Power tailgate accidentally opening with key FOB in pocket? Simple fix…

I read that others were having this issue as well when keeping the key FOB in your pocket. Other keys smash against it in your pocket and even though it requires you hold it down for a couple seconds for it to open the tailgate, it would usually always do it when I would kneel down or something and suddenly it would pop open and several times it nearly hit a garage wall, garage door, or at times even a bike rack is on back, it could strike that and damage / scratch the tailgate.

Opened up the key FOB and took it apart and snapped off the little plastic piece that would put pressure against the sensor inside the FOB. Now it’s impossible to use the key FOB to open / close the tailgate but the buttons on side of the taillights still will open / close it.

I realize you can disable the power tailgate in settings but oddly it disabled the key FOB, but would only close the tailgate and not open via pushing the buttons. Furthermore the function where you nudge it with your knee was also inoperable.

So this way allows full functional use of the power tailgate but WILL NOT allow the FOB to open via pushing/ close the tailgate.

Mission accomplished.

 

I have a scratch to prove it.

 

I only keep my keyfob in my pocket with nothing else in it because I don’t want to scratch it. Problem solved for me. The Last time I’ve carried actual metal keys in my pocket was 2015…

 

That’s annoying that you had to do that . It’s like everything that’s any one comes up with that is new there is always a possible negative hitch somewhere down the line . Granted the power tailgate is a great thing to have . But really if it didn’t exist would any one really miss it ? I am not knocking OP in anyway . But all these types of things are possible headaches down the road and made vehicle prices cost the same as a house was when I was a kid .But here we are .

 

So in disabling the power tailgate, does that mean it operates like a normal tailgate via gravity to open or push it closed as in disabling the power mechanism?

The stupid power tailgate was something that was holding me back on buying a premium since I like everything else but I could totally see the power tailgate breaking in a few years and it be useless. I see it as a problem that didn’t exist that Toyota decided to fix to keep up with the Jones’s at Nissan and GM.

 

It’s just like the automatic faucets in a public rest room . I get it why it has its positives , people leaving water on and not having to touch it but they are always an issue to make them work . I always say , what did we do before we had this stuff lol, I remember back in the 90 ,s I had a Nissan pick up truck for work , and it had roll down windows , 5 speed stick and AC . Nothing else . Simple and nothing to go wrong . That thing ran for ever , and I put to hell and back . Maintenance wise I took good care of though . But the work I did with it and how I loaded it up was insane .

 

Most people have stuff on their key chain and / or carry stuff in their pockets. So although that worked for you it’s not really a solution for most. It’s a bad design…

 

Exactly. I love when people design stuff without thinking it out…or testing it “in the field”.

 

Yeah you can easily disable it under your settings menu….BUT….test it after you do it because I found it to be hit and miss.

 

No. This hogwash POS. The thing that keeps this from being the perfect truck. That and the smaller gas tank. Winding up for a furious rant... must calm down.

Disabling in settings only means it won't lift up for you. You have to unlock the tailgate with the activation switches. Either tail lights or handle switch. You still have to wait for the electric motor to go down or fight it by pushing down. On the way back up, because you disabled it, it just beeps. You have to fight the mechanism to close it and make sure you are locked. It turned a simple fast human task to one of fighting the mechanisms of a machine. Completely unnecessary especially considering they went aluminum and lightened it.

Now try to deal with a cap, depending on which you choose. I got a Smartcap thinking it provides the clearance. No dice. Continuous hangups.

But the kicker is if you walk away with the sensor thinking it is not closed and locked it can trigger anti theft alarm at random times. You can trigger that situation by climbing on off the back to get items or simply have a load that shifts and knocks into the tailgate. Happy sleeping having that happen in the middle of the night. You have to make sure things are tidy by checking your dash display before walking away. Another layer of check that was not asked for.

I just want to throttle the neck of the decision maker for this. Let me at that person.

 

Yeah the power tailgate is one of those things that I enjoy when it works, but like you pointed out…as soon as you add anything to “confuse it”, it definitely gets confused.

That’s why I took the remote apart and knocked that little tab off. Now it’s impossible to open / close it with the key FOB. And actually why would they even make it that way in the first place. The side touch panels would have been enough to make us lazier.

 

That’s what I figured after playing with it at the dealer….good reason to buy the “upgrade package” which has a standard dampened mechanical latch tailgate…the ones we’ve always had and never broke but Toyota felt like it needed to be fixed and add $1000 more to the price just because. Problem is the “upgrade package are far and few in between in the TRD trims. They are either stripped to nothing in options and they load it with add ons that nobody wants, or it’s a premium, still loaded with dealer add ons. Makes keeping the 19 more and more attractive.

 

The 3G is not in the same universe. I don't miss a thing about it.

 

Yeah, agreed….although there are a few small issues like this, as far as performance and that nice big 14” display…and the looks of the truck….it’s not even a comparison. And I have had every gen of Tacoma since the mid 90s.

 

The main reason I posted this thread was to help anyone having the same issue looking for a quick / simple fix. Overall, I am very happy with the 2024 Taco TRD OffRoad Premium. Just a couple little “tweaks” here and there for the engineers / Toyota people who (contrary to what people claim) I know read these threads.

I also get official surveys from Toyota and I take the time to fill them out, hoping the information gets back to the right people. As a consumer and Toyota fan, that’s all I can do.

 

Yeah, my rant is just about one thing. This is an amazing truck and I would get a fleet of them even with that one thing. Most people don't have my use case. And I am a little crazy.

 

Yeah nothing is perfect...and when you buy a truck the first year of a total redesign....well, that's kind of part of the deal. I will say though that Toyota stands behind their trucks and always has. That's why I have owned every generation since 1995. LOL

 

The second owner of your truck is going to love this.

 

She's getting PO'd. I better quit talking about her. LOL

 

1) You're assuming there will be a second owner
2) I have a spare key FOB.
3) The world won't end if you can't lower your power tailgate with a key FOB.