I hauled a 2 yards of mulch for my lawn this weekend, and when I went to open the tailgate to start unloading the mulch the gate would not open. I tried the gate button, all doors unlocked and fob in my pocket as well as the FOB button for automatic release.

Thinking the mulch might be pressing on the gate and jamming the electric latch from opening I dug out the mulch from the tailgate and it still would not open.

I pushed on the gate while trying to open (hard enough to move the truck!). I pulled on the gate while trying to open. I pulled UP on the gate while trying to open and no luck. I looked down the seams and there's no mulch jammed in there anywhere blocking anything (that I can tell).

I ended up unloading the mulch with the gate up -- that sucked. The truck is only about a month old, and I've not used the gate a lot but it has opened just fine up until now -- when I needed it most. hah!

Any suggestions or it it time to take it to Ford?

 

That sounds like a lot of extra fun...Is it clicking or anything? The backup camera working?

 

Take it back to the dealer, you did everything I would have done.

 

Check under the back of the bed for the cable going to the tailgate and make sure it is fully plugged in. As Antho pointed out that plug is also for your backup camera and light.

 

Everything seems to be working except it won't open. The camera, the tailgate led, etc. I hear what I think is the solenoid whining sometimes when I hit the button, but no "clunk" like when it actually opens.

 

I'll take a look at that, the camera is working but maybe the cable isn't making enough contact to feed the solenoid enough juice.

 

Was the mulch piled against the tailgate? Maybe too much pressure on the tailgate to let the latch release?

 

Got an air compressor, if so use an air gun and blow down in between the sides and the gate. I have had mulch jam the latches a few times

 

I can look down the sides and see the latches and I don't see anything blocking them, but I can give this a shot too. Have a dealer appt in a couple days but would rather make sure it's not just jammed like you say here or something incredibly simple first. Local ford dealer is extremely scummy and would probably charge me $300 if it's just a damn piece of mulch blocking the latch, hah! Going to see if I can pull off the inside panel to get to the inside with the gate up.

 

That was my first thought but still no luck after digging it out completely away from the gate.