NHTSA Complaint #11242982 — 2016 FORD EDGE

HANDS FREE LIFTGATE IS DANGEROUS. WHILE PUTTING GROCERIES IN BACK AND REARRANGING THINGS I TRIGGERED THE HANDS FREE LIFTGATE. THE GATE DID NOT STOP COMING DOWN WHEN I TRIED TO STOP IT WITH MY HAND AS IT WAS CLOSING. I GOT OUT OF THE WAY AS IT SLAMMED SHUT. THE GATE DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN AN OBJECT IS PUT IN ITS PATH, LIKE A GARAGE DOOR DOES. IT NEEDS TO! MY 83 YEAR OLD MOTHER HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER (SHE HAS A 2019 EDGE)AND LUCKILY I WAS THERE AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH HER OUT OF THE WAY AND SHIELD HER HEAD. SHE NOW WILL ONLY PUT THINGS IN HER BACK SEAT, BECAUSE SHE IS AFRAID OF ACTIVATING THAT HANDS FREE LIFTGATE. WE BOTH HAD OUR KEYS IN OUR PURSE/ POCKET. THE MANUAL SAYS NOT TO HAVE IT ON YOU WHEN USING THE BACK GATE, BUT C'MON THAT ISN'T REALISTIC.