Tailgate Problems

[CaptainSir]

I'm a newbie member but have been viewing this site for several months. Has anyone with a 2003 truck had any problems with the tailgate dropping down on its own. My dealer said there were some problems with the 01 and 02 trucks but hasn't heard of any 03 problems. Mine dropped down last week and I didn't realise it. I made a right turn and the gate bound against the spare tire of my horse trailer and ripped the gate off. Could have been worse-if I had turned the other way, the gate would have hit the propane tank instead of the spare.

[HD-Nate]

Ouch...that sucks.

NO, no problems with my '03 and thats the first I have heard of it being a problem with '01's and '02's. :confused:

[chuntag95]

That's a bummer. I suppose it comes out of your pocket to fix too.

The only 01 and 02 issues with the tailgate that I heard about was the cables breaking. My father-in-laws both broke at the same time. He dropped the gate maybe 3 inches from horizontal (all the way down) and both cables snapped. Didn't hurt the gate because he had it almost down before he let go. He is not a pop and drop tailgate guy, so I agree there is a cable issue. I think someone is working on some stainless replacements.

[AlanL]

A friend of mine has been having problems on his '01 gasser.

The tailgate doesn't seem to want to latch for him... almost as if its sticking. He's tried different types of spray lubricant with mixed success.

So far, my '03 latches fine.
-Al

[Mike Fultz]

I have an 03 2500HD D/A CC Long bed. I have to give the gate a good shove to close it firmly. My wife can't get enough omphh behide it to close it good. I have not had it fall down yet but I will keep an eye on it, especially if I know the wife or daughter have been in the bed of the truck.


Mike

[thechevyhdman]

I work in the lawn care business and keep all my small 2 cycle equip, hand tools, and parts in the bed of my truck. With a tonneau cover I open my tailgate about 20 times a day easy. I am a pop and drop expert( with all the rain here in the NE im in big hurry) I can say that I did have a problem with a binding tailgate latch...and I can also say that I have heard one side of the tailgate latch, but not the other side. Its kinda a " I heard the tailgate latch, but did it?"...the main test is to put a touch of pressure on the tailgate and you can hear the other side latch .

I have on one occasion met up with someone from this site...had a few drinks....tried out a beta Juice box...and could of swore I closed my tailgate episode..... (Lost my whole toolbox on an entrance ramp)Shinny craftsman tools look like a smashed mirror at night :D :D . Bill

[mackin]

But it was fun !!!!!

Mac :D :D :D

[zsqure]

My 99 had a tailgate that would not latch when it was supposed to, now its replacement is getting just as moody. (Go look at an early 80's s-10, nothing has really changed.) This is where I think furd has a better idea, my father-in-law has a furd that latches so well that he has to get his keys out to unlock the handle when he wants to open his gate. Hopefully GM will address the *iss *oor engineering that went into the mechanism that they call a tailgate latching system. A tailgate should not drop on a $40,000
pick up truck. I bet there has been no problem with the old style suburban/tahoe liftgate. Spend a little money to make it better I will if you will.

[GMC-2002-Dmax]

If mine didn't fall off on Tuesday night I don't think it ever will :eek: .

Ask chevyhdman and Mackin.

GMC tongue.gif

[jbplock]

A friend at work who has a 2003 CC LB had his tailgate open unexpectedly. He said he heard a noise when traveling through a bumpy construction area, and when he got home, he found the tailgate open and damaged. It popped out of the hinge on one side and came down hard and dinged the corner.

When I first got my truck, I noticed the tailgate didn’t close well when installing a tailgate lock. So now I always close it hard and pull on the locked tailgate handle to make sure it’s latched. These newer tailgates also seem heavier than the one on my 98 K3500. The wimpy cables worry me too. I know there have been reports of those letting go too. I’ve been trying to think of some way to reinforce the cable or add another.

smile.gif

[ 06-22-2003, 06:50 AM: Message edited by: jbplock ]

[akcowboy76]

I had this problem with my 02. I have that rhino lining in my truck and thought that is what caused it, no I took the release handle out and found that the piviot points were too stiff. I sprayed some lube on it and worked it in for a while. It took some work but I don't have any trouble with it now. Try it I hope it works for you. And forcing it dosen't do anything but bend your tailgate out of shape. And my wife can latch it just fine.

[johns]

doesn't happen often but my `02 tailgate does drop on it's own periodically. :mad:

[Seattle Steve]

My '99 had that problem where the tailgate wouldn't latch. It would sometimes seem like it did and then drop when driving. I took it all apart and the problem with mine was in the handle assembly. It was binding and not releasing the latches on the sides of the tailgate to the "lock" position. When it gets really bad, it won't latch at all. GM blamed it on corrosion from when I lived in MI, but it's poorly engineered in my opinion after looking it over carefully.

The good news is that the handle assembly is not complex and should not be a very expensive part. I didn't have time to run by the dealer so I drilled the center rivet out and replaced it with a shoulder bolt. That's an option for those of you inclined to fiddle with things.

Good luck!

[flhtc]

had the same problem took the handle the right and left locks and rods all out of the tail gate and found each part was a little sticky a little wd40 got each piece working smothe took 20 minutes works like it should have new

[Rocinante]

I haven't had any problems with my 03. I received a recall notice from GMC to have the cables replaced by the dealer at no cost. Look into the recall at the dealer, I think it applied to 01,02,03 models.