2019 RAM 1500 tailgate not latching properly

[2019RAMDave]

Problem: The tailgate as mounted is not straight to the bed of the truck. This causes two problems. My dealer says this is the same on other trucks and claims it is working "as designed" Has anyone else seen this problem, and is there a fix?

• The left side suspension cable is very loose, not bearing any load. The right side cable is taut and is the only load bearing cable. This means that the weight capacity of the tailgate is half of what it should be and it is possible for the right cable to break under normal loads, since the left is not supporting the tailgate at all.
• When you close the tailgate, most times, only the left side fully latches, and the right side does not properly latch. When driving, the right side latch opens up and the “tailgate open” warning light shows up in the center display. Slamming the gate closed very hard gets both latches to latch.

The problem appears to be due to the location of the hinges on the truck bed that the tailgate attaches to. The left mount is 5/8’s of an inch from the bed, and the right mount is 3/4 “ from the bed.

• Left support cable – showing how it is very loose.

Right side - cable taut - left side in background loose


right side mount - 3/4 inch


left side mount - 5/8 inch


left side closed


right side closed - not fully latching

 

[Cmerkert]

I know the difference in the cables is very common. Have seen it in a few threads. Not sure if that is a design done on purpose. Maybe a primary and secondary support where one is enough for the aluminum tailgate, but if load increases, then it may stretch and the secondary cable will be utilize. Or, it may be a flaw, but I can't see how they could not have seen this (Ram Cares watches these) and then make the adjustment i.e. use all lefts until the new ones are done correctly. They are cheap and easy to fix. But I am just speculating.

As far as the tailgate latching and different hinge distances, that IS a problem for you and you should get it addressed. Imagine if you have lumber on the tailgate and only one hinge catches and it lets go. Liability. Have your dealer fix it. If your rear passenger door did not latch, would they still let you (and junior) drive down the highway in it. I think not!

 

[silver64]

Talk to the dealers body shop people. They should know more about it than the service advisor. I would not tolerate any bs from them. Its DEFECTIVE and its clear to see it needs remedied.

 

[riccnick]

Check all the rubber bumpers near the mounts and latch strikers as well, when I first got my truck, one of the rubber bumpers was rotated and kept getting squashed by the gate when closed.

 

[SpeedyV]

Problem: The tailgate as mounted is not straight to the bed of the truck. This causes two problems. My dealer says this is the same on other trucks and claims it is working "as designed" Has anyone else seen this problem, and is there a fix?

• The left side suspension cable is very loose, not bearing any load. The right side cable is taut and is the only load bearing cable. This means that the weight capacity of the tailgate is half of what it should be and it is possible for the right cable to break under normal loads, since the left is not supporting the tailgate at all.
• When you close the tailgate, most times, only the left side fully latches, and the right side does not properly latch. When driving, the right side latch opens up and the “tailgate open” warning light shows up in the center display. Slamming the gate closed very hard gets both latches to latch.

The problem appears to be due to the location of the hinges on the truck bed that the tailgate attaches to. The left mount is 5/8’s of an inch from the bed, and the right mount is 3/4 “ from the bed.

• Left support cable – showing how it is very loose.View attachment 18818

Right side - cable taut - left side in background loose
View attachment 18819

right side mount - 3/4 inch
View attachment 18820

left side mount - 5/8 inch
View attachment 18821

left side closed
View attachment 18822

right side closed - not fully latching
View attachment 18823

This is rehashing old threads. Ironically, my issue differs from yours. The left cable is slack, like yours, but the left side is also the “loose” side when closed! I have to shut it from the driver’s side corner to latch both sides. Crazy build tolerances.

 

[silver64]

Has anyone asked a really professional body shop if they can shim the hinge or make an adjustment to fix this?

 

[Gondul]

The tailgate should be sitting flush.

The cable being loose is a 'problem' among all manufactures dating back to the early 90's and the reply is always 'withing build tolerances'... I pulled up all sorts of old links to articles the last time this came up.

 

[Cmerkert]

Everyone just needs one truck buddy who is local.

"I'll trade you my right cable for your left" Buddy 1 gets the 2 Rights (longer ones). Buddy 2 gets the 2 Lefts (shorter ones). Talking about tailgate cables, not johnsons! lol

 

[riccnick]

Everyone just needs one truck buddy who is local.

"I'll trade you my right cable for your left" Buddy 1 gets the 2 Rights (longer ones). Buddy 2 gets the 2 Lefts (shorter ones). Talking about tailgate cables, not johnsons! lol

Yeah but then someone's getting the shaft with the shorter ones...

We're still talking about cables right?

 

[Cmerkert]

^ ^ ^ That's what she said!

 

[Edwards]

Everyone just needs one truck buddy who is local.

"I'll trade you my right cable for your left" Buddy 1 gets the 2 Rights (longer ones). Buddy 2 gets the 2 Lefts (shorter ones). Talking about tailgate cables, not johnsons! lol

Just thought I'd point out that several have removed the cables and they are identical in length. RAM's OEM cable supplier is spot on, Ram is not. They are welding in the mounting points out of spec (well according to RAM, spec is within a 2" radius or so...)

The only fix I've heard of is to either weld in a bit more metal on the long side end piece, or someone else stretched their short cable with their truck and a tree.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

My tailgate opens and closes and functions as it should...... Just like every other tailgate I've had. Mine sits flush when closed. If it didn't, I'd get it adjusted if I couldn't do it myself.

 

[Ratchetman]

My truck has this problem. The dealer adjusted the latch but now the gate does not sit flush on the right side. My gate is bent. They said bring it back so we'll see

 

[Rebel_80]

Hey there guys,

I purchased my Rebel at the beginning of March. When I drove off the lot my tailgate latch popped open. I though maybe the lot kid didn't shut it after the detail and thought nothing of it. Well it now pops open every time I drive it. Its very annoying and it over rides the rear break assist option when its unlatched. I have taken it to the dealer and they saw nothing wrong with it. They said over time it would break in. I thought that was a bunch of BS! I did some research and found that there was a big recall on the 14-17 models for something very similar. Sometimes my backup camera also goes blank and says "out of position". I'm wondering if they are related in anyway. The camera issue has only happened 3 times but did not reset when I latched the tailgate or restarted the tuck. Very weird.....Tailgate has popped well over 100 times. Its documented and I'll be taking it back in a few weeks to document it again.

 

[HeliPilot]

Hey there guys,

I purchased my Rebel at the beginning of March. When I drove off the lot my tailgate latch popped open. I though maybe the lot kid didn't shut it after the detail and thought nothing of it. Well it now pops open every time I drive it. Its very annoying and it over rides the rear break assist option when its unlatched. I have taken it to the dealer and they saw nothing wrong with it. They said over time it would break in. I thought that was a bunch of BS! I did some research and found that there was a big recall on the 14-17 models for something very similar. Sometimes my backup camera also goes blank and says "out of position". I'm wondering if they are related in anyway. The camera issue has only happened 3 times but did not reset when I latched the tailgate or restarted the tuck. Very weird.....Tailgate has popped well over 100 times. Its documented and I'll be taking it back in a few weeks to document it again.

This reads like you need to unplug the wiring at the tailgate, like you were going to remove the tailgate, then re-seat the plug. My guess is that you have a **** poor connection that has an electrical arch that triggers the tailgate release, and also drops the camera feed.

 

[Jus Cruisin]

^^^^^^ Great idea.

 

[RamCares]

Hey there guys,

I purchased my Rebel at the beginning of March. When I drove off the lot my tailgate latch popped open. I though maybe the lot kid didn't shut it after the detail and thought nothing of it. Well it now pops open every time I drive it. Its very annoying and it over rides the rear break assist option when its unlatched. I have taken it to the dealer and they saw nothing wrong with it. They said over time it would break in. I thought that was a bunch of BS! I did some research and found that there was a big recall on the 14-17 models for something very similar. Sometimes my backup camera also goes blank and says "out of position". I'm wondering if they are related in anyway. The camera issue has only happened 3 times but did not reset when I latched the tailgate or restarted the tuck. Very weird.....Tailgate has popped well over 100 times. Its documented and I'll be taking it back in a few weeks to document it again.

Hi Rebel_80,
We're sorry to hear that you are experiencing this tailgate concern. We understand why this is frustrating. If you would like some additional assistance throughout this process, please send our team a private message!
Alex
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Tbunn09]

Hey guys. I have a serious problem. My Tailgate fell off my pickup March 8, two months ago now. I have been denied a warranty claim as Ram says that it is not a failure of Manufacturing or Worksmanship. Not sure how that works but here is what happened. I closed my tailgate with a ladder sitting up on top of the tailgate. I left my house, went down the alley and in turning out of my alley there was a fairly large lump of ice and snow that has to be driven over. In doing this my tailgate falls all the way to the ground. Both cables snapped in a really weird spot. On the tailgate side. Looks like pot metal to me. So I went to the dealership and was sent out the door after they took a couple pictures of what damage I had seen right away. Which was just the cables snapped and the driver side pivot bushing half gone. After about a month of fighting with Ram and my insurance I had a buddy come over who has been in the auto body business for about 10 years and we tried to determine how this all happened. In doing this we found that the passenger side pivot bushing is also half gone and a small plastic piece had fallen out of the driver side latch. Even after this new evidence they are still refusing to help me out so I'm on here now to maybe get some input in what I should do. Here are some pictures of the things that are broken and not a "Failure of Manufacturing or Worksmanship" as the "Area Service Manager" stated as his only response to any question I gave him about how this happens.

 

[silver64]

Sorry for your struggles with this. The sad thing is that they will look for any reason not to do anything for free. Even more sad is that we PAY for the warranty, its not free but built into the cost of every vehicle. I am concerned now that the cabling holding the tailgate is cheap materials or just poorly designed. I also wonder if there are any after market replacements of higher quality?

 

[Stom54]

Noticed mine is like this. Now it's gonna bug the **** out of me. I'll make the dealer aware next oil change.