AI Damage2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor filed 182 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 182
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 32% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Equipment 8% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
- Structure: 59 complaints (32% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 22 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 18 complaints (10% of all).
- Powertrain: 17 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 15 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 182 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 59 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 13 | 11 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage and vin were unavailable.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained broken ribs, lacerations to the left hand and ear, a back injury and a head injury that required medical attention. In addition, the front seat passenger sustained a head injury that required surgery and back injuries that required medical attention.
The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not hold the contact in place. The contact stated that the vehicle was destroyed and she suffered injuries to her head, neck and other parts of her body. There was a police report if needed.
Even when applying the brakes, the vehicle continued to surge. When the vehicle was placed in drive, the accelerator stuck and the vehicle lurched forward, exited the car wash, crossed a highway, hit a curb, grazed a telephone pole, proceeded into the jiffy lube into a grassy area and went back onto the highway, and…
Over a month ago, I brought my 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor in for an open federal safety recall regarding a fuel leak (NHTSA Recall 10V065000). I was sent away without a safe vehicle while parts were 'ordered.'Five days ago, the new service manager promised a callback the next day. I was ghosted.
My key is stuck in the lock position, won't go all the way back to come out.
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.
I had replaced the water pumps getting ready to replace it again and when it went out the power steering messed up I'm also having issues with the timing belt it was replaced at 112,000 miles and it was inspected at 121,000 and was okay but it snapped on me the other day the highway replacing it for the second time…
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 2,225 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 6% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Endeavor has 42 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 182, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, engine and cooling, visibility. Total complaints: 182. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (27%), windows, sunroof (12%), rust, corrosion (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor?
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 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor 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 2004 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.