Component

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

1,513 NHTSA complaints about structure:body:hatchback/liftgate issues across 37 makes and 225 models.

Data updated August 2026. Counts render from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation standardized component field; severity flags cross-reference NHTSA ODI complaint flags for owner-reported crash, fire, and injury markers. This page is for informational purposes and does not replace NHTSA recall notices or a vehicle-specific inspection. Methodology · Corrections.

NHTSA ODI component intake brief

ODI category STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

1,513 filings · 225 models · 37 makes · vintage August 2026

  • FILINGS MODERATE 1,513 ODI rows
  • MODELS 225 nameplates citing this part
  • MAKES 37 manufacturers in corpus
  • CRASH 4.2% 64 crash-flagged
  • RANK #122 of 696 categories
  • SEV INJURY 9 deaths · 253 injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE (this)STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIF…1,513POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFTPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSM…1,512SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUMSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FO…1,502POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVES…1,497
ODI filing volume neighbourhood: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE vs nearest complaint-total peers

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE sits MODERATE on ODI intake volume (#122 of 696 standardized categories) with a INJURY severity stamp (9 reported fatalities across 225 models). Open Ford Explorer (category leader) →

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE filing-volume reading

The standout signal for structure:body:hatchback/liftgate is ODI intake volume: 1,513 filings (MODERATE band · #122 of 696 standardized categories) across 225 nameplates. Crash-flag share is 4.2%.

Moderate-volume categories still show a fingerprint in the model table below, cross-check each nameplate's recall and investigation history before inferring a defect pattern.

Next step: compare Ford Explorer against POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT on filing totals before treating structure:body:hatchback/liftgate volume as a purchase signal.

1,513
Complaints
225
Models Affected
64
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 Ford Explorer
310
2 Toyota Sienna
128
3 Dodge Caravan
101
4 Plymouth Voyager
78
5 Mercury Mountaineer
46
6 Honda Odyssey
45
7 Ford Escape
42
8 Chrysler Town AND Country
37
9 GMC Acadia
36
10 Buick Enclave
33
11 Toyota Prius
28
12 Chevrolet Tahoe
25
13 Toyota Highlander
18
14 Jeep Cherokee
17
15 Chevrolet Trailblazer
16
16 Ford Expedition
13
17 Subaru Forester
12
18 Jeep Grand Cherokee
12
19 GMC Envoy
12
20 Ford Focus
12
21 Chevrolet Suburban
12
22 Cadillac SRX
12
23 Ford Edge
11
24 Toyota Sequoia
10
25 Dodge Grand Caravan
10
26 Nissan Pathfinder
9
27 Chevrolet Traverse
9
28 Lincoln Aviator
8
29 Honda CR-V
8
30 GMC Terrain
8

Recent Complaints

2023 Nissan Rogue

The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving an undisclosed speed, there was a loud popping sound coming from the vehicle, and the children inside the vehicle discovered

2023 Toyota Prius

The rear plastic where the handle to open the truck is easily damaged and can cause water or damage inside the vehicle.

2023 Tesla Model Y Fatal

The contact's dad owned a 2023 Tesla Model Y. The contact stated the owner opened the liftgate, attempting to unload the vehicle after a trip, when the liftgate inadvertently fell on the head near the

2025 Toyota Sienna Hybrid

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Sienna. The contact stated that the rear liftgate was not properly aligned with the rear door frame. The contact stated that there was a gap of approximately ¼-inch betw

2022 Subaru Outback

I opened the trunk door went to retrieve my groceries and the trunk door came down with extreme force on the top of my head without warning hitting me in the head causing a concussion. The window sen

2012 GMC Acadia

The contact owns a 2012 GMC Acadia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the liftgate independently unlatched and fell midway down, and then independently closed and latched. The vehi

2025 Toyota Sienna Hybrid

The contact owns a 2025 Toyota Sienna Hybrid. The contact stated that the rear liftgate appeared to show a design flaw, and the left and right sides of the liftgate appeared to be misaligned. The cont

2017 Nissan Pathfinder

The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle failed to properly accelerate and the transmission overheated. The vehicle was taken to t

2022 Ford Expedition

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while opening the hatch by engaging the automatic release switch, a hole formed in the sheet material, and the spoiler was fractured. T

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300

1. Rear Hatch hands free system - closes unexpectedly while loading or unloading car without using feet to trigger system. Hatch will close down and trap driver in the rear, causing bruising on driv

2019 Ford Edge

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Edge. The contact stated that while opening the liftgate to place groceries inside the vehicle, the liftgate attempted to close, and in the process,s the liftgate quickly

2018 Tesla Model X

The auto close feature on the Tesla Model X can quite dangerous. I’ve been hit by it unexpectedly closing several times. The most recent time, the rear trunk closed on me while I was taking out my g

2024 Subaru Forester

I opened the back hatch of my 2024 Subaru Forester to retrieve an item. I then pressed the button to close the hatch. It was an extremely windy day and right when I pressed the button to close the hat

2023 Volvo Xc40

On January 22, 2025 on a clear sunny day (no wind) I was putting groceries in the trunk of my car when the trunk lid came down on my head injuring me. I was leaning from the right side of my car acro

2019 RAM 5500

While unloading cargo, I was standing on the flatbed of the truck, leaning over the standing side-gates, without realizing they weren’t locked in place. The gates fell down onto a co-worker and I fell

2024 Mazda CX-90

I opened the rear lift gate. I turned around to grab a bag of vegetables. I leaned in to put them in the back of the car... The lift gate hit my head and continued closing pushing down on my head. I

2021 Lexus RX

On the Saturday (12/21) before Christmas, my hatch door wouldn’t open with the key fob, push button in the vehicle or push button on the door. And the foot under the bumper opener has never worked for

2013 Ford Explorer

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was water on the rear carpet and the floor was wet. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local deal

2022 FIAT 500x

See attached document for complaint.

2024 Toyota Corolla Cross

Toyota recall 24TA11 was performed by the dealership. It is a software update to help with braking under certain conditions. However, this update has led to the power tailgate not longer opening. This

Verify with NHTSA · consumer-reported counts are not verified defect findings.