2017 FORD F-350 SD Electrical System Problems

TAILGATE OPENS ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DRIVER COMMAND WHILE DRIVING

REAR TAILGATE OPENS BY ITSELF. UNKNOWN WHEN IT OCCURS AS I HAVE A CAMPER SHELL WHICH PREVENTS THE TAILGATE FROM COMPLETELY OPENING. THIS HAS OCCURRED 40-50 TIMES RANDOMLY SINCE PURCHASING THE TRUCK NEW IN AUGUST 2017. NOTIFIED THE DEALER OF ISSUE AND FORD TSB-2196 BUT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED AFTER JUNE 2017, IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY PROBLEM. UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE. NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE CAMPER SHELL PREVENTING TAILGATE FROM DROPPING.

I'M APRIL OF 2018 THE ELECTRIC TAILGATE ON MY 2017 FORD F-350 STARTED OPENING ON ITS OWN ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE. IT DID NOT MATTER IF THE TRUCK WAS IN PARK OR IN GEAR BUT DID NOT OPEN AT SPEEDS ABOVE 10 MPH OR SO. AFTER GOING TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN ELKHART IN. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE IF THEY UNHOOKED THE WIRING L COULD NOT OPEN THE TAILGATE. I PULL A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER WITH THE TRUCK SO THIS WAS NOT AN OPTION IF L WANTED A TAILGATE. I TRIED TO WATCH THE BEST L COULD BEFORE TAKING OFF TO MAKE SURE THE TAILGATE WAS CLOSED WHEN L WOULD MOVE THE TRUCK. I DID NOT NOTICE THAT IT HAD COME DOWN AGAIN AND MADE A TURN WITH THE TRAILER HOOKED TO THE TRUCK. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE TAILGATE WAS CRUSHED BEYOND USE AND...

THE REMOTE ELECTRIC OPEN REAR TAILGATE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE PROBLEM IS EITHER DUE TO FAULTY KEY FOB, POOR PLACEMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUTTON THAT RELEASES THE TAILGATE OR SOME OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS THE TAILGATE WILL 'AT RANDOM' OPEN ON ITS OWN. I'VE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON MANY OCCASIONS, I'M VERY MINDFUL TO KEEP THE KEY FOB OUT OF MY POCKET AND NOT ALLOW MY PALM TO HIT THE BUTTON WHILE RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE (VERY POOR LOCATION). I HAVE HAD DAMAGE TO MY TAILGATE DUE TO IT OPENING WHILE PULLING A TRAILER, IT RESULTED IN THE BACKUP CAMERA BEING DAMAGED. FORD WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS AND SEEMS TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM.

THE REAR TAILGATE WILL OPEN RANDOMLY ON IT'S OWN. I'VE TAKEN IT IN AND NOTHING WAS DONE . THIS COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHEN TOWING A 5TH WHEEL BECAUSE THE TAILGATE WOULD HIT THE TRAILER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS POTENTIAL LOSS OF STEERING COULD HAPPEN. *TT