Tailgate Unlocking Issue

Any direction is appreciated. I can lock the tailgate, but can’t unlock it with the same key. I recently purchased the truck 2016 Tacoma SR and the only key I have is a physical key for the ignition, no key fobs or wireless entry.

I took the tailgate apart to get it unlocked. You can physically move the mechanism from locked to unlocked - but the key will not move it from locked to unlocked.

Am I supposed to have a tailgate key or what am I missing here? Again thanks for any words of wisdom!!!

 

The tailgate on the 2016s was keyed differently than doors and ignition for some weird reason.

Might need to get it rekeyed.

 

If only you could have heard how loudly I just said “Well sh**” on my side of the world. Thanks yall, I really appreciate it!

 

It's seriously a wtf quirk. I can't remember if it lasted one or two years before they fixed it. Either 17 or 18 was the year where the tailgate lock wasn't an orphaned afterthought.