NHTSA Complaint #11321767 — 2019 GMC SIERRA DENALI

WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED (ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT ALL), I USED THE KEY FAB REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE TRUCK AND THEN OPEN THE TAILGATE. AT THIS TIME, THE TAILGATE SLAMMED OPEN (VERY FORCEFULLY AND QUICKLY) AND HIT MY SON IN THE CHEST. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE THE TRUCK WAS RUNNING AND IN PARK. AT THAT TIME, I (THE DRIVER) PUSHED THE BUTTON ON THE CENTER DASH TO OPEN THE TAILGATE SO THAT MY YOUNG SON COULD PUT HIS BASEBALL GEAR IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. AGAIN, THE TAILGATE OPENED VERY QUICKLY AND ABRUPTLY, SLAMMED OPEN, AND THE HEAVY TAILGATE HIT HIM IN HIS BODY. THE TAILGATE IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY, NOT SLAM OPEN. THANKFULLY, MY SON WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE REMOTE CONTROL, SLOW OPENING TAILGATE WAS ONE OF THE SELLING FEATURES OF THE TRUCK, AND NOW THE TAILGATE IS DANGEROUS TO USE AT ALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN ARE AROUND.