Proper operation of lift gate button when vehicle locked

[peterk9]

You are right. If you have the FOB in your pocket the lift gate should unlock when you touch it.

Welcome to the Forum Tracy.

Peter

 

[DavidR3906]

@Skip Hood old thread, but did you ever get this figured out? I have same issue. Dealer told me only my 4 doors are passive entry. The rear hatch is not passive entry……

 

[Jost]

Just a thought: Check the voltage on your battery. If the battery is getting old and not fully charged the computer sences that and starts to eliminate certain functions in the attempt to prevent you from having a dead battery. A friend just had an issue with his 19 Edge ST. The back doors would not lock/unlock by touch. Dealer said that only the front doors worked, on the Edge ST forum people said the back doors do not work. He put his meter on the battery and it was only 11.7 volts fully charged. He replaced the battery and the rear doors now work. Sounded crazy but true story. Hopefully it will help.

 

[peterk9]

@Skip Hood old thread, but did you ever get this figured out? I have same issue. Dealer told me only my 4 doors are passive entry. The rear hatch is not passive entry……

Hi David. My doors and liftgate open the way that Skip Hood mentioned. As long as you have the keyfob on you and the doors are locked, you should be able to open the liftgate with either the button on the 'gate' or using foot activation.

Peter

 

[themishmosh]

Since you have a 2020, it bears mentioning that there was a firmware update to the rear gate trunk module. Since that, odd behaviors of the liftgate have disappeared for me. Might be worth convincing the dealer to perform the update.

 

[JBF43]

Unless they changed something on the XLT, it should open just like Dsle5403 mentioned. My Aviator also will open and has the foot activated feature. Have you tried opening it the same way with the vehicle unlocked?

Peter

If it was working that way when you first got the vehicle and has since stopped, then it is obviously equipped with this option.

 

[DavidR3906]

Thanks guys I’ll check the battery, and a software update. Also a member on FB says he was actually disconnected behind the plastic shield on lift gate so I’ll check that as well.

 

[themishmosh]

Do you have Forscan? Usually a disconnection would produce a code.

 

[Astrobuf]

Hi all -

Need a reality check here. My 2020 XLT has stopped responding to the lift gate opening button under the trim
piece above the license plate when the vehicle is locked. My best recollection from owning this vehicle for over a year is that when you approach the locked vehicle with the key in your pocket, it detects the key and you can use the button to open the lift gate same as you would to open the doors. The dealer‘s tech is telling me it doesn’t work that way. I believe he is confusing this with other Explorer’s “wave your foot under the bumper“ option for opening the lift gate. Which mine doesn’t have. Can anyone here confirm how yours works?

Thanks.

My 2004 EB and 2010 Ltd have never auto unlocked the lift gate. Probably much new Explorer's do, but my Son's 2011 Explorer XLT does not.

My 2010 Acura TL Tech however does auto unlock the doors as I approach it, but the fob is about 2x the size of my 2010 Explorer.


Astrobuf

 

[Rick]

Thanks again to all who took the trouble to respond. To answer one question, yes we tried it with our other key fob. Same result. It‘s clear from your posts as well as my own experience that the dealer‘s techs are misinformed on this matter. I’ve been promised a call from someone on a higher level in Ford’s customer service food chain ( a “Customer Experience Specialist“, no less). I’ll of course ask them to set the dealer straight and hopefully tell them how to fix, as it’s obvious the dealer‘s techs have a clue. Will post whatever the fix may be. Perhaps just rebooting the onboard computer, as worked for BlkStingray.

What was the result of speaking to "Customer Experience"?

 

[DavidR3906]

I did find TSB-SSM-50810 Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit an inoperative power liftgate when using intelligent access (IA) features such as the hands free liftgate or when using the outside control button on the liftgate handle when the doors are locked. This may be due to a poor wiring connection at connector C4332 for the rear keyless entry antenna. If these symptoms are present, inspect C4332 (below the liftgate striker) for a poor connection, loose terminals, or improper pin-fit.

So either the techs at the dealer dont know how to research or they just didnt feel like preforming the work and tried telling me my rear hatch doesn't have passive entry....

 

[Dale5403]

I did find TSB-SSM-50810 Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit an inoperative power liftgate when using intelligent access (IA) features such as the hands free liftgate or when using the outside control button on the liftgate handle when the doors are locked. This may be due to a poor wiring connection at connector C4332 for the rear keyless entry antenna. If these symptoms are present, inspect C4332 (below the liftgate striker) for a poor connection, loose terminals, or improper pin-fit.

So either the techs at the dealer dont know how to research or they just didnt feel like preforming the work and tried telling me my rear hatch doesn't have passive entry....

Well it looks like it's time for you to educate them. I hope you can get it fixed under warranty.

 

[peterk9]

If it was working that way when you first got the vehicle and has since stopped, then it is obviously equipped with this option.

Welcome to the Forum.
I don't quite follow your reply. Mine has worked as designed from day 1 and nothing has stopped/changed.

Peter

 

[Kenny Inman]

Hi all -

Need a reality check here. My 2020 XLT has stopped responding to the lift gate opening button under the trim
piece above the license plate when the vehicle is locked. My best recollection from owning this vehicle for over a year is that when you approach the locked vehicle with the key in your pocket, it detects the key and you can use the button to open the lift gate same as you would to open the doors. The dealer‘s tech is telling me it doesn’t work that way. I believe he is confusing this with other Explorer’s “wave your foot under the bumper“ option for opening the lift gate. Which mine doesn’t have. Can anyone here confirm how yours works?

Thanks.

My 2019 Explorer XLT operates just like you said. Key fob in my pocket and push the button.

 

[peterk9]

My 2019 Explorer XLT operates just like you said. Key fob in my pocket and push the button.

Welcome to the Forum Kenny.

Peter

 

[1st time Ford]

Hi all -

Need a reality check here. My 2020 XLT has stopped responding to the lift gate opening button under the trim
piece above the license plate when the vehicle is locked. My best recollection from owning this vehicle for over a year is that when you approach the locked vehicle with the key in your pocket, it detects the key and you can use the button to open the lift gate same as you would to open the doors. The dealer‘s tech is telling me it doesn’t work that way. I believe he is confusing this with other Explorer’s “wave your foot under the bumper“ option for opening the lift gate. Which mine doesn’t have. Can anyone here confirm how yours works?

Thanks.

Ours is a 2017 Platinum, but I know that if you have the key in your pocket and touch the liftgate open button (even when the car is locked), it will automatically open the lift gate. In addition to that, if it is locked, but the key is in your pocket, simply swinging your foot under the rear bumper AND THEN stepping away from the car, will automatically open the hatch. I can't imagine that a 2020 XLT would operate any differently.

 

[Jost]

Our's is a 2017 Platinum, but I know that if you have the key in your pocket and touch the lift gate open button (even when the car is locked), it will automatically open the lift gate. In addition to that, if it is locked, but the key is in your pocket, simply swinging your foot under the rear bumper AND THEN stepping away from the car, will automatically open the hatch. I can't imagine that a 2020 XLT would operate any differently.

The XLT has the same button by the license plate but not the sensor under the bumper where you slide your foot under. Like you, key in pocket and it works fine. Also works when unlocking the doors with the code panel on the drivers door.

 

[peterk9]

Ours is a 2017 Platinum, but I know that if you have the key in your pocket and touch the liftgate open button (even when the car is locked), it will automatically open the lift gate. In addition to that, if it is locked, but the key is in your pocket, simply swinging your foot under the rear bumper AND THEN stepping away from the car, will automatically open the hatch. I can't imagine that a 2020 XLT would operate any differently.

Not all trims have the "foot-activated" liftgate.

Peter

 

[Jost]

Not all trims have the "foot-activated" liftgate.

Peter

Thats the one feature I wish that my XLT had. I fully intended to buy a Limited but I really liked the look of the XLT sport app. package

 

[peterk9]

Thats the one feature I wish that my XLT had. I fully intended to buy a Limited but I really liked the look of the XLT sport app. package

Unfortunately, it is one of the now 'deleted' options on new orders. I do hope, however, that it will be added by Ford once the parts shortage is improving.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Jost.

Peter