NHTSA Complaint #11717783 — 2014 RAM 1500

Tailgate was dropping open while driving, and sometimes would not latch when shut without slamming it several times. Took it to Gupton Dodge Dealership 37172 and they performed the recall. A few months later the same problems started occurring again, then after a while longer the tailgate actually would not open at all anymore. I took it back to the same dealership to notify them that their recall repair failed. They told me the recall had already been done and it was working when it left their shop, so I would need to pay for any further repairs which would require replacing the entire actuator assembly. I brought the truck back home and removed the tailgate latch cover to assess the problem myself. I found that the original actuator was still on and had never been replaced in the recall work. I also found that by cleaning up the metal actuator parts with carb cleaner spray, and lubing it with dry lube and white lithium grease at critical movement spots, the actuator and tailgate latches started working perfectly again. I now realize that they very likely did the same thing for the recall, just cleaned and lubed it, and no parts replaced or added. I expect it will now work for another few more months before dust and moisture will cause it to need cleaning and lubing again in order to keep it working. Serious safety hazard, not just from dropped cargo! My wife closed tailgate once while my 6 year old grandson was standing next to her. As soon as she stepped away the heavy tailgate fell open hard, missing my grandson's head by inches. Dealers are just doing a quick, cheap, temporary fix to say they met their obligation, and are perpetuating the danger. Even if the actuator assembly is replaced with the OEM part, it will also fail from normal dust & moisture over time. The recall needs to require the actuator assembly to be REPLACED with an IMPROVED DESIGN that will not fail from normal dust and moisture, since it is not in a sealed compartment.