Sunita Somvanshi
Mitsubishi has announced a recall of 91,697 Outlander SUVs in the United States due to a serious safety problem with the rear liftgate. The recall affects 2014-2020 Outlander and 2018-2022 Outlander PHEV (plug-in hybrid) models sold or currently registered in 27 states plus Washington D.C. where road salt is commonly used.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains that salt water can seep into the dust cap of the liftgate gas springs – the cylinders that help hold up your SUV’s rear door when loading groceries or luggage. Over time, this salty water causes the cylinder to corrode from the inside.
“The cylinder of the tailgate gas spring, which contains high pressure gas, could corrode due to salt water penetration. The high salinity of water promotes corrosion. If significant corrosion occurs over time, the wall thickness of the cylinder could be reduced, causing the gas spring to rapidly lose pressure,” explained NHTSA in their safety report. The danger is clear: your SUV’s heavy rear door could suddenly drop while you’re loading or unloading items, potentially causing injuries.
The recall specifically targets vehicles in states that use road salt during winter months. These “salt-belt” states include: Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.
Mitsubishi will notify affected owners by mail starting October 6, 2025. Dealers will replace both the left and right liftgate gas springs completely free of charge. The new springs will feature improved anti-corrosion protection to prevent the problem from happening again.
Similar Posts
If you own a Mitsubishi Outlander from the affected years, you don’t need to wait for the letter. You can check if your vehicle is included in the recall by entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on NHTSA’s recall lookup website or by calling Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820 and referencing recall number SR-25-002.
The problem was first identified after Transport Canada (Canada’s vehicle safety agency) contacted Mitsubishi in October 2023 following a complaint about a 2017 Outlander. After a second complaint arrived in October 2024 regarding a 2018 Outlander PHEV, engineering analysis confirmed severe cylinder corrosion in multiple vehicles.
This recall is separate from another recent Mitsubishi issue (SR-25-001) addressing rearview camera software issues in nearly 199,000 vehicles. That earlier recall covered 2022-2024 Outlanders and 2023-2025 Outlander PHEVs, requiring a software update to fix camera freezing problems.
Safety experts advise owners with liftgates that feel weak or drop unexpectedly to be extremely cautious and contact their dealer immediately rather than waiting for the official recall notice.
