Patent attributes
An outer handle device for a vehicle door is provided in which an actuator can drive the outer handle to a pop-up position where the operating portion of the outer handle projects outward from the outer panel, wherein in a state in which the outer handle is in a pop-up position, a drive lever of the actuator is held at an operated position by holding means, a release lever is pivoted by a handle lever pivoting with the outer handle when the outer handle pivots from the pop-up position to the full stroke position, the holding of the drive lever by the holding means is released by the pivoting of the release lever, and the drive lever is forcibly returned to the initial position. This enables an outer handle to be returned to a housed position even if there is a malfunction of an actuator-side electric drive source.