Mine opened one day while driving down my street. Scared the crap out of me when it dropped open. Felt like I hit something or trans fell out.

Didn't realize what happened until I pulled off the road and did an inspection.

Previously on my 2012, I always locked it with the key, and then grabbed and pulled to make sure it was shut. Can't do that anymore since it doesn't have a key lock.

I probably didn't get it shut enough to latch. I now slam it shut instead of pushing it shut, just to make sure it doesn't open on it's own.

 

I don't think the XLT has remote tailgate release. If yours is opening on its own, you may have a faulty latch. Check to see if if both locks are working properly. Also make sure there is nothing stuck in the lock opening. I've had pkups for 20+ years and haven't had one open on its own. Slam it shut and give it a good pull just to make sure its latched fully. Unfortunately with a cover its hard to give it a pull.

I hit the remote unlock by accident one night. Drove down the road, came to a stop light. I started to pull out, heard a thud. It was dark, alot of people around, didn't know what happened. I got out real quick, and noticed the tailgate had fallen. The bed cover was able to hold it right for a couple miles before it finally came down. Luckily there was no car on my as$.

 

There probably isn't a dash light because some people leave the gate open as a bed extender.

 

I thought about that too, but still think it would be nice to have. Make it a green or blue light then. I leave my fogs on all the time and I have a green light I'm always for that, doesn't seem to be a big deal. The auto start light is always on too, no biggie

 

By chance did you have a spray-on bedliner installed?

I noticed on our XLT, after having Linex sprayed, that I need to push the left side a tad to get it to latch if I just calmly close the tailgate.

With the tailgate being so light, I worry about causing damage if I close it like the older tailgates. In fact, I ordered the two items needed to have the tailgate assist this past week in an attempt to prevent any hard "Drops" for the lady.

That said, our XLT does have the electronic lock. I have not had it open on its own at all.

 

Thats a good idea.

 

My 13 Honda Ridgeline had an icon of the truck in the dash, if a door or tailgate was left open or not latched fully it would be highlighted in orange color. Good idea, especially since the tailgate would open as a normal tailgate and open sideways also.

 

I always put my hands near the far edges of the tailgate and slam it shut. If you close it gently, it may just not be latching properly.

 

Had a similar issue to what is reported here: Tailgate started opening randomly on its own - I would hear the actuator engage and it would flop open. Occasionally, while already open, the actuator would continue to try to engage multiple times.

In any case, after troubleshooting the tailgate connections from the BCM, determined it was likely a short in the actuator on the tailgate release mechanism.
I ordered the replacement part from Ford (GC3Z-9943170-D). Tellingly, the new part now has a rubber shield glued onto the electronic actuator (attached), I'm guessing to keep moisture out.

So far so good with the replacement.

Red tabs = original part. Blue tabs = new part with the rubber seal.

 

Looks like they changed almost the entire part to plastic as opposed to metal? Once again perhaps cutting costs but if it actually improves so be it............