2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 Endeavor most often describe water collecting on the driver-side floorboard, which many attribute to the air-conditioning drain, along with paint fading on the hood and roof. Fuel filler pipe corrosion and windshield/window issues also come up, generally at higher mileages.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Water on driver-side floorboard (A/C drain/leak)

   • 55 complaints (30%)
   • median 85,456 mi at 7.3 yrs old (37 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2005–2017

   Owners describe the driver-side carpet and floor mat becoming soaked, sometimes after using the air conditioning and sometimes after rain, with water pooling under the dash and pedals. Complaints mention musty odors and mold growth, and several report the dealer identified a clogged A/C drain or a failed seal between the A/C box and firewall. Some describe the repair being charged to them, while others say the dealer called it a known condition for this model. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 20,000 to over 170,000 miles, often noticed in warm months when the A/C is in use.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the driver-side carpet and under-mat for dampness or a musty smell, and ask whether the A/C drain has been cleaned or the seal replaced. Running the A/C before inspecting can make a slow leak easier to spot.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I noticed that the floor on the driver side of my Mitsubishi Endeavor 2004, bought in the same year, was soaking wet and couldn't understand why since it was not raining. My son noticed that the floor gets soaking wet whenever he or I use the car. I suspect that it might be the aircon leaking but didn't bring it to the mechanic because I was scared of the expense which I cannot afford now that we're on fixed income. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10523201, filed 2013-07, 90,000 miles

   “I own a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor. The blower went out about 2 years ago. I had the blower motor replaced ($400.00) in january 2010 by expert tire (no Mitsubishi dealer nearby). About 5 months later, the fan stopped blowing again intermittently. I would have to turn the A/C completely off for a day and then it would start working again. Also, it is leaking into the driver side floorboard. Now, I have a musty smell anytime I get in the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10344051, filed 2010-07, 80,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel filler pipe corrosion and fuel leaks

   • 22 complaints (12%)
   • median 135,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Complaints describe fuel leaking onto the ground while filling the tank, traced to a corroded or rotted metal filler pipe or neck. Some owners report the check engine light coming on with small-evap-leak codes, and several note their vehicle was not covered by the filler pipe recall or that a dealer found no problem. Mostly reported well past 100,000 miles, with a few instances in the 78,000 to 84,000 mile range.

   Recall 10V065000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 10V065000 was performed and whether the filler pipe has been replaced; look for rust around the filler neck and any fuel smell after refueling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car would not start after pumping fuel in - took to mechanic; he said battery fine few days later, car would not start after pumping fuel in - took to mechanic; he said battery bad. I replaced battery. Few days later, car would not start after pumping fuel in - took to mechanic; he said new battery fine. Since car did not start 3 times in a row after pumping gas, and I needed a jump every time, I had mechanic do a diagnostic. He said the issue was tied to a recall bulletin. 10v065000 - filler pipe and cap. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11142274, filed 2018-10, 173,000 miles

   “2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor pipe that leads from the place where you put in fuel to the fuel tank is made of metal and has rotted away. A hole has been found and when gas is put into the tank it leaks out all over the ground every time gas is put into the tank. It does this so severely, it almost doesn't make it into the tank and cannot fill up the entire tank. What has been done to correct the problem, is we ordered a new replacement hose (which is also metal so it will eventually rot out) and had it replaced. This is very expensive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10292747, filed 2009-11, 78,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in crashes

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Several complaints describe collisions, including rollovers and rear impacts, in which the front airbags did not deploy. Owners report injuries and vehicles being declared total losses, and note that the manufacturer referred them elsewhere when contacted. Reported between roughly 45,000 and 116,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask for any history of airbag system diagnostics or warning lights, and have the airbag system scanned for stored fault codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My husband was driving on rt 80 it was raining out he was cut off by another vehicle. He lost control of the truck and hit every side of the truck into the dividers. The airbags never deployed. The truck was a total loss. No other vehicle was involved and there is an accident report.”

   NHTSA complaint #10250916, filed 2008-12, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor. The contact stated that the vehicle was involved in a roll over crash and none of the front air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The driver suffered minor contusions, cuts on his hands, his head hit the window and as a result he became unconscious. The vehicle was declared destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred her to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 116,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10402884, filed 2011-05, 116,000 miles
4. 4
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Window regulators and rear glass failure

   • 11 complaints (6%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2016

   Owners describe power window regulators failing so the glass drops into the door, sometimes repeatedly on the same door. Other complaints mention the rear hatch glass shattering when the liftgate was closed or without apparent cause, and a rear wiper motor that stopped working and later smoked. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Operate every window and the rear wiper through a full cycle, and inspect the hatch glass and its hinges for chips or stress marks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am the original owner of a 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor with a few complains. Rear window regulator came apart, rear third brake light cracked in half while sitting in the sun, and now it is sitting at the dealership with transmission problem. At 20 MPH the vehicle starts shaking the front end like a bad tire. I replace the tires and the cv shafts with no relieve. Took it to the dealer and no fighting with them. They want to charge me to flush the fluid before the do any warranty work. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10289002, filed 2009-10, 46,000 miles

   “The rear wiper motor on my 04 Endeavor stopped working in sept of 2006. I was out of warranty so it was going to cost $321.00 to replace it. I didn't have the $ and since it is not a must have I did not have it fixed. On june 30th 2007 it all of a sudden started smoking. I was the worst smell and was filling up the inside of the car. I am pregnant and my 2 year old daughter was in the back seat. I called the dealership and they said that since I am out of warrenty there was nothing they could do. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10195310, filed 2007-07, 58,031 miles

Buying note. Check the driver-side floor for water damage and mold, confirm the fuel filler pipe recall was completed, and test all windows and the rear wiper. Service history for the A/C drain and filler neck is worth asking about on a vehicle of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.