NHTSA complaint #11745900

Owner complaint summary

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?: The right-side tailgate hinge assembly on my 2019 Ram 2500 failed and became increasingly difficult to operate. The tailgate now requires excessive force to open and close throughout its entire range of motion. An independent body shop inspected the vehicle and determined that the hinge assembly requires replacement. The vehicle and failed component are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure significantly affects the normal operation of the tailgate and requires excessive force to open and close. This creates a risk of injury while operating the tailgate and raises concerns regarding the continued safe operation of the tailgate assembly. The failure of a primary tailgate support component could also affect the tailgate's ability to function as intended. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The problem was inspected and confirmed by an independent body shop. The shop determined that the tailgate hinge assembly has failed and requires replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by an independent body shop. At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps, messages, or diagnostic indicators were present. The only symptom was a progressive increase in the force required to open and close the tailgate. I started to notice the issue about a year ago. Since then, the condition gradually worsened over time to the point where when I open it and the tailgate pops out of position.