Ford F-150 power tailgate stuck or frozen? Quick, easy fix! 

God i love a guy that can get to the point. Excellent video! Please narrate all repair videos on you tube.

Dealer wanted to charge me $1,000 to fix. Did it in ten minutes because of you 🤲

I’m an old lady with a 2015 F150. After studying your video, I went to my Ford dealer and priced the new actuator….$68. Because I have more time than money, I took off the rear panel and review the parts. I then sprayed the entire unit with WD 40 and it worked! I saw another video where the man placed a strap on the opening lever and that worked as well.

Just what I needed. Thanks to your help, I was able to fix my truck in just twenty minutes. Saved me several hundred dollars!

Fantasticly informative and also full of many wonderful digs at ford and their complete lack of interest in helping the people that keep them ridiculously wealthy... Great video! Smart human.

👋Thanks for the video - very helpful! As of JULY 2022 - Part number for whole assembly (not just the actuator) is GC3Z-9943170-E took about 15 minutes to replace thanks to this video! 👍

This was my problem but instead of opening the box, I gave it a few taps and it freed itself. Thanks for the video!!

Dude, you're a lifesaver. I thought I was going to the Ford dealership today.

Thanks for the video. I just fixed mine. It would open if I put pressure on the left downlock. Once I got the panel off the tailgate, I noticed the cables to the downlocks had a lot of slack. I readjusted them and used WD. I dont think the WD was even necessary but I did it anyway. Works as it should now.

I love the way you talk about Ford. Great video and thanks for the info and laughs.

Just replaced mine for $40, thank you for video. Put some wd40 on the side latches as well and it has worked well.

This video was excellent. I was able to repair my 2015 that was having this problem. Thank you sir for making this helpful video.

Many thanks for the info! Saved my moms camping weekend.

Good video. I just left the dealership from getting the dreaded junk cam phasers replaced on my 2017 F150 Lariat. So happy to have that done. I run to Lowes to get an entire pallet of vinyl flooring. Get loaded and head home. When I arrive home to unload my tailgate wont open. I head for RU-vid to find out how to fix this. Unfortunately my tailgate is almost touching the load so I cant even access the screws to remove the access panel! By some stroke of luck my tailgate finally opens so I can unload my cargo. This would've been a huge problem if a person had something solid and heavy against the inside of the tailgate. I cant believe Ford doesn't have a mechanical over ride for this? Nothing like a junk $60 part to make life a little more difficult! Come on Ford you can do better. Thanks for the video.

My actuator was fine, the passenger side latch was just stuck. I now know it does that if I slam the tailgate shut aggressively. I lubed up everything I could find and access. Time will tell on that. For now, I just close the tailgate gently. The button and fob both work if I'm gentle with it. I left the panel off for now for future review. Working from the outside with the gate up is rather inconvenient. Thanks so much for a very helpful and nicely done video.

I love the humor In this video 😂😂😂

Great video, Thanks for the help!!Before ordering the part, I figured I’d spray some white lithium grease on the mechanism after I removed the cover, it worked perfectly to free it up

Very well spoken 👏 frustrated but after watching your video I'm back down to earth 👍

Thanks a lot, knew what to look for on my 2016. But it felt like the driver side cable was pretty loose, slack when there was none on the other side. So I popped the clips, and moved the cable in more, works like a charm now. Much appreciated for the video bud

Jared, thanks for the video. Worked perfectly on my 2017 Lariet.

Great video, sent to dealer (Ford), the parts guy was lost! Fortunately the WD40 fix worked for me.

Awesome video. Perfect directions for me to replace the part!! Thanks!

Extremely helpful video. Thanks dude

Thank you so much for doing this video. Frickin made it super easy with the part # you added. 👍🏻👍🏻

Thank you! Now I can open my tailgate!

wow. this is crazy. I have a 2021 F150 with a power tailgate that just stopped working as of two weeks ago. Stuck in the upright position. Lame. thanks for the info and the video. looks simple enough

This damn thing went out on my raptor. Glad I have your video for reference. I ordered my part from villagefordparts and got it shipped within 2 days. 53 bucks, way cheaper than the dealer

Thanks, bro. You're right, it took me about 15 minutes. Super easy fix after watching your video.

2019 Raptor - same issue. WD whole thing & put in a cord pull thru top just in case. Great video & comments, saved me a few hundys.

Saved by a helpful video again!

Thanks for the video. It was immensely helpful. I have a 2016 Ford F150 Lariat and experienced the same problem with my tailgate. I removed the tailgate access panel and without having to first remove the actuator assembly, just applied a little downward pressure on both cables and the tailgate latches released, opening the tailgate. Then I went through the process of unclipping the cables and removing the actuator assembly. After removing the electronic module, I was able to open it without destroying the tabs by slipping some 16-14 gauge spade lugs (one side of the forked end) between the tabs. Depressing them so they wouldn’t catch. Then with a flat head screwdriver, worked it between the module halves and separated them. Like yours mine was frozen. But trying to move the gears with my thumb would not work. I had to lift the plastic screwed gear part out. Then using a pair of needle nose pliers, I was able to turn the gear at the end of the electric motor, thus freeing it. I reassembled the electronic module plugged it back in, then tried my remote. It worked! Re-assembled the actuator assembly and re-installed it. Have tried it several times since and it’s still working. Time will tell how long it goes. Maybe another four years. Poor design in my opinion. The electric motor is so minuscule, and plastic gears. I would think an electronic solenoid, a simple plunger design would be more reliable. Less moving parts and no plastic gears. Thanks again. //Jack

Thank you for the video! Very helpful!

This is super helpful! Thank you so much!

wow fantastic and funny-- thanks for putting this up!!-- seems simple enough!!

Thank you for posting

Thank you so much for making this video. I appreciated the honest sarcasm also!

Nailed it. Thanks for the video

I’m not sure but I think I was detecting a trace amount of sarcasm in the production of this video. None the less it was enjoyable to watch and I might suggest a soothing asmr video if and when you might be feeling such feelings of frustration/anger in the future.

Thanks for the video. Same problem on my 2018 F150. To make to problem worse, we have a tonneau cover. Not looking forward to damaging a $400 cover to replace a $60 part.

My Tonneau cover was locked in place when my tailgate seized. Fortunately, beating the crap out of the tailgate as I repeatedly pressed the release button got it open. Ordered the part for $65.00, swapped it out, and off we went. Saved about $300-$350 from what Ford was "estimating" SMH! Thanks for the video.

Thanks bud 💪🏼👍

Thank you!!

Excellent video. Thank you.

Hahaha… Love the commentary. Thanks for posting.

Straight god damn forward. My man.

Thanks man 👍

Thanks brother

Thank you nice video, Fix for future emergency, I have a back flip that seals the bed when closed, so the only way to get in is to break something...lol, but instead, just lift the step (limited model) strait up and remove the plastic dirt catch with the 2 plastic push pins and push the hidden handle down LEFT OF CENTER with screwdriver or pipe, and open sesame. I drilled a 1/4" hole to the left and a little above the open water drainage slit NOT THROUGH THE METAL, in the plastic, so I can just use a philips screwdriver if it gets stuck in the future. Hope this helps if in a jam.

thank you so much ford wanted to charge me 240$ to “diagnose” my tailgate

Thank you for your video. I was informative and I think I have the opposite symptom but same cause. Hoping someone can confirm. I have a 2020 F350 is same power tailgate. I can open tailgate but it won't latch closed!! I took my panel off and confirmed same guts as yours. I can not manually push the arm back in the actuator. I had this happen a few times before eventually paying iwth the latches I could get tailgate to stay closed and the problem would be gone for a few months but not today. I now have my tailgate secured up with a ratcheting tie-down.

I just switched to a FORD. Brand new F250. Already have this problem after 2 months. This has to be the dumbest feature ever. Why would I not want a manual tailgate release? Totally unuable! Might be switching back to GMC? Thanks for the video - at least now I can tell my dealership how to fix it.

Your awesome. Lol. Thank you

Jared, I have had this problem now 2 times on a 2017 F-150 Lariat FX4. As you said this is common problem and really unacceptable given the cost of this these trucks. I had it fail once in cold weather and now recently in June 2020. Currently parts are NON existent due to supply chain issues related to covid. Do you know of any third party work arounds? thanks

What is the part number for the electric actuator?

Thank you so much for your explanation in detail...from South Korea..! I have a question. Is your F150 model year 2021?

Hi, on my truck the trail gate still opens with the remote button. Will this fix the problem?

Thank you for this video!!! Saved me hours of dealership frustration and got me out of a bind. I was able to remove the panel and use the tailgate. Where is the best place to order the part?

This video was great. I got everything apart and got my tailgate open in just a few minutes. Do you know if there’s a way to just buy the actuator and not the entire assembly?

How to access with a hard top tonneau cover in place and tailgate is in the up position,? Anyone have a suggestion

What if you have a bed cover? It’s complete bs I can’t get to the bed of the truck at all because there a bed cover on and locked with the tailgate frozen or jammed

I assume this is essentially the same for the tailgates that don't self lower but do unlock with the key fob? My 2017 xlt stopped unlocking a few days after getting it back from the dealer for front suspension work

Jared, I can open my tail gate by the remote and the button on the inside left lower driver-side panel. I cannot open it with the button on the tail gate. If I take mine apart like you do here what should I look for and troubleshoot to fix this problem?

This is a great video, but if I went to a dealer how much would this whole thing cost?

Power

Same problem but im screwed I have a heavy duty tonneau cover that covers the bed and have no way of getting to that back panel...

So many views 😭😭😭

Just had this happen to my truck. I’m working on a aftermarket piece that will give you the manual handle with the electric one. In case it gets stuck again

Thank you! Fixed my 2015 F150 Lariat today using your video. The part is now plastic with a piece of leather shielding over the actuator. Part number GC3Z9943170E

Ok but mine had just been working and it didn't get wet and it wasn't cold...so couldn't be frozen...any advice?

I have a hard cover so I cannot get in at all

My tailgate opens with remote, but wont open pushing the button.

I ended up replacing the actuator. Five minute job. Works fine now. We'll see how long it lasts. It is an incredibly cheap ass design - rediculous putting a crappy little toy motor in a $50K truck.

My problem is I have a cover on mine and have no way of getting it down

My chevrolet doing same stupid thing

whats the part number?

Thanks for your video., made it really easy to change that part Part # GC3Z9943170D (Ford dealership)

So what's the fix? Replace it? Mine's only stuck when it freezes out. Works every other time

I tugged on both sides and the tailgate did not come down at all..now what??

Mine is locked and won’t unlock I hate that I have a 2016

Of course mine does this and I have a roll cover on the bed fml

I feel like this guy has other stuff going on

Sure a useful video for some, but it gives me a vertigo.

This happened to mine at 36.5k wtf dude shits brand new

And if you have a tonneau or cap you’re screwed!

Ok I give up. You don’t show to open it in the stuck closed position.

My 2021 FORD $75,000 POS is doing the same thing! Ford sucks!

Confirming that this fix worked on my 2017 King Ranch. The part I bought: GC3Z9943170E. Several websites said this part wouldn't fit my truck, but it did.