WHILE PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH THE VEHICLE OFF, MY WIFE OPENED THE REAR LIFTGATE USING THE EXTERIOR LATCH HANDLE. THE LIFTGATE RAISED TO THE OPEN POSITION AUTOMATICALLY, BUT THEN SLAMMED SHUT WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE PNEUMATIC STRUT THAT HOLDS THE LIFTGATE OPEN FAILED, THE ENTIRE WEIGHT OF THE LIFTGATE LANDED ON MY WIFE'S HEAD, WHO WAS REACHING INTO THE TRUNK TO REMOVE ITS CONTENTS.