Hands-Free Liftgate Madness

[mhExped]

2018 Limited with hands-free (foot-activated) tailgate...Never opens/closes when I try; Often opens/closes when I don't (like when hooking up or unhooking a trailer); Several times has opened when I'm simply walking by 3 feet away (feet nowhere near the bottom of car).

Anyone else experiencing this? And, more importantly, anyone have service done that actually helps the hands-free tailgate behave better?

I've had it in to dealer and they shrugged their shoulders and more/less said that's just the way it is.

 

[scottdm]

There are multiple threads on this topic if you use the search feature. Here's one example... https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/hands-free-lift-gate-closing-by-itself.41228/

 

[mhExped]

Thank you. I did try searching the forums several different ways for related threads prior to posting, but came up empty.

I see from the thread you cited, I must have missed it because I was searching for "liftgate" (all one word) as a search param, not "lift gate" (two words). I'll explore that thread and return to the search function with different variations of the same words I used previously to see what else I can dig upon the topic.

I was surprised to find so little on the topic - couldn't believe I was the only one it was giving fits!

Thanks again. Appreciate it!

 

[fishrising]

TSB 19-2162 out there for mis-wiring, see bottom half of attached pic, from today.

 

[mhExped]

Had my '18 Limited into the dealer recently to take another look at this issue. According to notes, they applied steps from TSB 19-2162. Unfortunately, the tailgate still activates under the worst of circumstances (like when hooking up or disconnecting a trailer) when no action whatsoever is taken that replicates the foot-application karate kick.

Anyone else have this problem and get it resolved by a method other than TSB 19-2162?

 

[Saltwater Soul]

I still have the same problem. Drives me nuts when I am hooking up and unhooking trailers. Borders on hazardous on occasion.

 

[AKentPhoto]

Had my first false yesterday... Opened right into the bike rack. I hope no kids were near by....

 

[jastevenson]

I just disabled mine after nearly having the tailgate decapitate me a few times. Wasn’t worth it. But truly poor engineering by Ford. Other manufacturers get it right.

 

[Deadman]

Mine smoked me in the forehead when hooking up trailer first time. It works every time with my foot tho....

 

[Artie]

Mine smoked me in the forehead when hooking up trailer first time. It works every time with my foot tho....

In my face every time with the trailer.... every time.

 

[LyoddChrissmiss]

I have the same issue. Now I keep the car looked while in the garage so it doesn’t open when the kids walk past.
I disabled it, but then the regulator push buttons don’t work.
I wish there was a way to just deactivate the “rear kick” feature

 

[Greg Parker]

I have the same issue. Now I keep the car looked while in the garage so it doesn’t open when the kids walk past.
I disabled it, but then the regulator push buttons don’t work.
I wish there was a way to just deactivate the “rear kick” feature

I had to come here to comment again ...just because of your profile name. But take the topic of this issue (intermittent functionality) and your profile name combined and it makes this pretty funny. Just "wave" your foot and say...

https://giphy.com/gifs/ToMjGpKniGqRNLGBrhu

View media item 7195

 

[LyoddChrissmiss]

LMAFO

 

[Tys expedition]

glad to see this is a universal problem. i started only taking my key in the garage when im actually gonna drive. if its in my pocket ill walk by and it will open but unless i actually kick the spare it won't do it it when i want. i find touching the spare with my toe is the only semi reliable way to get it to work when i want. trailer hookups i just keep an eye on it. definitely has some bugs.

 

[wakeboarder]

glad to see this is a universal problem. i started only taking my key in the garage when im actually gonna drive. if its in my pocket ill walk by and it will open but unless i actually kick the spare it won't do it it when i want. i find touching the spare with my toe is the only semi reliable way to get it to work when i want. trailer hookups i just keep an eye on it. definitely has some bugs.

It works best for me if I touch my shin to the rear bumper in a kicking motion. I kick lower and under the truck. I used to kick the spare tire and it wasn’t consistent.

I thought I read that some people disabled the kick to open feature by unplugging they antennae inside the bumper.

 

[fishrising]

And mine was working for a long while after they went through the TSB mentioned above. But now it hasn’t been working for a while, again....

 

[MATT0404]

I got tired of the inopportune openings and disconnected the sensor inside the rear bumper. No more kick to open feature but I no longer have to worry about when the hatch is going to randomly pop open.

 

[Jace]

I got tired of the inopportune openings and disconnected the sensor inside the rear bumper. No more kick to open feature but I no longer have to worry about when the hatch is going to randomly pop open.

No codes thrown? I might have to do this as well... hooked up a trailer for the first time and she came up outta nowhere! Never works when I want it to tho haha.

 

[LyoddChrissmiss]

Is it just a simple unplug?
Everything else works fine?
I’d like to do that as well, as im fearful that one time I have my trailer hooked up it will open and cause so damage.

 

[Big H]

Yea mine is hit or miss, but usually it will pick the worst time to not work. Like when I have my hands full with a cooler and the kids bikes or stroller..... so annoying.


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