NHTSA Complaint #11121710 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

OPEN THE LIFTGATE WITH HANDS FREE TO LOAD GROCERIES INTO CAR. AS I LOAD FROM CART TO TRUNK THE LIFTGATE WILL AUTOMATICALLY BEGIN TO CLOSE HITTING ME ON THE HEAD. AFTER GETTING HIT IT STARTLES ME SO MUCH NOT SURE IF IT GOES BACK UP FROM THE HITTING MOTION OR ME PUSHING IT OR I HAVE REACHED FOR THE BUTTON TO OPEN IT. BUT IT DOES GO BACK UP AND I HAVE NOT BEEN TRAPPED JUST BANGED ON THE HEAD OR SHOULDERS. THERE IS A VERY QUIET BEEPING SOUND HOWEVER IN A PARKING LOT IT IS TOO QUIET TO HEAR. I ASKED AT THE DEALER IF IT WAS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS LOUDER OR A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING I'M DOING OR A SENSOR AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING IT'S IN PARK IN A LOT AND THE KEY FOB IS IN PURSE OR POCKET. I AM MOVING AROUND HOWEVER TO OPEN THE LIFTGATE YOU DO HAVE TO SWING THE FOOT SOMEWHAT UNDER TO GET IT TO OPEN. I HAVE BEEN CAREFUL WHERE MY FEET ARE TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT I AM NOT EFFECTING IT TO CLOSE. I LIKE THE HANDS FREE FEATURE OR I WOULD DISABLE IT BUT I DON'T LIKE GETTING HIT IN THE HEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY HUSBAND MYSELF AND BOTH OF US LOADING TOGETHER.