Mitsubishi Calls Back Over 108,000 Outlanders as Falling Liftgate Poses Hidden Danger

WASHINGTON D.C., April 24, 2026 — What should be one of the most routine moments of car ownership — opening the boot to unload groceries or load luggage — has become a potential hazard for tens of thousands of American drivers. Mitsubishi Motors is recalling 108,046 vehicles in the United States after regulators identified a defect that could cause the rear liftgate to slam shut without warning, raising the risk of serious injury.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed the recall on Friday, identifying the affected vehicles as certain Outlander and Outlander PHEV hybrid SUVs — Mitsubishi’s best-selling nameplate in the North American market. The recall covers 2014–2020 Outlander models and 2018–2022 Outlander plug-in hybrids sold or registered across 26 states and the District of Columbia, primarily in cold-weather regions where roads are treated heavily with salt during winter months.

The culprit is corrosion. The liftgate on affected vehicles is held open by a pair of pressurised gas spring cylinders — components that counterbalance the weight of the heavy rear hatch. Over time, road salt mixes with ambient moisture and accumulates within the dust caps of these cylinders, accelerating corrosion of the steel components. As the corrosion deepens, the cylinders lose pressure — and a liftgate that no longer has adequate support can fall unexpectedly. In more severe cases, the cylinders can rupture entirely, releasing pressurised gas in a potentially dangerous burst.

The concern was first flagged not in the United States, but in Canada. Following a Complaint Detail Report from Transport Canada and multiple field reports from Canadian drivers, Mitsubishi began investigating the issue in October 2023. While Mitsubishi Motors North America had received only a small number of owner questionnaires at the time, the company and regulators agreed that the risk warranted a full recall across all salt-belt states — a precautionary move that now covers more than 108,000 vehicles.

The fix is straightforward. Dealers will replace both the left and right liftgate gas springs with redesigned components at no cost to owners. Crucially, the replacement parts feature an anti-corrosion coating — a meaningful upgrade over the heat-shrink resin tube used in the original cylinders — designed to prevent the same failure from recurring. Owners who have already paid out-of-pocket to replace failed cylinders may be eligible for reimbursement, provided they can submit proof of payment and the original repair invoice.

Customer notification letters are scheduled to be mailed no later than October 6, 2026. In the meantime, NHTSA is urging affected owners to exercise extreme caution when loading or unloading their vehicles. Those concerned about their vehicle can reach Mitsubishi’s customer service line or check their VIN against the NHTSA recall database to confirm whether their SUV is included in the affected population. The NHTSA recall identification number is 25V507000; Mitsubishi has designated it internally as SR-25-002.

For a brand that has leaned heavily on the Outlander to anchor its recovery in the American market — the model accounted for the bulk of Mitsubishi’s U.S. sales in 2025 — the recall is an unwelcome headline. But the proactive response, driven by Canadian warnings before U.S. injuries occurred, suggests the automaker is prioritising safety over optics.

No injuries related to the defect have been reported in the United States. Mitsubishi and NHTSA are determined to keep it that way.