Component

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

783 NHTSA complaints about structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments issues across 35 makes and 128 models.

The structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 783 filings from 35 manufacturers and 128 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 3 crashes, 2 fires, 137 injuries, and 1 fatality. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD EXPLORER with 306 filings, followed by MERCURY MOUNTAINEER and TOYOTA SIENNA. 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.

783
Complaints
128
Models Affected
3
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Deaths

Most Affected Vehicles

# Vehicle Complaints
1 FORD EXPLORER 306
2 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 44
3 TOYOTA SIENNA 39
4 DODGE CARAVAN 36
5 FORD EXPLORER SPORT 23
6 TOYOTA RAV4 17
7 HONDA ODYSSEY 17
8 PLYMOUTH VOYAGER 16
9 FORD ESCAPE 15
10 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY 15
11 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 13
12 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN 12
13 CHEVROLET TAHOE 12
14 TOYOTA PRIUS 8
15 FORD EXPEDITION 8
16 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER 7
17 FORD FOCUS 7
18 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 7
19 CHEVROLET S10 7
20 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 6
21 GMC ACADIA 5
22 BUICK ENCLAVE 5
23 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 4
24 NISSAN PATHFINDER 4
25 GMC YUKON XL 4
26 FORD WINDSTAR 4
27 FORD PROBE 4
28 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER EXT 4
29 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER 4
30 MAZDA MPV 3

Recent Complaints

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

The rear trunk door would occasionally fail to open or shut for the last several years. It was inconsistent with this behavior and I was never able to get it to fail when at the dealership servicing

2020 TOYOTA RAV4

Rear hatch were repaired new actuators but still malfunctioning now hinges are defective dealer won't honor extended warranty suggest take to body shop have defective hinges replaced at my cost

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 bet

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

I began experiencing intermittent rear liftgate sensor issues on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 in late 2020. The power hatch would stop halfway while opening. On 3/24/2021, while the vehicle was under factory

2025 VOLVO XC60

On December 28 the tailgate on my Volvo 2025 xc60 PHEV began to open and close randomly while it was not running, parked in my garage and and plugged in. I unplugged the car from the charger, firmly

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the rear hatch door failed to remain securely closed. The contact stated that the failure intermittently occurred and became more frequent

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

Rear door liftgate hinges defective. They are too week combined with electric power struts. They are being pulled away from body of vehicle and become misshapen (bent, deformed,etc) and causes door/li

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

Lift cylinders of power liftgate are operating at different times causing gate to twist. Liftgate fails to open and close automatically, causing prolonged beeping while liftgate is open. Hinges holdi

2020 LINCOLN CORSAIR

The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Corsair. The contact stated that the rear driver’s side liftgate bar had malfunctioned, and the spring had fractured into four pieces. The contact was concerned that

2021 TOYOTA RAV4

The component that failed/malfunctioned is the rear hatch. The hinges seem to have misaligned and result in the rear hatch not closing properly. Safety is put at risk because the vehicle notifies the

2024 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE

The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while attempting to open the hatch, the hatch opened and then unintendedly lowered within seconds. The contact stated that her husba

2018 HONDA CR-V

The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while her husband was operating the tailgate, he became aware that the driver's side gas strut had exploded and was visible on the outside o

2023 VOLVO XC90

Hands-free tailgate feature initiated unintended closure and disregarded obstruction, striking my wife's head to the point of pain as she was holding our toddler. Had my wife not resisted the hatch w

2020 TOYOTA RAV4

Lift gate will not close properly. Hinges a top of gate are coming undone. Worried gate will open while driving. Had to manually close and hope it closed.

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

1st: veh purchased Jan 2023 with new set of tires. Within 11k miles, about 9months: Rear tires unable to be aligned properly due to no camber adjustment. Rear tires have excessive inner rear (belts s

2022 TESLA MODEL 3

The power lift‑gate strut PN 1551489‑00‑B failed, bent inward, and shattered the rear glass on 16  May 2025. A known defect: Tesla superseded the part to PN 1551488‑00‑C in Oct 2

2022 FORD EXPEDITION

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact opened the liftgate, and the liftgate failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that the l

2018 VOLVO V90CC

Automatic tailgate door, which was open for loading, randomly came down and struck me in the head. Door did not retract on contact but continued downward. No one was in vehicle. Neither keyfob or butt

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the liftgate hinge had fractured into two pieces, causing the liftgate to fail to operate as designed. The vehicle was not taken to the dea

2019 TOYOTA RAV4

The rear hatch hinges cracked almost all the way through and had to be replaced. We were afraid to drive the vehicle because we didn’t want the hatch back to fall off while driving and create an ac

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints involve structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments issues?
The NHTSA has received 783 complaints about structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments problems across 128 vehicle models from 35 manufacturers.
How dangerous are structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments defects?
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS issues have been linked to 3 crashes, 2 fires, 137 injuries, and 1 deaths according to NHTSA complaint data.
Which vehicles have the most structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments problems?
The most complained-about vehicle for structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:hinge and attachments issues is the FORD EXPLORER with 306 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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