The Mitsubishi Hood Settlement Paid Lawyers $1.75 Million. Owners Got Another Hood

The Recall That Started It

In December 2021, Mitsubishi issued a recall for the 2022 Outlander due to hoods fluttering at higher speeds. The root cause was the lack of reinforcements at the trailing edge of the panel. As the vehicle picks up speed, air being sucked into the engine bay flutters the hood, increasing the risk of it opening while in motion.

The solution was to replace the hood with one that included extra reinforcement in the form of a pair of head bolts at the latch. A new weather strip was also included in the recall fix. However, affected customers were not happy with Mitsubishi's solution.

The Lawsuit

Some affected customers claimed that the hoods still fluttered at speed. At the same time, there were those who claimed that the replacement hoods they received did not match the color of the vehicle. Per the class-action lawsuit, the fix "did not entirely eliminate the Hood Defect."

The affected owners have also mentioned that their Outlanders have taken a significant hit in fuel economy due to the turbulence under the hood. Mitsubishi has since denied that the panels are defective. Years after the class-action suit was launched, a settlement has been reached, although it seems that those who filed it won't be getting much out of it.

The Settlement

For all the trouble, the owners will be getting another hood replacement if the problem persists. And if you were expecting more 'reparations' of sorts, that's basically what the plaintiffs got.

That said, Mitsubishi is giving affected customers a warranty extension for the second hood replacement. Per Car Complaints, the warranty extension is valid for 18 months if the hood was replaced within the last 18 months. For those with hoods replaced over 18 months ago, the warranty is valid for six months.

The Real Winners

After all that, some of the plaintiffs will receive $5,000 each, while others will get that amount collectively. Granted, the repair is free, but surely, representation costs were much more than that.

Speaking of which, it's the lawyers who get the big payout here. According to the settlement, the lawyers who represented the plaintiffs will receive a whopping $1,750,000, presumably collectively. But before all that money is handed out, a fairness hearing will be held on August 3, 2026.

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