Liftgate closing on its own?

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
If you have the foot-activated liftgate then you likely triggered the sensor without realizing it.

Peter

 

[cmtrpatrick]

Welcome to the Forum.
If you have the foot-activated liftgate then you likely triggered the sensor without realizing it.

Peter

Nope, I am really sure I did not do that. It did this once before and I wasn't activating it then, either. This is a flaw.
I appreciate your response though!

 

[cmtrpatrick]

A lot of mention on this issue in the 5th gen Forum. Had it happen to me as well. IT's the foot-activated feature.

Peter

While it COULD be a flaw in the foot-activated feature, when this happened to me I know I was not putting my foot or anything else near the activation point. I was just standing there putting my groceries in the back. I turned to get more groceries and BAM! it hit me in the head. Last time this happened, I had to stand there holding up the tailgate so my friends could put things in without it coming down again. A lot of these things are operator error, but this one is NOT.

 

[peterk9]

I know that something similar was happening on some of the 5th gen Explorers. The TSB mentioned that the liftgate on some Explorers would open when walking closely by the rear. The solution was to adjust the sensitivity of the actuation module. I haven't seen anything from Ford on the 6th gen.
BTW, when it closes by itself, does it still sound the chimes?

Peter

 

[hbalek]

I know that something similar was happening on some of the 5th gen Explorers. The TSB mentioned that the liftgate on some Explorers would open when walking closely by the rear. The solution was to adjust the sensitivity of the actuation module. I haven't seen anything from Ford on the 6th gen.
BTW, when it closes by itself, does it still sound the chimes?

Peter

It does chime when it closes and the sensitivity is the problem. Mine opens if you walk to close to the rear bumper and sometimes even casting a shadow near the sensor activates it.

 

[Maryj62]

Curious if any other 2020 owners have experienced this. While loading groceries in yesterday the liftgate closed on its own giving me a pretty good knock in the head. Once it did it stopped as it should, but I have no clue why it moved in the first place.

This was not an isolated incident, it has occurred at least 4-5 other times for different family members.

I read on another site that it could be the foot activation, but I cannot even get it to open reliably let so I don't see how that would be triggering a close.

Yeah

 

[Maryj62]

Curious if any other 2020 owners have experienced this. While loading groceries in yesterday the liftgate closed on its own giving me a pretty good knock in the head. Once it did it stopped as it should, but I have no clue why it moved in the first place.

This was not an isolated incident, it has occurred at least 4-5 other times for different family members.

I read on another site that it could be the foot activation, but I cannot even get it to open reliably let so I don't see how that would be triggering a close.

Curious if any other 2020 owners have experienced this. While loading groceries in yesterday the liftgate closed on its own giving me a pretty good knock in the head. Once it did it stopped as it should, but I have no clue why it moved in the first place.

This was not an isolated incident, it has occurred at least 4-5 other times for different family members.

I read on another site that it could be the foot activation, but I cannot even get it to open reliably let so I don't see how that would be triggering a close.

I have the same problem…I have the 2021. It could be my foot getting a little too close to the sweet spot of the lift gate sensor … I’ll have to monitor myself to see if that’s the issue.

 

[Maryj62]

I havent had any issues with the lift gate nor the kicking to activate. Inkick in/out right below where you would put the chain from a trailer (off center) and works every time.

Mine works too but because I’m short I have to move in closer to the inside space and will trigger the sensor. LOL! then I just move or quickly hit the button so it stops.

 

[peterk9]

Mine works too but because I’m short I have to move in closer to the inside space and will trigger the sensor. LOL! then I just move or quickly hit the button so it stops.

Welcome to the Forum Mary.
I believe you've figured out why the liftgate is closing. You could always carry one of these in the cargo area.

 

[Maryj62]

Welcome to the Forum Mary.
I believe you've figured out why the liftgate is closing. You could always carry one of these in the cargo area.

View attachment 430019

LOL!!!

 

[Maryj62]

I think somewhere I saw this answer…if my liftgate is open all night, and only answer if you actually know, will lights stay on and drain the battery during the night And if they do stay on can these be turned off as I’d like to get a liftgate tent.

 

[peterk9]

I think somewhere I saw this answer…if my liftgate is open all night, and only answer if you actually know, will lights stay on and drain the battery during the night And if they do stay on can these be turned off as I’d like to get a liftgate tent.

Hi Mary. From the manual;
Battery Saver
If you leave the courtesy lamps, interior
lamps or headlamps on, the battery saver
shuts them off 10 minutes after you switch
the ignition off.
However, if you open a door after the lights have gone OFF, then the cycle starts over again. You should easily be able to test this if you are concerned.

Peter

 

[Maryj62]

Hi Mary. From the manual;
Battery Saver
If you leave the courtesy lamps, interior
lamps or headlamps on, the battery saver
shuts them off 10 minutes after you switch
the ignition off.
However, if you open a door after the lights have gone OFF, then the cycle starts over again. You should easily be able to test this if you are concerned.

Peter

Thank you… I camp in my Explorer, been traveling for two months, and found if I open/close the drivers side and hit the fob lock all the lights go out immediately. I haven’t tested the liftgate because I’ve been staying with family the past two weeks but when I get back to traveling I’ll be testing the same open/close drivers side door with the liftgate open to see what happens..darn if I couldn’t do that now.

 

[marcomurabia]

Inkick in/out right below where you would put the chain from a trailer (off center) and works every time.

Speed Test​

 

[peterk9]

Inkick in/out right below where you would put the chain from a trailer (off center) and works every time.

Speed Test​

The issue discussed here is the liftgate closing on its own when people are loading or unloading items from the cargo area. This can happen without the kicking motion. I have experienced it also a couple times.

Peter