seadragon

So, my truck started doing this today. I came out this morning to go to work and the tailgate was down. It opened by itself overnight. I closed it up and then tried opening it with the button on the handle, the button doesn’t work. But the keyfob can still open it. I closed it again and went to work. It opened up on the road at some point. So I disconnected the tailgate harness under the truck.

Got home from work and checked the connections. All look fine. Connected the harness again and just standing there watching it, it randomly activates over and over.

I’m suspecting the button at the handle has gone bad since the fob can still open it. I’m just glad there was nothing in the bed. I have a tonneau cover so no way to see if the gate is down.

Very strange.

rngtrtl

with all the other dings and honks and stuff, there is no indication that the tailgate came down while driving? I would have thought for would have put that in the instrument cluster or something.

seadragon

Yeah, that would be handy to have, but no warning light for tailgate down. I also think they should program it so the tailgate release can’t activate when the truck is not in park.

rngtrtl

Or at least have it locked when the doors lock after you get moving...Ford kinda dropped the ball on this one.

labmaster02

Search "Tailgate Ajar Add" in this forum. There's a good write up on how to. Still should find out why though.

tvsjr

You can re-install the "tailgate ajar" system that Ford removed from these trucks if you want a visual indication on the dash when it drops.

remltr

OP although I suspect that you are right about the tailgate switch, I suggest that you remove your fob battery while near the truck and see if it still does it. I suspect that it won't because of no signal. But if it does then that might be a clue as to what is going on.

seadragon

It’s at the dealer now. We’ll see what they find.

SportF150

I have an XLT so I don’t have the button and a week ago I was driving and found that my tailgate opened sometime during the drive.

I wasn’t sure how but it did. I wounder if there is an issue with the latches?

Im interested to find out what the dealer finds on yours.

TexasRedfish

My tailgate only dropped once while driving. It was when my wife dropped the keys and the fob hit to concrete floor hard. I gave her the look and carried on. Remote started the truck but when i pushed the start button, truck said "No key detected" so i turned off the truck, got out, lock the doors, unlocked, and tried to push start again. Same error. Did it a third time and it finally recognized the key. Took off down the road and when i got home, the tailgate was dropped (i know it was closed before i left because i did walkaround). That was the only time. My key have been functioning normal since then.