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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The contact owns a 2020 Lincoln Corsair. The contact stated that the rear driverâs side liftgate bar had malfunctioned, and the spring had fractured into four pieces. The contact was concerned that
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
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
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
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
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.
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
The power liftâgate strut PNâ¯1551489â00âB failed, bent inward, and shattered the rear glass on 16 â¯Mayâ¯2025. A known defect: Tesla superseded the part to PNâ¯1551488â00âC in Octâ¯2
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
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
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
The rear hatch hinges cracked almost all the way through and had to be replaced. We were afraid to drive the vehicle because we didnât want the hatch back to fall off while driving and create an ac
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Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.