Tailgate won’t unlatch

[t arnold]

Starting a different thread for this problem. 2350 miles and this am the tailgate won’t release. Worked fine till now. After taking 8 screws out of access panel immediately saw problem. There are 2 thin metal rods on a cam that when rotated (pull handle up) pull left and right to release locks on both sides. Lots of slop in operation. First notice that one rod had more threads exposed from the CHEAP plastic holder than the other. In my case the left rod was too long and wouldn’t pull enough to loosen the lock. So I unlatched did I say CHEAP HOLDER GRIPPING the rod (it is not thread, just pinched) and shortened it a few threads. Works for now.

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[Maverick Country Club]

Thank you for sharing your findings, when/if it happens to me I will know what to do.

 

[Bgolden]

Ford has a TSB for this issue

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TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN Unable To Open The Tailgate From The Release Handle	25-2430 08 October 2025​
Model: Ford 2022-2025 Maverick Built On Or Before 12-Jul-2025 Markets: North American markets only Issue: Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a condition where the tailgate is unable to open from the release handle. This may be due to damaged threads in one or both tailgate latch actuating rods. Action: For vehicles that meet all of the criteria in the Issue and Model statements, follow the Service Procedure to replace the tailgate latch actuating rod(s). Parts Service Part Number Claim Quantity Package Order Quantity Number in Package Description NZ6Z-6043880-A​ 1​ 1​ 1​ Right Tailgate Latch Actuating Rod NZ6Z-6043881-A​ 1​ 1​ 1​ Left Tailgate Latch Actuating Rod Service part numbers and "number in package" quantity may change after publication, thus also affecting the "package order quantity". Refer to the parts catalog for the latest information. Claim Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle. Package Order Quantity refers to the amount of the service part number package(s) required to repair the vehicle, also known as unit of issue (UOI). Number In Package refers to the number of individual pieces included in a service part number package. Warranty Status: Eligible under provisions of New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW)/Service Part Warranty (SPW)/Service Part New Vehicle (SPNV)/Extended Service Plan (ESP) coverage. Limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. NVLW/SPW/SPNV/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool. Labor Times Description Operation No. Time 2022-2025 Maverick: Disconnect And Inspect Tailgate Latch Actuating Rods (Pass) This Article Does Not Apply 252430A​ 0.3 Hrs.​ 2022-2025 Maverick: Disconnect And Inspect Tailgate Latch Actuating Rods (Fail) Replace One Or Both Tailgate Latch Actuating Rod(s) 252430B​ 0.4 Hrs.​ Repair/Claim Coding Causal Part: 6043880 Condition Code: C2 Service Procedure 1. Disconnect both tailgate latch actuating rods from the tailgate latch control assembly. Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Removal and Installation > Tailgate Latch. (Figures 1-2) Figure 1 Figure 2 2. Inspect both tailgate latch actuating rods for damaged threads as shown in Figure 3. Do the tailgate latch actuating rods exhibit damaged threads? Figure 3 (1). Yes - remove and discard the affected tailgate latch actuating rod(s). Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Removal and Installation > Tailgate Latch. Proceed to Step 3. (2). No - this article does not apply, perform normal diagnostics outside of this article. Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 > Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Diagnosis and Testing > Pinpoint test AB. 3. Install new tailgate latch actuating rod(s). Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Removal and Installation > Tailgate Latch. 4. To assemble the vehicle, reverse the removal procedure. © 2025 Ford Motor Company

 

[First Sergeant]

Ford has a TSB for this issue

​
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN Unable To Open The Tailgate From The Release Handle	25-2430 08 October 2025​
Model: Ford 2022-2025 Maverick Built On Or Before 12-Jul-2025 Markets: North American markets only Issue: Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a condition where the tailgate is unable to open from the release handle. This may be due to damaged threads in one or both tailgate latch actuating rods. Action: For vehicles that meet all of the criteria in the Issue and Model statements, follow the Service Procedure to replace the tailgate latch actuating rod(s). Parts Service Part Number Claim Quantity Package Order Quantity Number in Package Description NZ6Z-6043880-A​ 1​ 1​ 1​ Right Tailgate Latch Actuating Rod NZ6Z-6043881-A​ 1​ 1​ 1​ Left Tailgate Latch Actuating Rod Service part numbers and "number in package" quantity may change after publication, thus also affecting the "package order quantity". Refer to the parts catalog for the latest information. Claim Quantity refers to the total number of individual pieces required to repair the vehicle. Package Order Quantity refers to the amount of the service part number package(s) required to repair the vehicle, also known as unit of issue (UOI). Number In Package refers to the number of individual pieces included in a service part number package. Warranty Status: Eligible under provisions of New Vehicle Limited Warranty (NVLW)/Service Part Warranty (SPW)/Service Part New Vehicle (SPNV)/Extended Service Plan (ESP) coverage. Limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. NVLW/SPW/SPNV/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool. Labor Times Description Operation No. Time 2022-2025 Maverick: Disconnect And Inspect Tailgate Latch Actuating Rods (Pass) This Article Does Not Apply 252430A​ 0.3 Hrs.​ 2022-2025 Maverick: Disconnect And Inspect Tailgate Latch Actuating Rods (Fail) Replace One Or Both Tailgate Latch Actuating Rod(s) 252430B​ 0.4 Hrs.​ Repair/Claim Coding Causal Part: 6043880 Condition Code: C2 Service Procedure 1. Disconnect both tailgate latch actuating rods from the tailgate latch control assembly. Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Removal and Installation > Tailgate Latch. (Figures 1-2) Figure 1 Figure 2 2. Inspect both tailgate latch actuating rods for damaged threads as shown in Figure 3. Do the tailgate latch actuating rods exhibit damaged threads? Figure 3 (1). Yes - remove and discard the affected tailgate latch actuating rod(s). Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Removal and Installation > Tailgate Latch. Proceed to Step 3. (2). No - this article does not apply, perform normal diagnostics outside of this article. Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 > Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Diagnosis and Testing > Pinpoint test AB. 3. Install new tailgate latch actuating rod(s). Refer to the WSM, Section 501-14 Handles, Locks, Latches and Entry Systems > Removal and Installation > Tailgate Latch. 4. To assemble the vehicle, reverse the removal procedure. © 2025 Ford Motor Company

Rather than purchase a new rod, I would first try a proper sized die to "clean up" the threads, then use a lock nut or regular nut with some thread locker to keep it from moving in the future. Save a few bucks and the time to go to Ford dealer 35 miles away! Edit: Forgot about the Ford guy across the river here, (mostly a farm/truck type dealer) only about 5 miles.

 

[Bob Hamilton]

Starting a different thread for this problem. 2350 miles and this am the tailgate won’t release. Worked fine till now. After taking 8 screws out of access panel immediately saw problem. There are 2 thin metal rods on a cam that when rotated (pull handle up) pull left and right to release locks on both sides. Lots of slop in operation. First notice that one rod had more threads exposed from the CHEAP plastic holder than the other. In my case the left rod was too long and wouldn’t pull enough to loosen the lock. So I unlatched did I say CHEAP HOLDER GRIPPING the rod (it is not thread, just pinched) and shortened it a few threads. Works for now.

Gotta admit, that CHEAP HOLDER GRIPPING the rod REALLY DOES LOOK CHEAP! C'mon, Ford -is this really the best you could do?!?!

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Gotta admit, that CHEAP HOLDER GRIPPING the rod REALLY DOES LOOK CHEAP! C'mon, Ford -is this really the best you could do?!?!

It is not the best Ford could do.
It was the cheapest Ford could get and still work, most of the time.

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