Note: This information applies to 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 models as well as 2020 Silverado and Sierra Light Duty and Heavy Duty models.
Some customers with the above vehicles may have difficulty closing their vehicle’s power tailgate (if equipped) or may comment that the tailgate binds when using the power control feature.
The problem may stem from a misaligned tailgate. The following steps can help to properly position it. Note that this procedure may also be necessary after completing any body-related repairs in this area.
To align the tailgate:
- Loosen both pickup box side hinge bolts (1) on the right and left side.
- Install shims (2) on both sides, if needed.
- Hand-tighten the bolts (1) on each side.
- Close the tailgate and adjust for fit and flushness, both up-down and fore-aft.
- Open the tailgate and tighten the bolts.
- Open and close the tailgate to check for flushness (b).
- Open the tailgate and loosen both strikers about 1/3 to 1/2 of a turn, enough for striker movement without losing the nut.
- Close the tailgate. Use hand pressure (at point a) to adjust the strikers, balancing pressure side to side to ensure that the strikers make contact simultaneously and don’t cause binding. This also will minimize the non-flush look by dividing it equally between sides.
- Open the tailgate carefully and tighten both strikers.
- Open and close the gate to ensure correct flushness.
Note: When properly adjusted, the tailgate is not “tight” to the striker/latch interface. There should be approximately 1.5mm of tailgate movement with it fully closed. If it is adjusted too tightly, the tailgate will fail to unlatch during the remote open commands and will fail to re-latch during a powered close.
