Tailgate spontaneously opening

mtbadbob · July 1, 2023

I'm almost thinking that this is a software issue or keyfob related. It's hard to believe that some of you have replaced the switches multiple times and continue having the same problem. I've owned my truck for over a year and it has never opened randomly on either my High Country or the previous AT4. I've taken my tailgate switches out to fix a dent and they are sealed and really should be waterproof. We've had ton's of rain this year, plus a winter that lasted almost 8 months and never an issue.

Edited July 1, 2023 by mtbadbob
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mtbadbob · July 1, 2023

Why don't you guys with this problem try locking the tailgate & see if it continues to happen?? Seriously not convinced that water is getting in these switches & shorting them out...

Z45 · July 1, 2023

I had mine open a few times in the first years, 3x as I recall. I was carrying the key fob in my pocket but I now carry it on a lanyard around my neck. Has not opened spontaneously since. I think carrying it a pocket there is the chance of something pushing on the open button?

ssgballistics · July 1, 2023

My tailgate failed with the truck locked and key fobs hanging on a hook inside the house. My tailgate is the power up and down version. When it malfunctioned it was repeatedly going down, hitting the door at the back of my garage and coming back up. The whole thing was crazy because if you let the tailgate come down and stop it, it essentially just goes limp. We got one of the episodes on video. Had to fight with Chevrolet for months to get the issue resolved and tailgate repaired under warranty. It was a huge mess. When the dealer finally got approval to fix the problem, they had to wait on what they told me was a redesigned wiring harness. I have 24 on order, I am getting the multi-flex tailgate this time. I hope that the lack of power up will help with reliability.

mtbadbob · July 2, 2023

20 hours ago, elcamino said:

I had mine open a few times in the first years, 3x as I recall. I was carrying the key fob in my pocket but I now carry it on a lanyard around my neck. Has not opened spontaneously since. I think carrying it a pocket there is the chance of something pushing on the open button?

That's what I'm thinking is happening in most cases, or the button on the dash accidentally gets pushed as it is fairly low and items in the console tray are close to it.

4x4Hank · July 3, 2023

On 7/1/2023 at 10:36 AM, mtbadbob said:

I'm almost thinking that this is a software issue or keyfob related. It's hard to believe that some of you have replaced the switches multiple times and continue having the same problem. I've owned my truck for over a year and it has never opened randomly on either my High Country or the previous AT4. I've taken my tailgate switches out to fix a dent and they are sealed and really should be waterproof. We've had ton's of rain this year, plus a winter that lasted almost 8 months and never an issue.

Well once the switches are replaced the tailgate operates fine and doesn’t malfunction. Also, when my inner tailgate switch goes bad the inner tailgate just flat out doesn’t work. It won’t open. Once the switch is replaced then it will open. Key fob/software coincidence? The GMC technician/mechanic apparently thinks that it’s a legitimate problem. If it was software, swapping out the switch would not remedy the problem. Just because you haven’t had the issue doesn’t necessarily mean that other people can’t have the problem. As a for instance, many people have had the GM 8 speed transmission shuddering/hesitation problems. But not everyone. GM came out with their remedy for the different trans fluid and the triple flush. So were the people that were experiencing the problems imagining it because not everyone was having a problem? Some people get flat tires and others don’t! Trust me, I have much better things to do with my time then sitting at a GMC dealer waiting for a tailgate switch to be removed, then waiting for a new switch to get shipped to the dealer and then go back again to have that switch installed if I thought that there was another cause to the problem. I’m sorry that you find a problem that you are fortunate enough to not have “hard to believe.”

mtbadbob · July 9, 2023

On 7/3/2023 at 8:21 AM, 4x4Hank said:

Well once the switches are replaced the tailgate operates fine and doesn’t malfunction. Also, when my inner tailgate switch goes bad the inner tailgate just flat out doesn’t work. It won’t open. Once the switch is replaced then it will open. Key fob/software coincidence? The GMC technician/mechanic apparently thinks that it’s a legitimate problem. If it was software, swapping out the switch would not remedy the problem. Just because you haven’t had the issue doesn’t necessarily mean that other people can’t have the problem. As a for instance, many people have had the GM 8 speed transmission shuddering/hesitation problems. But not everyone. GM came out with their remedy for the different trans fluid and the triple flush. So were the people that were experiencing the problems imagining it because not everyone was having a problem? Some people get flat tires and others don’t! Trust me, I have much better things to do with my time then sitting at a GMC dealer waiting for a tailgate switch to be removed, then waiting for a new switch to get shipped to the dealer and then go back again to have that switch installed if I thought that there was another cause to the problem. I’m sorry that you find a problem that you are fortunate enough to not have “hard to believe.”

Yeah, I guess I'm lucky & should knock on wood! I cannot seem to keep from denting my gates though...

BuckWallace · July 13, 2023

Just a follow-up: I brought the truck into the dealer and he said they see this all the time, even on new trucks still on the lot. They found a shorted switch in the tailgate and replaced it--so far it hasn't happened again over the ~2 weeks since replacement.

Edited July 13, 2023 by BuckWallace

Pryme · July 14, 2023

9 hours ago, BuckWallace said:

Just a follow-up: I brought the truck into the dealer and he said they see this all the time, even on new trucks still on the lot. They found a shorted switch in the tailgate and replaced it--so far it hasn't happened again over the ~2 weeks since replacement.

Wonder how it shorted. Probably nothing by to do with the nice holes they drilled into the top of the tailgate right over the switches that so kindly let water drip all over them.

Filling the holes with silicone takes 1 second for each hole. Crazy to think a design team green lit that design.

Edited July 14, 2023 by Pryme

gemarsh · July 14, 2023

10 hours ago, BuckWallace said:

Just a follow-up: I brought the truck into the dealer and he said they see this all the time, even on new trucks still on the lot. They found a shorted switch in the tailgate and replaced it--so far it hasn't happened again over the ~2 weeks since replacement.

Have you siliconed the two holes closed on top of the tailgate?

Jettech1 · July 14, 2023

1 hour ago, Pryme said:

Wonder how it shorted. Probably nothing by to do with the nice holes they drilled into the top of the tailgate right over the switches that so kindly let water drip all over them.

Filling the holes with silicone takes 1 second for each hole. Crazy to think a design team green lit that design.

I'm finally going to do that this weekend, I've never had a problem but hopefully that will prevent one in the future.

Pryme · July 14, 2023

9 hours ago, Jettech1 said:

I'm finally going to do that this weekend, I've never had a problem but hopefully that will prevent one in the future.

The thing is, it can’t hurt anything. If it rains hard that pocket will fill with water but when you drop the tailgate it just comes right out and I’ve never gotten any water on me.

mtbadbob · July 14, 2023

It must just be a batch of cheap switches. I will not smear silicone on my $72k truck, I have yet to have the random opening issue & it's been plenty wet in the year+ that I've owned it. I think if the switches are going to fail, it won't matter if there is silicone in the holes or not. Just thank GM for outsourcing to China...

Pryme · July 14, 2023

4 minutes ago, mtbadbob said:

It must just be a batch of cheap switches. I will not smear silicone on my $72k truck, I have yet to have the random opening issue & it's been plenty wet in the year+ that I've owned it. I think if the switches are going to fail, it won't matter if there is silicone in the holes or not. Just thank GM for outsourcing to China...

Yeah 71k is where I’d draw the line.

all kidding aside, the holes serve no purpose at all. If you want water draining into your tailgate on electrical connections that’s fine. Others prefer to not even go down that road.

4x4Hank · July 15, 2023

14 hours ago, mtbadbob said:

It must just be a batch of cheap switches. I will not smear silicone on my $72k truck, I have yet to have the random opening issue & it's been plenty wet in the year+ that I've owned it. I think if the switches are going to fail, it won't matter if there is silicone in the holes or not. Just thank GM for outsourcing to China...

Well it’s not really “smearing.” It’s just a couple dabs of silicone in the two holes that really can’t be seen. I used clear because that’s what I had. But if I had to buy some special I would have bought black and that might better than clear. Knock on wood, I haven’t had a switch go bad since I plugged the holes.

Edited July 15, 2023 by 4x4Hank
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