Customer Satisfaction Program 21M08 Unintended Tailgate Opening

[SmoothJ]

Not to wake up this thread, but I just had this issue as well in my 21 F150 PowerBoost. I was awoken this AM by a notification that my tailgate was opened. At that time, my vehicle was unlocked. I live in a very rural area and have no lights on outside where the truck is. I activated all zone lighting, and indeed saw my tail down. So I remotely closed it with the key fob.

I have no recalls or CSPs on the truck.

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[KDPGame02]

It happened to me today during a raging thunderstorm going for ice cream. Because we tow our travel trailer AND carry 3 bikes over the tailgate, this could be a dangerous disaster on the road not just for us, but other drivers.

 

[s.v.t.]

Do we know if this issue affects trucks built in 2022?

 

[KDPGame02]

Do we know if this issue affects trucks built in 2022?

It did for my 22 with a blend date of 2/4/22. It's the first time it's happened, but I won't be towing or stowing bikes over the tailgate without rigging something so it doesn't open and damage anything.

 

[Buschlatte]

I started my truck and washed the windshield with the wipers, noticed something on my wiper causing a streak. I got out and to clean the wiper and when I did I heard the tailgate hit

my knee could have hit the button, I had my two wallets in the pocket with my keys ( more then likely the cause) but I will keep an eye out for it

 

[towpro]

online it talks about trucks built at different plants with dates thorugh 2021, but mine is a may 22 and I have had this notice on Fordpass since I got the truck. yesterday I got the notice in the mail.

 

[Steve N]

I got a notice in the mail too and it's on my Ford Pass app

 

[hotrodmex]

Please feel free to ask my any questions you may have regarding this recall or anything Ford related.

Can you speak to the cause of the issue? What fails or what the bug is?

 

[usmc665]

I just took my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT to the dealer for service. I advised him about the Customer Satisfaction Program 21M08 regarding the unintended tailgate opening issue. He told me the issue is apparently with a wiring harness that goes the full length of the bed, that apparently shorts out, causing the tailgate to open. He also said the harness isn't properly insulated and water eventually gets into the wiring, causing a short. He told me that they hate to perform the repair as it is a pain in the ass and apparently takes some time to perform. They did not do the repair. I just read the letter from Ford and it states that Program 21M08 is also available to customers that have not received a tailgate repair and would like to have the enhanced repair. I am going to complaint to the General Manger at the dealership for not doing the repair. I also haul a trailer and if the tailgate opens, it will damage the trailer hitch, as well as the rear tailgate. I think Ford is just trying to cover their butts, without doing the repairs, until it happens.

 

[Grafx36510]

I just took my 2021 Ford F-150 XLT to the dealer for service. I advised him about the Customer Satisfaction Program 21M08 regarding the unintended tailgate opening issue. He told me the issue is apparently with a wiring harness that goes the full length of the bed, that apparently shorts out, causing the tailgate to open. He also said the harness isn't properly insulated and water eventually gets into the wiring, causing a short. He told me that they hate to perform the repair as it is a pain in the ass and apparently takes some time to perform. They did not do the repair. I just read the letter from Ford and it states that Program 21M08 is also available to customers that have not received a tailgate repair and would like to have the enhanced repair. I am going to complaint to the General Manger at the dealership for not doing the repair. I also haul a trailer and if the tailgate opens, it will damage the trailer hitch, as well as the rear tailgate. I think Ford is just trying to cover their butts, without doing the repairs, until it happens.

Sounds more like a crappy dealer service team vs Ford. The way you describe it, the tech just didn’t want to do the work and that rests on his shoulders. I’m not excusing Ford for manufacturing the eventual failure, but at the end of the day, the dealer service department is where the work needs to be performed. There are good dealer service departments out there, although it seems to be more and more difficult to find one.

 

[BlindSnapper]

Has anyone had their truck in to get this addressed? I've had the tailgate open on three occasions, so I scheduled an appointment for today and took it in. They did their investigation and said it was eligible for the fix but continued to tell me I would need to leave it for four or more business days. Is that what other people are seeing as well? Even if this was a pain to do, that time seems excessive.

 

[Xchevyguy]

Just happened to me yesterday. Opened the rear glass on the camper shell and the tailgate came down by itself. Dealer told me parts are not yet available, despite receiving the August 22 letter saying "parts are now available". Also said it take 8 to 9 hours to repair. Anyone know for a fact what's the deal on parts availability? I'm being told late October.

 

[Zengineer]

The letter seems intentionally vague about getting the repair if you haven't had the issue. I added some foam padding to where the gate would hit my garage door hinge if it happens there but Ford is not handling this very well.

 

[Big Cam]

Sorry to bump a slightly older thread, but where can I find the build date of my truck? Given the year and final assembly I think mine is not, but I'd like to know. Thanks in advance.

 

[dplas]

I had the problem and got the fix. The fix is a joke. First off the letter states it is half day repair apparently it is a lot more involved as originally indicated as my dealer had it for 3 days. The fix as represented by the dealer I went it is a wiring harness replacement plus control module reprogram. Once the fix is done the only way to open the tailgate with the keybob or the local switch is with engine shut off essentially deleting the option. You can't open with the engine running in park. In fact an old fashion mechanical latch is more convenient than this. A big F on Ford for this!

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