NHTSA Complaint #10960042 — 2016 VOLVO XC90

THE CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HANDSFREE FOOT MOVEMENT TAILGATE OPERATION (OPEN AND CLOSE). THIS ALLOWS THE OPENING OR CLOSING OF THE TAILGATE WHEN YOUR HANDS ARE FULL. IN MY SITUATION, THE VEHICLE IS OFF. WHILE THE TAILGATE IS OPEN AND I AM STANDING NEXT TO THE REAR BUMPER LOADING/UNLOADING ITEMS FROM THE TRUNK, THE REAR TAILGATE HAS CLOSED ON ME UNEXPECTEDLY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND HIT MY HEAD/BACK. ON ONE OCCASION, MY CHILD WAS STANDING NEXT TO ME WHEN THE TAILGATE CLOSED ON US UNEXPECTEDLY AND FORTUNATELY THE TAILGATE HIT ME INSTEAD OF MY CHILD. IT APPEARS THAT IF THE FOOT MOVEMENT SENSOR UNDER THE REAR BUMPER SENSES ANY OBJECTS MOVING UNDER/NEAR THE REAR BUMPER (EG. A FOOT, A CHILD STANDING BY THE REAR BUMPER, BAGS, ETC), IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE THE REAR TAILGATE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS CAN BE PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IF THE TAILGATE CLOSES UNEXPECTEDLY ON A SMALL CHILD OR A LIMB. VOLVO NEEDS TO ADD AN OPTION IN THE SETTINGS OR A SWITCH TO DISABLE THE AUTOMATIC HANDSFREE FOOT MOVEMENT TAILGATE OPERATION IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE CONTACTED VOLVO USA BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION.