NHTSA Complaint #10984283 — 2017 FORD F-350

THE 2017 FORD SUPERDUTY TRUCKS HAVE A REMOTE TAILGATE RELEASE IN THE LARIAT AND KING RANCH MODELS. THE TAILGATE OF MY TRUCK AND OTHERS HAVE DROPPED WITHOUT ACTION FROM THE USER. THIS MAKES THESE VEHICLES UNSAFE WHEN CARRYING CARGO THAT IS ONLY SECURED BY THE TAILGATE OR WHEN TOWING 5TH WHEEL TRAILERS. MINE HAS DROPPED SOME 16 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER. APPARENTLY FORD DEALERS ARE UNIVERSALLY BLAMING THE OPERATORS FOR ACCIDENTALLY PUSHING THE TAILGATE BUTTON TWICE ON THE FOB. HOWEVER, I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 6TH, WHEN I COULD NOT HAVE PUSHED THE BUTTON ON THE FOB. THE TAILGATE DROPPED, AFTER I DROVE OVER 65 MILES ON MOUNTAIN ROADS - JUST AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSTATE ON-RAMP. MY TRUCKS TAILGATE AND MY 5TH WHEEL CAMP TRAILER WERE BOTH DAMAGED. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC. THE DAMAGE TO THE 5TH WHEEL WAS JUST UNDER THE PROPANE TANKS AND NEAR THE MAIL POWER BUS. I AM CHANGING THE TRUCK WIRING TO DISCONNECT POWER TO THE TAILGATE, BUT THIS IS REALLY NOT A SATISFACTORY FIX. ON LINE I FOUND AT LEAST 3 OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM. WHETHER THE OPERATORS AND UNKNOWINGLY ACTIVATING THE TAILGATE RELEASE OR THE FOBS ARE FAULTY OR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE FAULTY OR WHATEVER THE CAUSE, THE RESULT IS A HAZARD THAT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE/ TRAILER CONTROL OR THE DROPPING OF CARGO ON THE HIGHWAYS. THIS IS A HAZARD THAT NEEDS FIXING BY FORD. *TT