So, I picked my truck up September 24. Everything has been going well, but I have run into my first issue this afternoon... my tailgate won't open. I have an XLT, so no push button to open the tailgate, just the lock and unlock with the key fob. I washed the truck earlier today, then came home, opened the tailgate, crawled in and wiped the back out real good getting ready to install my BedRug tomorrow... after wiping it out, I put the step back up, closed the tonneau and then the tailgate. When I went back to open it up about an hour later though it won't open. I hit the unlock button and hear what sounds like it unlocks, but when I pull the handle nothing happens. It feels like I am pulling the handle of a locked tailgate. I locked it back and unlocked it (about a thousand times) and still the same thing... to make it worse, I can't get into the back of the bed to take the panel off the tailgate to look at the actuator (?) to see if it's just not releasing because the tonneau won't open unless the tailgate is open! I have hit the tailgate with the heel of my hand all around the outside of the tailgate, I have pushed up against the tailgate, and I have banged on the tailgate step area... hoping something would release or something, but nothing.

The bad thing is I was planning to install my Bedrug tomorrow and then we are leaving Friday morning... I guess I will have to let my wife take it to the dealer tomorrow morning while I'm at work, but I wonder if they will be able to do anything since the tonneau is closed over it. I don't want them destroying a nearly $1000 tonneau, but at this point, I don't see any other way to get into the tailgate.

 

Have you tried moving the truck around to see if it got twisted up slightly? My 2020 F250 was finicky sometimes. It's not right but I never had it dealt with either.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...wont-open.html

 

Since my truck has the electric tailgate, I was concerned about having issues like this. I ended up choosing a retrax cover since it can be opened from the outside and I couldn’t get locked out. I wouldn’t have been worried about it with the manual latch. So much for that thinking. I hope you can get into it without too much trouble.

 

It is a Ford. Pull the handle with one hand and smack the tailgate with the heel of your other hand. That is the only way I ever got a Ford tailgate to open since they put a latch mechanism instead of chain hooks to retain said tailgate.

 

Since you washed the truck there is likely some water somewhere. Crawl up under the truck and see if you have collected water in those nefarious connections at the left frame rail/bumper/spare tire area. And while you are in there get after it with dielectric grease.

 

Yeah, I drove my truck around, after banging on it with the heel of my hand for a while... I also thought it may jar something loose... but nothing.

I have read that thread above, and about 4 others here on this site. I also watched a video from a 2021 that wouldn't open... the actuator inside was hanging up. Problem is, my tonneau is closed and I can't get into the bed of the truck. I have tried using a wire coat hanger with a bend, but it is not rigid enough to actually pull the wire hard enough to get it to release... it just bends the hook back. I guess this is a good thing though! I have read where some use wooden or plastic back scratchers (I guess those are rigid enough to actually pull the wire) but I don't have one of those... I stopped with the coat hanger because I didn't want to tear up the seal on the tonneau... I am hoping that the dealership may have a slim jim of sorts that can be used for this sort of instance... but some other threads I have read said that the dealership (Toyota in this case) said they would have to break the tonneau to gain access, otherwise there wasn't anything they could do. I'm a little nervous what they will say when my wife brings it in. I installed the tonneau as well as the (Ford OEM) tailgate dampener. All was done correctly though and has been working fine until today... I wish it had a key slot so I could manually unlock it...

I have tried what was suggested in the above thread as far as pushing in hard around the tailgate while unlocking it with the fob... but still nothing. When hitting the lock and unlock button it sounds complete... like it fully locks and unlocks, it's just when I pull the handle that it won't work. I have also noticed that after I unlock it and then pull the handle I can then push in on the top of the tailgate on the left (driver) side and I hear a click like something clicking (back?) into place. I'm thinking the right (passenger) side is jammed up...

This is making me rethink the MX4 cover though... I wish it had a way to open from the outside now... I never even thought about this happening... it's a freaking tailgate... it's not supposed to be this complicated!

I also thought about the connections underneath. I haven't looked at those, but since I am hearing everything function when pressing the lock/unlock buttons, I don't feel like this is the problem. However, this was on my list of things to do though before this happened... just pulling those connectors apart and applying some dielectric grease to them...

I feels like when I pull on the handle when it's unlocked, it's like something is caught between something somewhere and not letting it open... if that makes sense. Like the handle isn't clicking something open, but instead pushing against something inside that's in the way...

 

Ok... so I just went back out and shoved real hard on the passenger side over and over and over... finally the tailgate opened... it seems like its jamming up on that side for some reason... I opened the tonneau all the way now though so when my wife brings it to the dealer tomorrow at least the tonneau will be open and they can get into that back panel now if they need to check things. I am wondering if the bar that sticks out and the things captures when closed has shifted forward a little and now that side is having a hard time releasing. With the tonneau opened up now I can pretty routinely push on the upper right hand side of the tailgate while pulling the handle (kind of like mentioned in the link above) and get it to open, but I haven't put the tonneau back down and tried it. So, I wonder if they can just loosen that catch bolt, slide it rearward a little and then tighten it back down... assuming that's the problem. It is just odd that it all of a sudden started though...

 

Mine did the same thing, an F450 with electronic lock tailgate. If I pushed in really hard and then unlocked it would open, and I had the same “hang up” on one side. Took it to my dealer, they adjusted the latches, and it’s worked perfectly since….

 

I’m hoping that’s what they do to mine this morning. I figure I could just use a T driver to loosen the bolt and readjust it, but I’ll let them do it.

 

Just wanted to follow up with this in case anyone else has this issue...

I still haven't identified what happened... the tailgate worked fine until it didn't. The only thing I can think of is that either the post that the tailgate catches and locks on, or the actual catch inside the tailgate that catches the post wasn't fully tightened, and when I shut it the last time it moved, which caused the latch to jam up and not want to let go of the post. I guess this is why I was able to push in hard on the upper side of the tailgate that wasn't releasing while pulling the handle and get it to open... but even though I was able to do this, I was still putting too much pressure on the handle to open it... it just felt wrong.

My wife took it to the dealer this morning. She said they tried to blame it on my tonneau, which I installed myself the same weekend I got the truck, and it has been working fine for the last 2+ weeks. She said they ended up "making adjustments and lubing it" and even tried to charge her for it... they finally removed the charge.

When I came home from work, yes it opened and released, but there was still way too much pressure being put on the handle when opening it and it still didn't release near as easy as it did when I first brought it home. So, I grabbed a T50 and adjusted the post that the latch catches. It works better now with much less tension, but it's still not like it was... I'm not taking it back though and will just leave it as is... I don't feel like the handle is going to break off anymore when pulling on it, and I may adjust the post even more later.

But, the actuator is still working fine, so thankfully nothing wrong with that. I do wish that this thing just had a key hole on the back, but I guess in this case the same thing would have still happened...

 

My truck just did the exact same thing. Mine's a Lariat without auto opening, with the step. I loaded my dogs up for an afternoon hunt, unloaded them at our spot. When we returned to the truck, I couldn't open the tailgate. Now I have two muddy, wet dogs that I can't get in their kennels in the bed of my truck. The tailgate showed symptoms last week when my adult children had problems opening - I went out and it opened so I thought it was operator error. Just like the OP said, it feels like way too much force is needed to get it to release - I definitely felt like the handle would break. Coincidentally, I picked my truck up the same week as the OPs.... Its going to the dealer tomorrow morning.

 

Mine with auto opening did the same thing. Dealer adjusted the driver side post and it’s been great since…. Seems like the tolerance on these is pretty fine… just a little off and they stick.

 

From looking at a video of the MX4, breaking into one is trivial. A wire coat hanger straightened out then bent into a hook will easily snag the release cord and allow access into the bed. That doesn't address your inability to open the tailgate, but does allow access to the bed without destroying the cover should it happen again.

 

Quick update - dealership said that the Linex bed liner was putting too much tension on the rubber bumpers and causing the gate to jam. The told me to have the coating removed from the area and it would be fine. I can't see that happening without a grinder and re-spray of factory paint, so I am going to keep an eye on the bumpers and see what happens.