Liftgate Opens - $7K damage

[Mandretti]

As I was backing my car out of the garage I heard a crunch and immediately stopped to investigate. Somehow the liftgate had opened between the time I walked past it and started in reverse, and it had bumped into the top of garage opening. This caused an 18” long 1/8” crack in the gate.

Fast forward two months. It required a whole new liftgate, a month and $7k to fix this, Ridiculous. Fortunately insurance paid for most of it, but really you can see that with very little damage this 4.5 year old car could be totaled. What a waste. A small strip of duct tape could have done this job and maybe only cost $4k.

After this incident I’ve noticed that the gate has opened on its own several times. Reading here it looks like the foot kick function ( which only worked 40% of the time anyway) might be the culprit so I’ve turned it off. Hopefully that’s it.

P.S I’m sure this situation (cost) is not unique to the Mach-e or Ford. So not trying to disparage those. I’m saying this so the forum defenders don’t rain down verbal missiles from on high.

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[Mache_Nor]

Mine has opened a handful of times by itself too, which at one point caused a dent as it hit a pointy pipe in an underground garage. Of course I have no way to prove this, other than mention / claim that it seems to happen when I walk at the side / back of car (not close enough for kick sensor, I’m a couple of meters away).

 

[CarolinaMachEGT]

Should I therefore be happy that they cancelled the lift gate kick sensor option? 🫤

 

[Snakebitten]

Mine doesn't have the sensor option, but over the first two years of ownership, I have had ONE incident of the hatch opening before I put the car in reverse. And recently I had the Frunk do the automatic double unlatch just a second after I unlocked the car with the b-pillar number pad. I swear I didn't touch any numbers after I entered the entry code.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

In my experience with my 2021, the liftgate only automatically opens when you don’t want it to. Like walking past it then backing up in a garage.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

I have kick-to-open enabled on my Job 1 2022 and use it virtually every time I open the rear. It has been known to open "on its own", though I can't rule out that the button on the fob got double tapped in my pocket.

Because I typically enter the garage through the house and then walk to the car (ok, shimmy alone the side of the car) to get in to drive away, I don't notice if the lift gate is partially open. I put padding on the inside of the garage door since the rear of the car is only about 2" from the door when closed. The few times the lift gate was open when I tried to open the garage door, the door has always jammed and stopped, (so far) doing no damage to the lift gate. But of course now that I've written all this I can easily imagine that my luck will change.

I really feel for the OP though. $7K to fix is a lot, though I presume it would be similar for any new car...

 

[azerik]

Mine doesn't have the sensor option, but over the first two years of ownership, I have had ONE incident of the hatch opening before I put the car in reverse. And recently I had the Frunk do the automatic double unlatch just a second after I unlocked the car with the b-pillar number pad. I swear I didn't touch any numbers after I entered the entry code.

This is unlock code then 7/8 9/0 so itf you number ends with one of those it's probably related the the pad it's self + swipe of the hand. It took me a long time to realize that the Lock icon doesn't need pressed. But a swipe above or below it works better than pushing the stupid thing that should mean 'lock'. That whole door entry panel was poorly dreamed up and after 15 years of so of it being out in the wild they just keep putting it on more Fords.

 

[Maquis]

they just keep putting it on more Fords.

Not any more!

 

[Snakebitten]

This is unlock code then 7/8 9/0 so itf you number ends with one of those it's probably related the the pad it's self + swipe of the hand. It took me a long time to realize that the Lock icon doesn't need pressed. But a swipe above or below it works better than pushing the stupid thing that should mean 'lock'. That whole door entry panel was poorly dreamed up and after 15 years of so of it being out in the wild they just keep putting it on more Fords.

Thanks for the heads up on the swipe method. I bet that's exactly what happened.

I personally won't buy a Ford without the b-pillar keypad. I'm one of those that has incorporated it into habits.

Not any more!

I think Ford has reversed their course regarding, and it's returning to several models.

 

[Maquis]

I think Ford has reversed their course regarding, and it's returning to several models.

Glad to hear that. I’ve always found it useful.

 

[azerik]

The touch panel is dead! Long live the touch panel!

 

[ARK]

For years, the liftgate on my 2021 Mach-E never opened on its own, but it has happened 2 or 3 times now in the last year. Luckily it has not hit anything as I park outside, but it is concerning. I don't know what has changed.

 

[RickMachE]

I think Ford has reversed their course regarding, and it's returning to several models.

Source? Not seen any mention of this.

 

[A-A-Ron]

In my experience with my 2021, the liftgate only automatically opens when you don’t want it to. Like walking past it then backing up in a garage.

My experience is that the likelihood that it opens is inversely related to the chance I want it to work. Walking past the car in the garage? It'll open and try to knock you down. Unlocking the car from the front door and the taillights flash against a wall - it'll see its shadow and open. Walking up to car with an armload of groceries? Hell no. Doing the whole Fiddler On The Roof dance trying to kick below the car? Not a chance.

I'd like to think Ford would have improved this feature, if they hadn't decontented it instead.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

The worst features of this vehicle are not EV-related.

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