2016 Lariat. Over the past 3-4 years the tailgate release is getting worse and worse. At first it would mostly release on the first push. When it didn't the second one would do it. Now it never releases on the first attempt. It takes 4-5 tries now before it finally opens. Is this simply a failing mechanism or is there something I can lube?

 

It is most likely the solenoid starting to fail. I had the same problem and changed it out about a year ago. Has worked flawlessly since. This is the one I used - GC3Z-9943170-E replaces GC34-99431F94-AF and GC3Z-9943170-D.