CAUTION - Power-Tailgate can lock when closed

[Randyg]

I learned something today - the hard way.

I was out fishing yesterday and got back to my truck, dropped the tailgate, sat on it and got out of my waders and put my shoes on. I was in a bit of a hurry cuz I hate to almost run to the bathroom. All my gear was in the bed under a tri-fold cover. Being in a public parking lot, didn’t want to leave my stuff out for anyone to take, so I hit the button close my tailgate and trotted off to the toilet. When I got back, I discovered the tailgate was locked. My keys were still in my waders, in the bed, under the tonneau. I had to wait a couple hours for my wife to arrive with a back-up key. Moral of the story: Opening the tailgate does not unlock your doors. I didn’t know that (or at least forgot). Do now!

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[bigd9247]

That's good to know. I'm surprised you couldn't open the tailgate with the keys inside the bed. It would seem like they would be close enough to still work.

 

[Pappy]

My doors, including the tailgate, automatically lock after 2-3 minutes.

 

[FLAirgunner]

Don't you have the Limited? Couldn't you have pushed the button in the tail light to lower it? It does seem odd that it would not unlock or open with the keys in the bed that close to the tailgate.

 

[TacoRaptor]

I tested keeping a spare key in the locked bed under a rolling cover on my 2025 TH to see if a random person could open it. Had a coworker try it while I was far away with the other keys and he was able to open it after a few tries. So I don't put a spare key in my truck bed.

 

[Randyg]

That's good to know. I'm surprised you couldn't open the tailgate with the keys inside the bed. It would seem like they would be close enough to still work.

Me too, Keys were probably 6”-8” from the latch.

Don't you have the Limited? Couldn't you have pushed the button in the tail light to lower it? It does seem odd that it would not unlock or open with the keys in the bed that close to the tailgate.

Yes a Ltd.
Pushing the buttons on the tailgate or the tail lights did not work. Trust me I tried. Nothing to do for a few hours but try over and over again.

 

[CharlieLed]

I don't have the power tailgate option on my truck but I learned very quickly that the tailgate will automatically lock and the bed scene lighting go off. Never tried leaving the key fob in the bed but I think that I will test it out now.

 

[FLAirgunner]

Me too, Keys were probably 6”-8” from the latch.

Yes a Ltd.
Pushing the buttons on the tailgate or the tail lights did not work. Trust me I tried. Nothing to do for a few hours but try over and over again.

I've not tried it myself, so this is good to know! With today's proximity keys, it's hard to hide a spare key anymore! It would make sense if it was inside the cab, but in that case, you shouldn't be able to lock it either. I know now to keep the key on my person, no matter how bad I have to pee!

 

[Cappaworks]

Weird. Mine works fine with the doors locked and the card key near the middle of the bed. I can open the tailgate but not the doors with the key card located here. I can’t imagine the bed cover makes a diffence.

 

[Randyg]

UPDATE:

Okay, I figured it out.

I couldn’t let this go and had to figure out why it locked on me and others had reported it did not lock on them. I went out, tried a little experiment. Locked my doors with my key fob, tossed the keys in the bed, and close the tailgate by pressing the tail light button. After about 15 seconds, I tried to open the tailgate by pushing one of the tail light buttons. It opened. Damn! So I tried the same experiment again. This time I waited one minute before trying to open the tailgate. It opened. Poop!

Then, I tried it again. Only this time I waited two minutes. Bingo! It would not open. I went back tried it again for a minute and 45 seconds and it opened. Apparently Toyota gives you two minutes to figure out you left your keys back there and gives you the grace period to go get them.

Now I know. Curious if someone else with a cover can try this, wait two minutes and see if you get the same results.

 

[FLAirgunner]

I just came in from trying this, but it was before I saw your last post, so I did not wait the 2 minutes. Will have to try that next! What I did do differently was use the Key Card instead of the Key Fob because I typically don't have the key fob with me unless I'm bringing it in for service.

I locked the doors, tossed my wallet (containing the key card) into the bed and closed the tailgate. I then tried the button on the taillight and it opened. Funny thing was, after locking the truck, it took 2-3 tries pressing the buttons on the taillight and the tailgate before it opened! Not sure what was up with that!

I'll have to try the 2 minute wait with he key card and see what happens. I do have a hard rollmop cover on my bed.

 

[Cappaworks]

Confirmed! After two minutes of my key sitting in the bed with tailgate closed, the tailgate will not open.

 

[FLAirgunner]

Moral of this story? Park closer to the bathrooms!!!

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