Component

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

571 NHTSA complaints about latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch issues across 31 makes and 139 models.

The latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 571 filings from 31 manufacturers and 139 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.

Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 9 crashes, 1 fire, 47 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 48 filings, followed by FORD F-150 and CHEVROLET S10. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.

Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.

571
Complaints
139
Models Affected
9
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 48
2 FORD F-150 29
3 CHEVROLET S10 29
4 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 24
5 DODGE CARAVAN 23
6 FORD EXPLORER 22
7 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 22
8 FORD F-350 21
9 RAM 1500 16
10 TOYOTA SIENNA 13
11 FORD F-250 13
12 GMC SIERRA 1500 12
13 GMC SIERRA 11
14 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 11
15 GMC SONOMA 10
16 FORD RANGER 10
17 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 10
18 VOLVO V70 9
19 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 9
20 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE 8
21 CHEVROLET BLAZER 8
22 TOYOTA TUNDRA 6
23 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 6
24 JEEP CHEROKEE 6
25 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 6
26 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER 5
27 FORD ESCAPE 5
28 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 5
29 RAM 2500 4
30 FORD WINDSTAR 4

Recent Complaints

2022 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened independently, and the tailgate was manually closed. The contact stated that the nex

2023 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the tailgate was constantly opening unintendedly. The failure also occurred while the vehicle was parked overnight, causing th

2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that after activating the 4WD in the driveway and going onto the road, while in 4WD and driving 35 MPH, the transfer case began mak

2022 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owns a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the tailgate opened unintendedly. The contact stated that the failure occurred while the vehicle was i

2018 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the tailgate independently unlatched. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnos

2023 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Highlander. The contact stated that the liftgate had failed to open or to close intermittently. The contact stated that the liftgate made an abnormal grinding sound whil

2017 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Escape. The contact stated that the tailgate unexpectedly opened while driving. The contact stated that the tailgate could be opened manually or with the key fob. The cont

2019 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the tailgate was occasionally opened unexpectedly while driving at various speeds. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer w

2024 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that water was entering the tailgate. After taking the vehicle to the car wash, the tailgate became ajar. No waning lights were ill

2018 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the contact felt a thump and observed a loud noise simultaneously coming from the rear of the vehicle

2023 TOYOTA TUNDRA

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Tundra. The contact stated that while attempting to open his garage door, the contact heard an abnormal banging sound. The contact then observed that the tailgate of the

2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that after power washing the vehicle, the tailgate opened unexpectedly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact used

2024 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owns a 2024 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and towing a utility trailer, the contact stated that upon making a left turn, the tailgate opene

2021 GMC SIERRA 1500

The contact owns a 2021 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened independently. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that on a separ

2023 RAM 1500

The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and towing a trailer, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. The contact drove the

2018 FORD EXPLORER

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the tailgate had failed to open. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the tailgate latch had failed and n

2021 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that after arriving to her destination, the contact became aware that the tailgate was unintendedly lowered. While attempting to cl

2022 FORD F-150

The contact owns a 2022 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to open the rear tailgate of the vehicle, and the tailgate inadvertently closed on the c

2024 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 91 MPH, the vehicle was shaking erratically. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; h

2022 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the tailgate latch independently unlocked. The contact stated that the failure had occurred

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch issues?
The NHTSA has received 571 complaints about latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch problems across 139 vehicle models from 31 manufacturers.
How dangerous are latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch defects?
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH issues have been linked to 9 crashes, 1 fires, 47 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for latches/locks/linkages:tailgate:latch issues is the CHEVROLET SILVERADO with 48 complaints.
Where does PlainCars get its safety data?
All vehicle safety data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database, which collects reports from vehicle owners about safety-related defects.

Data Sources

Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.

Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.

Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.

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