KenSpringTx

Strangest thing.. my rear lift gate has decided NOT work about once a week requiring a reset at the glove box switch... Anyone else having this issue?? My thoughts are the lift gate motor might be seeing the end of its life but I'm not aware of this being a common challenge.. your feed back, guidance and suggestions are appreciated... Many Thanks

salimshah

IMHO you have the wrong function association with the button in the glove box.

That button is like enable/disable auto lift from the back. Please see the owners manual to be sure.

The motor has to fight the weight of the hatch [the weight has a counter balance provided by the struts/stays. The struts are gas filled and over time they loose their strength and the motor has to fight harder. Expected life is 5-7 years. The motor has calibration to not over power and injure a person so it starts backing up.

Salim
PS: This is not an uncommon problem. Search should give you lot of threads on it.

KenSpringTx

Copy that.. I understand the function of the button, so happens this action resets something and enables the power function to work again. I will try the strut solution.. many thanks for the reply.

carguy75

Man, you hit it on the nose. The rear hatch motor is most likely being burned out by trying to lift the heavy rear hatch without aid from working support struts. Ever since I had to replace a burned out lift gate motor on my old 2011 RX350 that had non-working support struts; I now make sure that my current 2015 RX350 have working support struts by manually semi closing the rear hatch every so often to see if the supports push it back up on their own.

Struts are cheap; the rear hatch motor is not.

uncle

Today I resolved a similar issue on my 2015 RX. I was having intermittent issues with the tailgate, sometimes it would work, sometimes not. I used the lockout button, and sometimes (by coincidence) it would work, usually not. I assumed it was a failing motor. Many forum members indicated strut issues, so I ordered a pair, twenty minutes later, problem is resolved. I can see that if you let the weak strut issue go too long, it could lead to additional damage to the motor, gear box, etc.

I used Strong Arm #6756 replacements, about $50 for the pair from Amazon. I would call them quality, well made, and easy to install. There were less expensive options, but I tried these. Hecho in China.

KenSpringTx

Thanks, Uncle!!! I ordered my struts, but only one came in. The "Bag" it shipped in had a hole where the other vacated. I'm waiting on round 2.