000

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
See all 6 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 13, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

40 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2005 – Aug 2026
  1. Structure10
  2. Electrical system7
  3. Power train6
  4. Service brakes4
  5. Engine and engine cooling4
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  7. Air bags4
  8. Equipment3
  9. Seat belts2

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
6
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 13, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Structure

10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MITSUBISHI ENDEAVOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTENSIVE MOLD DEVELOPED DUE TO A LEAK IN THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN PLUG, WATER LEAKED ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CARPET IN THE VEHICLE WAS SOAKED. WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DUE TO THE BOTTOM OF HER SHOE BEING WET FROM THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE WATER LEAKED FROM THE DRAIN PLUG. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2018StructureODI 11120700

Electrical system

7 reports2 fires
“MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS 2006-2008 MODEL YEARS OF THE SAME CAR. THAT IS, THE HEATER CONTROLLER SIGNAL TO THE HVAC SYSTEM CODES AS U111, AND CONSEQUENTLY THE A/C WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL, BUT INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWS IT TO BE ON. THE COMPRESSOR IS NOT RECEIVING THE SIGNAL FROM THE CONTROLLER. THE DEALER SAYS THIS RECALL (NUMBER 10V514000) DOES NOT COVER 2005 CARS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2018Electrical systemODI 11093203

Power train

6 reports3 crashes
“I WAS USING AN EXIT TO MERGE INTO THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I MERGED, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE WORKING BUT NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE. A SEMI ALMOST TOTALED ME BUT THANK GOD IT MERGED THANKS TO ANOTHER DRIVER. THE ROLLED BARELY MAKING IT TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION BLEW OUT. I WANT TO MAKE THIS PERFECTLY CLEAR: I DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONDUCTED AT PROFESSIONAL SHOPS FOR ALL OIL CHANGES AND OR OTHER ISSUES RELIGIOUSLY AND THE MILES ON VEHICLE AREN'T HIGH. IN OTHER WORDS, I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS WITH NO WORKING VEHICLE TO ADD. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A BUSY HIGHWAY. NO ACCELERATION, REVERSES OR ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN PARK. THE MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THIS MODEL COMES WITH A CHEAP FILTER THAT ALLOWS ANOMALIES SUCH AS POORLY MADE MATERIAL FROM THE SUV OR OTHERS TO SLOWLY GET IN THE TRANSMISSION. AS STATED BEFORE, I REGULARLY KEEP UP MAINTENANCE TO THIS VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS HAPPENED BUT A GOOD TRANSMISSION ALL OF A SUDDEN DIED AND I TOO ALMOST LOST MY LIFE FROM A SEMI DOING 75 ON A HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 9, 2020Power trainODI 11308058
All 2005 Endeavor problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 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 13, 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 2WD
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
162118$4,200494
Endeavor 4WD
Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
152017$4,400523
  • Endeavor 2WD
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    16 city · 21 hwy · $4,200/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
  • Endeavor 4WD
    Auto (S4), 6 cyl, 3.8 L
    15 city · 20 hwy · $4,400/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 13, 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 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor as of Nov 13, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 13, 2026Vehicle 1634
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

2005 Endeavor questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 13, 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 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor problems?

Owners filed 40 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (10), electrical system (7), power train (6). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor at 17–18 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 13, 2026