Mitsubishi Motors North America is recalling roughly 108,000 Outlander SUVs because the gas-charged struts that hold the rear liftgate open can lose pressure over time, allowing the heavy hatch to drop without warning. The falling panel poses a risk of head injuries and blunt-force trauma, particularly for children and shorter adults who may be standing beneath it while loading cargo or fastening car seats.
The recall covers certain Outlander models and was filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA’s vehicle detail page for the 2022 Outlander confirms at least one active recall tied to the liftgate strut defect. Owners can verify whether their specific vehicle is included by entering their 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number into NHTSA’s online recall lookup tool.
Note: The approximate figure of 108,000 affected vehicles and the specific model years involved have appeared in secondary news reporting but have not been independently verified against a specific NHTSA recall document or an official Mitsubishi press statement for this article. Likewise, a specific NHTSA campaign number for this action has not been confirmed through the primary federal records reviewed here. Owners should rely on the VIN lookup tool rather than on headline figures to determine whether their vehicle is covered.
What the defect involves
The rear liftgate on the affected Outlanders is supported by two gas-charged struts, one on each side of the hatch. Under normal conditions, these struts hold the liftgate in its fully raised position so drivers can access the cargo area hands-free. The recall concerns a gradual loss of nitrogen gas inside the struts, potentially caused by degraded internal seals. Once pressure drops below a certain threshold, the struts can no longer counteract the weight of the liftgate, and the panel falls.
The failure can happen with little or no advance warning. Some owners have reported that the liftgate began sagging or closing slowly before eventually dropping, while others have described a sudden collapse from the fully open position. Either scenario is dangerous for anyone standing in the liftgate’s path, especially because the hatch swings downward from above head height.
What Mitsubishi is doing
Mitsubishi has directed its authorized dealer network to inspect and, where necessary, replace the faulty liftgate struts at no cost to the vehicle owner. Under federal recall rules, the automaker bears the full expense of parts and labor. Owners should not be charged for any diagnosis or repair tied to this campaign.
Notification letters are expected to reach affected households in the coming weeks, though Mitsubishi has not publicly confirmed an exact mailing date as of May 2026. With a large number of vehicles involved, the full repair rollout is likely to stretch over several months as dealers work through scheduling, parts inventory, and owner response rates. NHTSA’s remedy tracker will update on a rolling basis as individual vehicles are serviced.
What owners should do now
Owners of Mitsubishi Outlanders who believe their vehicle may be affected should visit NHTSA’s recall lookup page and enter their VIN to confirm coverage. Those whose SUVs fall within the recall population should contact a Mitsubishi dealer promptly to schedule the free strut replacement. When calling, referencing the recall campaign number listed in the NHTSA database or in Mitsubishi’s letter will help the service department code the appointment correctly.
Until the repair is completed, a few precautions can reduce the risk of injury:
- Stand to the side, not directly beneath the liftgate, when opening or closing it.
- Open the hatch slowly and watch for any sagging, unusual resistance, or creaking.
- If the liftgate begins to close on its own, support it by hand and lower it carefully.
- Keep children away from the open liftgate until the struts have been inspected.
- If the hatch behavior is clearly abnormal, avoid using the rear liftgate entirely and drive to a dealer as soon as practical.
How to report a liftgate strut failure to NHTSA
Drivers who experience a sudden liftgate drop or who are injured as a result of the defect can file a complaint directly with NHTSA in addition to working with their dealer. Formal complaints help regulators track whether the recall remedy is effective and determine if additional action is needed. Photos, repair invoices, and medical records strengthen a filing, but even a basic written account of what happened contributes to the agency’s safety record for the vehicle.
Scheduling the repair early is worth the effort. Dealer capacity tends to tighten as more owners respond to notification letters, and parts supplies for large-scale recalls can fluctuate. Treating the appointment as a safety priority, not a convenience item, is the simplest way to keep a known mechanical defect from turning into a preventable injury.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
