2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor: engine stalls while driving

Filed Dec 7, 2011 · Engine · 68,700 miles · FL

Blown engine on a well maintained, single owner 2004 mitsubishi endeavor with under 70,000 miles. At 55mph and without any prior warning (e.g. No warning lights on dash or changes in dashboard gauges), the car made an extremely loud noise (almost high revving like), became difficult to steer and rapidly was losing power. The battery light came on followed by the "service engine soon" and while the car would turn over and start the noise became louder and the car would stall out. After being towed to the garage, the car would not start at all and I was informed that the engine was blown. My mechanic also noticed that my driver side floor mat was soaked which I had actually noticed 2 weeks prior when was cleaning my car but had thought that I had accidentally gotten it wet during the washing process. Given that we have had no rain since then nor had I washed the car since 2 weeks prior, it was clear that this was not an issue of getting it wet. My mechanic then said that of the 6 2004/2005 endeavors that he has repaired in the past year, he had seen the same issue and while some resolved with the unblocking of some line that had to do with the AC he also noted that the others required a much more extensive and costly repair due to the heating element which could cause the engine issue. He also noted that each of the endeavors with the soaked driver side mat issue had also lost their radios. Ironically my radio had just gone out the week prior (it comes on as if it is working but no sound out of the speakers) & I had made an appt with mitsubishi to resolve. The more I read online the more I see the same issues that I and my mechanic have noted therefore it seems like there is clearly a very costly pattern of problems with this particular line/year of mits vehicles. Given that I bought my car new in jan 2005 and serviced it accordingly, this issue seems suspect.

Filed Mar 12, 2008 · Engine · 59,675 miles · IL

We noticed that the engine was smelling hot, but no warning lights were on, so we made an appointment with a mitsubishi dealer, while driving it into the shop it began to overheat. After stopping several times to cool off the engine we made it to the dealer only for the car to just then get a check engine light on and stall completely out. We then found out that it was a hole in the radiator and was not covered under the power train warranty. We could not afford the 630 dollars that they wanted to charge us so we decided to have a known mechanic do the work. When the radiator was pulled out we found that since the air conditioning and coolant was behind the radiator it caused rubbing on the bottom of the radiator causing a small pin hole to be rubbed into it. We are working on having it repaired with a licensed radiator shop and replacing. The issue with us is that if the air conditioning continues to rub it will cause more holes and more problems.

Filed Dec 26, 2005 · Engine, Transmission · 28,000 miles · WA

I purchased a 2004 mitsubishi endeavor from dave smith motors in september, 2005. It has been in the shop for repairs 6 times. Once they replaced a falsely sealed front windshield, twice they repaired the heater core, and once they repaired the drive line. The 2 other visits were for initial inspection and estimate . Now it smells like burning electric wires and it is stalling while in motion. This car is unreliable and has been under repair for weeks! I am afraid to drive it because I never know when it is going to break down.

Filed Jan 26, 2005 · Engine · 9,591 miles · AZ

Early on a saturday morning, I was driving on a relatively traffic free l.a. Freeway. I happened to look down and notice the check engine light on and the temp gauge pegged. There was no other indication of a problem. Fortunately I was able to get off the freeway before the car stalled. Upon inspection a small hole was found in the front of the radiator. The problem seems to be a large grill opening with no screen or other protection. Normally the radiator is protected by the AC cooler. But in the case of the endeavor, an inch of cheap fragile aluminum radiator is left exposed to even the slightest of road debris. Since the stopping of a vehicle on a crowded freeway could result in a serious accident this needs to be corrected by the manufacturer. Radiator was replaced at customer?s expense. *jb

Filed Jun 7, 2004 · Engine · 8,000 miles · OH

Car was traveling at 70 MPH on highway-check engine light came on and within minutes car decelerated and stalled in middle lane right before major access ramp with heavy traffic flow. Car completely stalled . Unable to get over to shoulder due to traffic. There was definitely a potential for injury,collision from behind etc. Radiator busted,plugs replaced. Now engine heads have been dissembled and in the process of being replaced. Car has been out of owners possession for 2weeks.