MitsubishiEndeavor20043.8L/mitsubishi/endeavor/2004/3-8l/

2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor — 3.8L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Endeavor 3.8L.

Body SUVEngine 3.8LTransmission Automatic (S4)

The 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor 3.8L is an SUV equipped with a 3.8L engine and Automatic (S4) transmission that achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 15/21/18 mpg. Across the 2004-2011 years covered, this specific year marks the peak of reported issues with 181 total owner complaints and 6 recalls, with Structure identified as the top complaint area. This places the 2004 variant at the highest point of reliability issues for the range, standing in direct contrast to the 2011 model year which recorded the lowest complaint count of 7.

Model year20112010200920082007200620052004

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/21/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 550 CCA battery, OE oil filter MZ690072. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 550 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire size4WD:P225-75R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterMZ690072
Engine air filterMR571396
Fuel filterMN176269
Spark plugMN163236
Front wiper blades8250A174 alt MZ693021
Serpentine beltMN187016 alt MN187015
ThermostatMD350415

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S4)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length190.9 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase107.9 in
Curb weight5249 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent published road-test results.

7.6–8.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.60 sec — 2004 Limited
215 hpHorsepower (as tested)
250 lb-ftTorque (as tested)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2004Limited 3.8L V67.60 sec16.20 sec215 hpAWD
2004Limited 3.8L V67.70 sec16.10 sec215 hpAWD
2004XLS 3.8L V68.40 sec16.20 sec215 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.3
Automatic Transmission FluidMitsubishi Diamond Queen SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.9
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 4
Power Steering FluidGenuine Mitsubishi PS fluid
Power Steering FluidUse Mitsubishi PS fluid

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug Gap0.028-0.031 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.06-1.15 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.0 L
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance550 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature187-193 °F
Engine Compression162-225 psi
Engine Oil Pressure4.3 psi @ Idle, 43-100 psi @ 3500 rpm psi
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle74 ft-lbs / 45 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0012 in / 0.0031 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.024 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.024 in / 0.394 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
At 105,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor represents the first model year of its generation and exhibits the highest federal complaint volume (181) by a significant margin, nearly five times that of the 2005 model and over nine times the 2006 figure. Recalls remained steady at six for both 2004 and 2005 before tapering to five in 2006, while investigations dropped from two in 2004 to one in subsequent years, suggesting early production issues were addressed through service bulletins (116 TSBs in 2004) and corrective actions. Structural complaints (42) dominate the 2004 data, alongside notable concerns in engine cooling, powertrain, and air bags, though the data does not specify root causes. The sharp decline in complaints after 2004 implies Mitsubishi resolved many first-year teething problems, but the elevated recall count for 2004-2005 underscores potential reliability risks. With crash-related complaints at 14 and fire complaints at 3, this year sits at the riskiest point in the generation’s arc. **Takeaway: The 2004 Endeavor is the least advisable model year to purchase due to its disproportionately high complaint rate and early-production uncertainties.**

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
116
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
181
Owner complaints
14 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 181 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure42
Engine & Engine Cooling14
Power Train11
Air Bags11
Fuel System, Gasoline11
Equipment10
Visibility7
Fuel/Propulsion System6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V197000Trailer HitchesReported 26/04/2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH DEALER-INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH WIRING HARNESS AND CONTROL MODULE. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE CAN OVERHEAT. Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING REQUESTED TO STOP USING THE HARNESS UNTIL A NEWLY DESIGNED REPLACEMENT IS PROVIDED AND CAN BE INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 28, 2004. OWNERS…

04V428000Equipment:Other:LabelsReported 01/09/2004

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE BILINGUAL ENGLISH/SPANISH REMOVABLE AIR BAG WARNING LABELS AFFIXED TO THE… Remedy: MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN WILL MAIL A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION LETTER CONTAINING A WRITTEN DESCRIPTION AND A GRAPHIC OF THE BI-LINGUAL DASHBOARD AIR BAG WARNING LABEL. IN ADDITION, ALL…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 116 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DEALER LETTER2023-07-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-23-00-0042023-04-24StructureThis Technical Service Bulletin provides instructions and material safety data sheets for…
TSB-23-00-0012023-04-24EquipmentThis Technical Service Bulletin reviews the regulations that require a label showing the…
DEALER LETTER2023-04-21EquipmentThis is a Dealer Letter sent to dealers informing that Mitsubishi Technical Training has…
TSB-22-54-0032022-04-07Exterior LightingThis Technical Service Bulletin was sent to dealers to explain the difference between…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Endeavor. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2004 Endeavor have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 3.8L get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.