Hi Everyone,

I have a 2019 F250 that the button on the tailgate to open it does not work. The key fob button works so there is obviously something wrong with the button on the tailgate and not the actual mechanism that I see referred to a lot when I search the issue. Has anyone had this problem before and what did you do to correct it??

Thank you!!

 

Does the button on the dash open it?

 

Hi daugust7911 , I know on my 19 f350 King ranch my button doesn't work on my tailgate under a couple of circumstances . Like was previously mentioned you can try the button under the headlight switch but make sure you hit the unlock button first . I can use the tailgate button if I have the remote with me or again with all the doors unlocked . If my remote is in the truck or I don't hit the unlock button on the drivers door or unlock all the doors using the unlock feature on the driver's door the button doesn't work . Hope that is all it is . By the way they do have a recall on tailgate wiring switch which I did have done on my 19 . Hondomurph

 

Does it try to work?

I recently adjusted mine as I could hear the actuator function when I tried to open it but the tailgate would stay in the closed position. The actuator in these is a simple thing that connects to two rods that run to either side of the tailgate. In my case, the drivers-side rod wasn't being pulled far enough to disengage the latch. The fix was to just pop open the clasp that holds that rod, slide the rod in a little bit, and then close the clasp. Now it opens every time.

 

It appears a lot of trucks have this problem. Mine worked fine until I had the tailgate wiring recall done. When I picked it up at the dealer I checked the tailgate and the button would not work. All other methods open fine. I watched the tech take the cover off, check the mechanism and install a new button but still having the problem. I left it again for a whole day and they could not find the problem. I’ve said heck with it for now. I did see a thread on here where a chafed wiring harness under the truck fixed the problem. It’s likely simple just a matter of finding it. If you find a solution please share!

 

Mine only works when the engine is off or the driver's side door is open. This would make sense to me.

 

I've had this problem for at least 6 months now. It's totally random as to when the tailgate button will work and when it won't, and the key fob and dash button always work. Thinking it therefore must be the button/switch on the tailgate, I had the dealership replace that button. It worked fine at the dealership, and when I got home it didn't work. I read the previous thread about chaffed wires and have been planning on looking into that but haven't had a chance. I'm not saying the recall caused this problem, but I do know that I never experienced it prior to having the recall done.

 

And this is why I havent had my truck in to have this recall done. And the more I read, I probably wont..... Sorry to hear about your issues, Hopefully you get them resolved.

 

Does anyone know the part number for the actuator? I can't seem to find it.

 

Update on the tailgate not opening with the tailgate button: I took the truck to a different dealership, one that is actually interested in fixing things, and they discovered a couple bad splices that the tech who did the tailgate recall made in the wiring. So far it is working good. Time will tell, but I wouldn't doubt if this was the problem because the initial tech was later fired for incompetency.

 

Sounds like u might have found the answer, but I have noticed on my 16, 18, and now 21, if the key fob is in my pocket, the tailgate button will work all the time. If the fob is in the truck or not on my person and the truck is locked, the tailgate button will not work…even if he drivers door is unlocked. Ie, I stop, open my door and go back to push the button on the tailgate - nope, no joy. If I go back and push the unlock on the drivers door, I can go back and push the tailgate button and it will work.
Food for thought if someone else is looking for a solution in the future.
Troy

 

Actually, I just learned the other day that the tailgate will open when the truck is locked, if you have the key fob in your pocket. Unlocking just the driver's door keeps the tailgate locked, so without the key fob in your pocket the tailgate button alone won't open it. That was never my issue, as I HATE the feature of having all the doors lock after the truck is in motion and one of the first things I did was to disable that feature with Forscan. I've always found it annoying for the doors to lock on their own, then I get out of the truck and need to open a passenger door and it's locked.

 

Dashboard tailgate release button on my 2022 KR had me baffled. Owner's manual says, "The vehicle must be in park (P) to operate the power tailgate" and nothing more. Doesn't say the door must be unlocked ... more specifically, it doesn't say ALL the doors must be unlocked. Opening the driver's door alone from the inside does not suffice ... must hit the door unlock button first before pressing the tailgate button on the dash. I have no problem with remote fob operation, and the tailgate button works fine if the fob is within range.