Reasons Why the Electric Tailgate Fails to Lift Up
2 Answers
There are several reasons why an electric tailgate may fail to lift up, as analyzed below: 1. Reason 1: Damaged door lock. Solution: Replace the lock at a 4S shop. 2. Reason 2: Insufficient sensitivity of the door lock. Solution: Open the tailgate manually. Wait until the electric tailgate automatically rises to a certain height and stops, then manually push it to its usual maximum height while holding the close button on the remote. Repeat this process several times until the tailgate resumes normal operation upon reopening. 3. Reason 3: Possible strut failure, which reduces the lifting force and causes the tailgate to only rise halfway. Solution: Replace the strut.
The electric tailgate of my SUV got stuck and wouldn’t lift up once, and after struggling for a while, I found it might be due to a few common issues. The most common is damaged struts—those small motorized pillars on both sides of the door. If the motor ages or the internal wiring shorts, it loses power. Wiring faults can also cause this, especially since the wiring harness near the trunk is frequently bent, making it prone to insulation damage, leading to short circuits or poor contact. Another possibility is faulty sensors at the rear, like the anti-pinch sensor misjudging and thinking something is blocking it, so it refuses to move. If this happens, don’t force it. Try manually pushing the tailgate up as a temporary fix, and it’s best to have a professional shop inspect and replace the struts or wiring later—DIY attempts can easily damage plastic parts.
