NHTSA Complaint #11277374 — 2016 FORD F-150

TAILGATE DISCONNECTED FROM HINGES ON OUR 2016 F150. TRAVELTRAVELLING IN A 30MPH ZONE WITH TAILGATE OPEN LYING DOWN TO TRANSPORT A DOOR. TRUCK PASSING OVER A SHALLOW BREAK IN PAVEMENT AT WHICH TIME WE HEARD A LOUD THUMP. IMMEDIATE INSPECTION DISCOVERED TAILGATE DISENGAGED FROM HINGES LANDING ON ONE HINGE AND BUMPER. SAFETY CABLES HELD BUMPER FROM FALLING OFF COMPLETELY. REVIEWED WITH SERVICE AT FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. PRIOR TO REVEALING WHAT HAPPENED THE AGENT ACKNOWLEDGED HE HAS HEARD OF THIS ISSUE ON ANOTHER FORD TRUCK LOCALLY. IN THAT INCIDENT THE GATE WAS DESTROYED FROM LANDING IN ROAD. ONCE I REVEALED OUR INCIDENT HE INDICATED THAT IT IS NOT A WARRANTY MATTER EVEN THOUGH OUR VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AT JUST 12,000 MILES. HIS ASSISTANT INDICATED THERE IS A PART AVAILABLE TO PREVENT THE GATE FROM BOUNCING AND SLIDING OUT. SUGGESTED THAT HAVING A PART AVAILABLE TO PREVENT WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO OUR TRUCK IS AN ADMISSION OF A FAULTY DESIGN. THE AGENT INSISTED THE HINGE ASSEMBLY IS NOT A FAULTY DESIGN AS THE GATES ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE LYING DOWN WHEN TRAVELLING. AT THAT POINT I CHUCKLED AND LEFT. OF COURSE TELLING HIM I WOULD NOT BE BACK FOR A 3RD NEW TRUCK. THIS ISSUE HAS THE POTENTIAL IF IT HASN'T ALREADY HAPPENED TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS IN VEHICLES TRAVELLING BEHIND A FORD TRUCK THAT EXPERIENCES A TAILGATE HINGE MALFUNCTION.