Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 5 | 13% |
| Structure | 4 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Air bags | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle on two occasions, gasoline was leaking under the driver’s rear, underneath the fuel door, onto the ground. The contact stat
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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. T
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 SHOW
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AND AS I SPED UP THE VEHICLE KEPT FISH TAILING IT FELT LIKE IT WAS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE . SO I WENT STRAIGHT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SHOWED ME THE RUST OF THE REAR SUBFRAME OF TH
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY BAD VIBRATION AND SEVERE WINING SOUND, NOT SURE WHAT IT IS BUT WE DONT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. NEW TIRES , ROTORS, AND BREAKS WERE INSTALLED AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. IT USUALLY STARTS VIBRATION AT
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN PLUG DOESN'T DRAIN AND DRIVER SIDE FLOOR GETS VERY WET CAUSING DAMAGED FLOOR AND MOLDY SMELL AFTER A WHILE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
WET FLOOR BOARD ON DRIVERS SIDE DUE TO A LEAKING HVAC. MAY CAUSE SLIPPERY FEET WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE. ALSO CAUSING MILDEW AND OR RUST. SEEN LOTS AND LOTS OF DISCUSSION ON NET ABOUT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. AND THEY EVEN HAV
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2005 Mitsubishi Endeavor. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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 MET
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE LEFT REAR FUEL TANK STRAP MOUNTING BRACKET HAS SPLITTING BEYOND A SPECIFIC LIMIT. VEHICLES WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE SPLITTING WILL BE REPAIRED USING A REINFORCEMENT
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, PENNS
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE WITH A NEW IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-0037.
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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT PLACED INTO THE "PARK" POSITION AND THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A SLOPE, THUS RAISING THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE LOCK NUT, IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-800-222-5500.
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 GEA
Risk: IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE REPORTED CONDITION. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON JULY 7, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MITSUBISHI AT 1-888-648-7820.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 81 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 63 | average |
| Performance | 69 | good |
| Efficiency | 30 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 5 of them (13%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.