Hatchback/liftgate problems of the 2007 Toyota Matrix

I work out of a 2007 Toyota Matrix. The hatchback lid is used quite often. The lid has been going up slower and less high over the past few months. This week I opened the lid and the gas struts failed. I could have had my head taken off if I was leaning inside the vehicle. Is it normal for the struts to fail so quickly? shouldn't there be a safety to keep it from falling on someone? my dealer said he never had this complaint before but I have a 2006 Toyota sienna that had a recall of it's power gas struts due to premature failure.