NHTSA Complaint #10861484 — 2015 FORD ESCAPE

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE AUTOMATIC TAILGATE HAS CLOSED ON ME WHILE LOADING GROCERIES INTO MY TRUNK. BOTH TIMES I EXTENDED A HAND TO TRY AND STOP IT BUT BOTH TIMES IT CONTINUED TO CLOSE AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON APRIL 7, 2016. IT HIT ME HARD ENOUGH TO GIVE ME A CONCUSSION AND TRIGGER A MIGRAINE THAT LASTED 4 DAYS. I HAD TO BE PRESCRIBED MEDICATION AND MISSED WORK. THE GATE SHOULD NOT CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY LIKE THIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER SENSORS TO PREVENT INJURY. I HAVE FOUND POSTS ONLINE FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER WHO OPENED AND CLOSED THE LIFTGATE SEVERAL TIMES AND TOLD ME IT WAS FINE. I BET THE GROCERY STORE HAS VIDEO FOOTAGE OF ONE OR BOTH INCIDENTS.