This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that have...

Bulletin number

PIT4994E

Component

Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate

Summary

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicle that have a rattle noise from the rear lift gate on rough roads. Technician will need to inspect the lift gate wedges by opening the lift gate, insert paper between the body side & lift-gate side wedges, and then close the lift gate. If the paper cannot be removed, grease lift-gate side wedges. If the paper can be removed, reset the wedges by loosen lift-gate side wedge center screw to allow center portion to "ratchet" along internal detents freely, pull center adjustment portion of lift-gate side wedges to full downward position, close lift-gate to full latch engagement then use power to close lift-gate system (if available), close manually on non-power lift gates and do not slam, open lift gate, and pull the center adjustment portion down one additional detent & torque screw 5.0 newton meters if wedge adjustment does not have enough travel for the one additional detent add washer under the two lift-gate side wedge attachments to shim as required. Now to inspect the lift gate wedges by opening the lift gate, insert paper between the body side & lift-gate side wedges, and then close the lift gate. If the paper cannot be removed, grease lift-gate side wedges. If the concern is still present adjust lift-gate latch striker.

Owners of these vehicles have filed 168 complaints in the body category.