Tale gate failure

[Paul Markowski]

Had my tail gate pop open twice today for no reason....first time was on an Interstate ....lucky my hand truck and the two 4x4 wood blocks I had in the bed did not fall out the rear of the bed.....I thought that one was just "bad luck" so I ignored it but not more than 1 hour later (as I was hauling a full load of scrap metal in the bed) I heard the tailgate fall open once more as a piece of metal ended up falling out the bed onto the road....lucky it was in the city and the car behind me was not following too close to me....so they just swerved around the piece, at which time I stopped the truck and retrieved the piece....has this happened to anyone else? After that 1st failure, I made sure the gate was fully closed and I pulled on it a couple times to make sure it was shut all the way...however, that 2nd incident then happened. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[dawizman]

My tailgate doesn't like to latch properly sometimes when the temperature hits about -30. My last 4 fourth gens have done the same thing.

 

[toot]

watch this and see if that answers your question about tailgates falling open https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHa6WUvqTHg

 

[Paul Markowski]

True...I thought about that but it was about 30 Degrees F that day...not that cold. Thx.

 

[Paul Markowski]

Great...much appreciated...I'm taking it to the dealer today....should be under warranty.

 

[Badunit]

I disconnected the power lock on mine, even though it has never opened on its own. 1) I don't want it to ever open on its own so this is preventative, 2) too many times I have wanted to put the tailgate down when my truck was locked and had to go fetch my keys to do it, and 3) very few times have I ever felt the need to lock the tailgate, considering my bed is covered only by a roll-up tonneau cover that I'd rather not have knifed open or the cover is rolled up and the bed is wide open (which makes a locked tailgate worthless).

But, if I had a failed lock under warranty, I would certainly get it fixed under warranty. Then I would disconnect it.

 

[Paul Markowski]

I disconnected the power lock on mine, even though it has never opened on its own. 1) I don't want it to ever open on its own so this is preventative, 2) too many times I have wanted to put the tailgate down when my truck was locked and had to go fetch my keys to do it, and 3) very few times have I ever felt the need to lock the tailgate, considering my bed is covered only by a roll-up tonneau cover that I'd rather not have knifed open or the cover is rolled up and the bed is wide open (which makes a locked tailgate worthless).

But, if I had a failed lock under warranty, I would certainly get it fixed under warranty. Then I would disconnect it.

Thanks for the advice...I am getting it repaired since it is under warranty.....

 

[CoastyAV8R]

You could also turn off your auto door lock feature as it looks like the servo that locks the tailgate is what causes the gate to unlock when it wears. I disabled mine and have never had that problem. Not that you should have to do that but it's a solution.

 

[Paul Markowski]

You could also turn off your auto door lock feature as it looks like the servo that locks the tailgate is what causes the gate to unlock when it wears. I disabled mine and have never had that problem. Not that you should have to do that but it's a solution.

Thanks for the option....will keep that in mind for the future. Thx.

 

[terb]

Lots of people on the Dodge Ramz forums with the same problem........

 

[Barbieri]

Same here. Spraying the latch doesn't help. I noticed it not locking after not being used for a while. Could it be a weak spring?

 

[kthaxton]

Same here. Spraying the latch doesn't help. I noticed it not locking after not being used for a while. Could it be a weak spring?

Did you watch the video posted above?

 

[photowrite]

Good, detailed video, like all I have watched from him.

Like others shared, a locked tailgate has been more trouble than help for me, I disconnected the power lock feature years ago on my 2014.

 

[indianbullet]

New to the forum, first Cummings, just bought a 17 2500. Came from a 7.3 which I still have.. I was noticing that when my truck is unlocked and I just put my hand in the door handle the doors attempt to unlock as well as the tailgate. Even though the rig is not locked. But the passive door entrance is enabled.
This constant unlocking attempt has to contribute to the broken over travel tab on the tailgate..

As much as I love the passive entrance, I disconnected it. And it of course stopped doing it. When I take it into the stealership I will bring this to their attention.. :/ let the games begin.