Tailgate latch keeps breaking

I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD sport (access cab - no electronic locking tailgate) and the latch mechanism keeps breaking. By that I mean it gets stuck where the handle slowly starts to bind until it won't open the tailgate anymore, and recently wouldn't lock with the key. The dealer has replaced the latch mechanism 2 or 3 times already in 4 years and just ordered parts to replace it again. Is anyone else having issues? This seems crazy to me. I only open my tailgate a few times a week max and do not use it as a work truck. I feel like I shouldn't be having these issues.

 

Try lubricant. I recently fixed a Tacoma door handle that wouldn’t open by spraying some wd40 and putting some grease where the bar goes to the latch.

 

Check the mechanism inside the tailgate. It needs lube or its binding or its alignment is off.

The latch is a symptom being caused by something else.

 

Seems like an alignment issue with the tailgate. 0 issues on mine

 

Maybe the problem isn’t the mechanism if it’s been replaced 3 times already

 

I also think it's an alignment issue. Is there any chance the tailgate got slightly tweaked at some point?

 

I'm assuming it's the actual latches on either side (left and right) of the tailgate that are binding, not the handle / lock. Pull your panel off and soak them bishes.

 

Anything is possible. I'm not aware of that happening but I'm sure it could have been. Dealer ordered parts under warranty...I'll push the alignment/other areas issues when they come in. I agree this shouldn't keep happening

 

Open the gate. Pull the plastic panel and you can see the mechanism. Try cycling it and see what’s catching. Lube, readjust and should be good. Take 5 min to do

 

This seems likely, I had a ranger that had this issue the latch itself was binding and this caused the handle to break when pulled on.

 

It doesn't take much to tweak these tailgates. Years ago I put a slight bend in the tailgate on my T100 by loading a heavy ATV onto it. The Tacoma tailgate seems to be much thinner and thus easier to bend. Just something to look at.

 

Thanks. I've hauled some concrete and a decent amount of oak slabs so it's definitely possible. I will take a look thank you to everyone for the information.

 

You can take the tailgate back off and watch it while you pull the handle. Should be pretty simple to see the problem. Not much in there.

 

Graphite works great to lubricate those parts behind the access panel. I use lanolin on the latches. White lithium works great too and virtually maintenance free just very messy and ugly. Hope these work for you and it’s not something else.

OP is everything on your tailgate OEM? I.e. no pop n lock right? (Oops you’re a 3rd gen, those come with locking tailgates right?

 

2017 here- Ive noticed even parking on a side hill with a load can put the tailgate out of square - hence why people use bedside stiffeners. I agree with everyone who said it is out of alignment, when you notice it gets stiff to open is a good time to look at both sides of the joint between the tailgate sides and bedsides to see if they are even.