How the hell does this even happen?

Lower corner of tail gate panel pulled outward.

WTF? Someone reverse into me and hook it ? I don’t see any other damage. Could it have happened while the tail gate was down and someone put too much weight on it ? This is a daily driver that doesn’t do any industrial hauling.

weird.

 

Attempted tailgate theft?

 

If a rock or something fell between the bed and tailgate when it was open, then got lodged in there when it was closed, then moved while driving around, then you went and opened the tailgate and it forced the sheet metal to bend.
I’ve actually had that happen before but it was in the center of the tailgate and far less noticeable.

 

This one! HAHAHAHA

 

Parked on someone's spot?

 

As stated above, something in the way of the tailgate when opened or closed.

 

Exact same thing happened to mine at a tire shop. I went in for a patch/plug in a flat tire. I was running the spare on the truck, with the flat tire in the bed. They had to use the tailgate to get the tire out (obviously). When I went back out to my truck, my tailgate had the same bend yours does.

What I assume happened (they never admitted this, but they did pay for the damage), is that when opening/closing the tailgate, they pulled the right side off of the hinge/catch like if you were going to remove the tailgate. But instead of putting it back on nicely before closing, they just forced it.

 

Same thing happened to mine, if you pull the tailgate outward when its in the down or almost down position... the tailgate pops out of the hinge...you can pinch the corner if its not in the correct spot when you push it back up.
If the paint is not cracked or split, you can bend it back into shape.

 

Could be any of the 3 causes.

 

Thanks everyone. All makes sense. Any advice on bending it back?

 

I would remove the tailgate from the truck so you have better access at bending it back down.

 

Dude, I’d be pissed. Hope you can get it fixed.

 

I got a load of rocks a few days ago in mine and a couple fell down between the bed and tailgate. I picked them out before shutting it or I could see something like this happening.

 

Wow! If it was theft.... Man people suck!

 

If the paint is not broken, try a good PDR tech for a fix. If not, time for a body shop repair and repaint.