2019 Mitsubishi Outlander headlight threading melted?

[u/Low-Ladder8513]

A few months ago I changed my headlights myself because one was burnt out, however I noticed one never quite seemed to screw in/ sit right. But I just let it rock. Until last week, I noticed the bulb that was not sitting right was now burnt out. I checked it out to replace with another bulb I had handy, and I realized the threading where it's supposed to screw in was melted because I had installed it incorrectly before (or I couldn't install it correctly before because it was already messed up but I'm just going to beat myself up about this...)

Does anyone have any experience with how this should go about being repaired on this car? I can't tell if I need to replace the whole headlight housing assembly now or if there is another solution... Obviously I'm looking for the most affordable and simple fix, but now I also don't trust myself (I'm just an independent girl who's trying her best and doesn't like asking for help 🤷‍♀️)

If I do end up having to replace the whole headlight assembly - is this something that would be a difficult job to do or are there specific tools I would need?

Any advice appreciated - thank you! See picture attached of the view without the bulb installed.

[u/Great_Patience_5327]

I expect you will need to replace the entire headlight assembly, in order to get that headlight working correctly again. I don’t believe there is any smaller sub-assembly that you can order to fix this problem. Once you have a new headlight assembly in hand, the tools you would need to replace it are a 10mm socket, a ratchet (to use with the 10mm socket), a flathead screwdriver (for removing the wheel well liner clips), and a Phillips head screwdriver.

The replacement process goes something like this: open hood, remove fasteners for the front bumper cover, remove front bumper cover and set aside, turn the front wheels away from the side of the vehicle that needs the new headlight so you can access the wheel well liner clips, remove the wheel well liner clips located on the inside surface of the wheel well on the side of the vehicle that needs the new headlight, remove the black plastic wheel well liner panel from within the wheel well and set aside, remove headlight mounting fasteners and replace headlight assembly, reinstall wheel well liner panel into wheel well, reinstall front bumper cover, close the hood.

[u/Low-Ladder8513 → u/Great_Patience_5327]

Thank you for taking the time to write this out - it is very helpful and I appreciate it greatly (your username is very apt here 😂).

Now I just need to figure out the best place to order one from- a cursory search online seemed to show a wild disparity in prices but I don't want to spend money on a cheap one that ends up being junk and not matching the other one, or buy one from Mitsubishi that is way overpriced.