NHTSA Complaint #11153959 — 2017 FORD F-250

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC TAIL GATE OPENS RANDOMLY WITHOUT DRIVER SELECTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO TAILGATE AND TRAVEL TRAILER. NO INDICATION TAILGATE IS OPEN GIVEN TO DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED WITHIN THE FIRST 100 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, THE FIRST TIME. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT. LAST INCIDENT I HAD JUST PULLED ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS FLAGGED DOWN BY A PASSING TRUCKER WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 65MPH THAT MY TAILGATE HAD OPENED. IMAGINE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE BED OF MY TRUCK AND CAUSED ANOTHER MOTORIST TO CRASH. I HAD HEARD A CREAKING SOUND WHILE TURNING ONTO A ROADWAY WITH MY AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILER ATTACHED. THE TAILGATE HAD CRUNCHED AGAINST THE PROPANE BOTTLES CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TAILGATE, THE PROPANE BOTTLES, AND THE COVER. THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES IN OTHER INSTANCES BUT THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE UNTIL THIS LAST EVENT WHILE TOWING MY AIRSTREAM TRAVEL TRAILER. I CONTACTED FORD DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IN AUSTIN; THEY SUBMITTED TO FORD AND FORD SAID THEY WOULD PAY PART OF THE BILL, BUT I AM ON THE HOOK TO PAY ALSO. THIS IS A FORD WIRING HARNESS ISSUE. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SAME ISSUE. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS 100% BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURS FROM ITEMS FALLING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WHEN BED OPENS AUTOMATICALLY.