A federal safety action covers 108,046 Outlander and Outlander PHEV SUVs that Mitsubishi has determined are at risk of liftgate gas spring corrosion, a condition that can result in rupture or a sudden drop of the rear hatch and a heightened chance of injury.
The recall covers 2014–2020 Outlander and 2018–2022 Outlander PHEV vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both gas springs — left and right — will be swapped out by dealers at no charge to the vehicle owner. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 17, 2026.
The NHTSA safety recall report describes the defect as saltwater penetration into the dust cap of the liftgate gas spring, which causes the cylinder wall to corrode and thin over time. That corrosion can cause the pressurized cylinder to rapidly lose pressure, leading to an unexpected liftgate drop or a rupture. NHTSA has assigned the recall campaign number 26V252. Mitsubishi's internal recall number is SR-26-001.
The replacement gas springs use a steel cylinder treated with an anti-corrosion coating, replacing the heat-shrink resin tube on the recalled components. The affected vehicles are no longer in production. The gas springs were manufactured by Mito Kogyo Co., Ltd., a Japanese Tier 1 supplier.
The recall expands an earlier action, NHTSA recall 25V507, which was limited to vehicles registered in high road-salt states, sometimes called the "Salt Belt" region. After NHTSA flagged a vehicle owner complaint involving a rupture outside that region in August 2025, Mitsubishi conducted a broader investigation. That investigation, which ran from November 2025 through March 2026, identified ruptures and significant corrosion in gas springs collected from vehicles outside the Salt Belt. On April 14, 2026, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation directed its North American unit to expand the recall population.
Of the 108,046 vehicles covered, 102,815 are conventional Outlanders and 5,231 are Outlander PHEVs. Mitsubishi estimates about 1% of the vehicles in the recall population actually have the defect. The company said it is aware of 4 warranty claims and field reports for gas spring rupture in the U.S., received between November 2025 and February 2026, and is not aware of any related accidents or injuries in the U.S.
Owners can contact Mitsubishi customer service at 1-888-648-7820. Vehicle identification numbers involved in the recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov starting June 3, 2026. Owners may also reach NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.