Liftgate opens on its own - sometimes

[URDRWHO]

My 2021 Corsair Reserve has done this on a few occasions and last night it did it. This morning I look at the window and the liftgate is fully open, I know it was closed when I got home from my walk last evening. I've had this happen a couple of times before but I attributed it to me coming home from the store and forgetting to close the liftgate. But now, I am not at all sure the previous times were due to forgetfulness.

Thankfully it didn't rain or snow last night! But it was in the low 30F with frost which made a cold cargo area and kind of damp. Ugh!

Several years ago we had a 2015 Outback that at times the liftgate would not open, other owners testified that the liftgate came open on its own while going down the highway, losing some contents onto the road. Our 2016 Volvo V60 didn't have a motorized liftgate which to me was a selling point but it is almost impossible to find a luxury type SUV that doesn't have a motorized liftgate.

I didn't have the hands-free portion of the liftgate actuated or I would consider one of the 20+ deer that reside on the property or other critters. Also because we are not in an urban area, our driveway is @100 feet from the road, I don't normally lock our vehicles. I don't leave anything of value in the car and if some thief wants to look, go for it. At least they didn't break my window at 2 AM to get inside to take a peek. I brokered many policy's over 40 years and I don't think I've ever read an insurance contract that requires you to lock your car. A denied claim would be a bad faith situation. So there's that. Believe the attorney -- "If the sole basis of your insurance company's denial of your claim was no sign of forced entry, the insurance company's denial was in bad faith. It is possible to steal a car without breaking anything. Also, the insurance policy does not require you to lock you car for there to be coverage."

So does anyone have any idea what is happening. Intermittent electronic gremlins are a pain to diagnose. The dealer never could or didn't want to fix our Outback liftgate that at times would choose not to open. Not sure I would feel safe visiting a big city with a liftgate who can choose on its own, when to open. Hm????

 

[bbf2530]

My 2021 Corsair Reserve has done this on a few occasions and last night it did it. This morning I look at the window and the liftgate is fully open, I know it was closed when I got home from my walk last evening. I've had this happen a couple of times before but I attributed it to me coming home from the store and forgetting to close the liftgate. But now, I am not at all sure the previous times were due to forgetfulness.

Thankfully it didn't rain or snow last night! But it was in the low 30F with frost which made a cold cargo area and kind of damp. Ugh!

Several years ago we had a 2015 Outback that at times the liftgate would not open, other owners testified that the liftgate came open on its own while going down the highway, losing some contents onto the road. Our 2016 Volvo V60 didn't have a motorized liftgate which to me was a selling point but it is almost impossible to find a luxury type SUV that doesn't have a motorized liftgate.

I didn't have the hands-free portion of the liftgate actuated or I would consider one of the 20+ deer that reside on the property or other critters. Also because we are not in an urban area, our driveway is @100 feet from the road, I don't normally lock our vehicles. I don't leave anything of value in the car and if some thief wants to look, go for it. At least they didn't break my window at 2 AM to get inside to take a peek. I brokered many policy's over 40 years and I don't think I've ever read an insurance contract that requires you to lock your car. A denied claim would be a bad faith situation. So there's that. Believe the attorney -- "If the sole basis of your insurance company's denial of your claim was no sign of forced entry, the insurance company's denial was in bad faith. It is possible to steal a car without breaking anything. Also, the insurance policy does not require you to lock you car for there to be coverage."

So does anyone have any idea what is happening. Intermittent electronic gremlins are a pain to diagnose. The dealer never could or didn't want to fix our Outback liftgate that at times would choose not to open. Not sure I would feel safe visiting a big city with a liftgate who can choose on its own, when to open. Hm????

Hi URDRWHO. While understanding that you prefer not to lock your vehicle, the first step in troubleshooting would be to lock the vehicle from now on, then see if the issue still occurs.

Not going to delve deeply into the various possible insurance ramifications when filing a claim for stolen items from an unlocked vehicle etc.

Keep us updated and good luck.

 

[URDRWHO]

Hi URDRWHO. While understanding that you prefer not to lock your vehicle, the first step in troubleshooting would be to lock the vehicle from now on, then see if the issue still occurs.

Not going to delve deeply into the various possible insurance ramifications when filing a claim for stolen items from an unlocked vehicle etc.

Keep us updated and good luck.

Now about the locking. We got this car last March and to be honest, I am not sure about all the bells and whistles. Is there a way to have it lock every time you leave the vehicle? The Volvo had the option of yes, lock every time or no, lock manually. How about the Corsair? I have noticed that there has been times I go out to the car, no key fob in hand and the doors are locked.

I looked on an MKC forum and the liftgate rising on its own and there were posts about it. At least I don't have this one because starting on its own is a totally different animal.- "
MKC Self Starting - SAFETY RECALL
Finally saw a safety recall today on the 2015-2019 MKC starting on its own and subject to causing a fire. DO NOT PARK IN GARAGE."

 

[bbf2530]

Now about the locking. We got this car last March and to be honest, I am not sure about all the bells and whistles. Is there a way to have it lock every time you leave the vehicle? The Volvo had the option of yes, lock every time or no, lock manually. How about the Corsair? I have noticed that there has been times I go out to the car, no key fob in hand and the doors are locked.

I looked on an MKC forum and the liftgate rising on its own and there were posts about it. At least I don't have this one because starting on its own is a totally different animal.- "
MKC Self Starting - SAFETY RECALL
Finally saw a safety recall today on the 2015-2019 MKC starting on its own and subject to causing a fire. DO NOT PARK IN GARAGE."

Hi URDRWHO. No, there is no owner available setting from the factory which allows automatic walk-away locking.

I’ve read some anecdotal stories that the factory programming can be altered (via FORScan software, OBDII USB cable and laptop) to allow it in some newer Lincoln models.

Most cases of unintentional lift-gate opening, window opening etc., are due to accidental button pushes. I’m stating most … not all.

I’m sure others will also jump in to help, so keep us updated and good luck.

______________________________

 

[URDRWHO]

"Most cases of unintentional lift-gate opening, window opening etc., are due to accidental button pushes. I’m stating most … not all."

Ugh! That means I have to stop carrying my key fob in my pants pocket. Which then means, I'll constantly be looking for my key. Not sure how much of my 7 month old battery charge was lost with that gate being open all night but I put it on my trickle charger. It finished charging and now it's sitting at 12.8 on the meter. A good thing out of all of this is that the annoying auto stop is now, for some reason, disabled, which is one of the signs of a weak battery.

 

[bbf2530]

Ugh! That means I have to stop carrying my key fob in my pants pocket. Which then means, I'll constantly be looking for my key. Not sure how much of my 7 month old battery charge was lost with that gate being open all night but I put it on my trickle charger. It finished charging and now it's sitting at 12.8 on the meter. A good thing out of all of this is that the annoying auto stop is now, for some reason, disabled, which is one of the signs of a weak battery.

Hi URDRWHO. If operating properly, there is a battery saver feature which turns off lights etc. which have been accidentally left on.

So the interior lights should have turned off ~10 minutes after the lift-gate opened. Again … if operating correctly.

Good luck.

 

[URDRWHO]

Hi URDRWHO. If operating properly, there is a battery saver feature which turns off lights etc. which have been accidentally left on.

So the interior lights should have turned off ~10 minutes after the lift-gate opened. Again … if operating correctly.

Good luck.

That's good to know so at least my lights weren't on all night. Yay for the battery! I don't remember if they were or were not on this morning because I was focused on getting the liftgate closed.

 

[MattMacMan]

Hi URDRWHO. No, there is no owner available setting from the factory which allows automatic walk-away locking.

I’ve read some anecdotal stories that the factory programming can be altered (via FORScan software, OBDII USB cable and laptop) to allow it in some newer Lincoln models.

Most cases of unintentional lift-gate opening, window opening etc., are due to accidental button pushes. I’m stating most … not all.

I’m sure others will also jump in to help, so keep us updated and good luck.

The walk away lock feature is only available in the refreshed Corsairs. SYNC 4 equipped and newer. 23MY and up.

______________________________

 

[MattMacMan]

My 2021 Corsair Reserve has done this on a few occasions and last night it did it. This morning I look at the window and the liftgate is fully open, I know it was closed when I got home from my walk last evening. I've had this happen a couple of times before but I attributed it to me coming home from the store and forgetting to close the liftgate. But now, I am not at all sure the previous times were due to forgetfulness.

Thankfully it didn't rain or snow last night! But it was in the low 30F with frost which made a cold cargo area and kind of damp. Ugh!

Several years ago we had a 2015 Outback that at times the liftgate would not open, other owners testified that the liftgate came open on its own while going down the highway, losing some contents onto the road. Our 2016 Volvo V60 didn't have a motorized liftgate which to me was a selling point but it is almost impossible to find a luxury type SUV that doesn't have a motorized liftgate.

I didn't have the hands-free portion of the liftgate actuated or I would consider one of the 20+ deer that reside on the property or other critters. Also because we are not in an urban area, our driveway is @100 feet from the road, I don't normally lock our vehicles. I don't leave anything of value in the car and if some thief wants to look, go for it. At least they didn't break my window at 2 AM to get inside to take a peek. I brokered many policy's over 40 years and I don't think I've ever read an insurance contract that requires you to lock your car. A denied claim would be a bad faith situation. So there's that. Believe the attorney -- "If the sole basis of your insurance company's denial of your claim was no sign of forced entry, the insurance company's denial was in bad faith. It is possible to steal a car without breaking anything. Also, the insurance policy does not require you to lock you car for there to be coverage."

So does anyone have any idea what is happening. Intermittent electronic gremlins are a pain to diagnose. The dealer never could or didn't want to fix our Outback liftgate that at times would choose not to open. Not sure I would feel safe visiting a big city with a liftgate who can choose on its own, when to open. Hm????

If this is of any value to you, theres an option in the settings to disable the power liftgate by setting it to manual. Its worth a shot to see if it fixes your issue.

 

[bbf2530]

The walk away lock feature is only available in the refreshed Corsairs. SYNC 4 equipped and newer. 23MY and up.

Hi MattMacMan. Help me out here: Is this a standard feature from the factory, which is owner configurable in the Driver Control Center?
Or are we discussing what some owners have referred to, via self-help reprogramming with FORScan etc.?

Thanks and good luck.

 

[MattMacMan]

Hi MattMacMan. Help me out here: Is this a standard feature from the factory, which is owner configurable in the Driver Control Center?
Or are we discussing what some owners have referred to, via self-help reprogramming with FORScan etc.?

Thanks and good luck.

This is a hidden option. Only enabled by Ford FDRS/IDS dealership software or FORScan. I have both as I work for Ford as a Service Advisor. However I believe that while these vehicles are CAPABLE of this feature, it is disabled by default because of Cadillac and their Proximity Lock feature. If I was a betting man Id say it was to avoid legal cases since it can be enabled after the fact, but its not sold outright with it, so GM cant sue them lol. If they were rolling off the assembly line and being sold with it on, yeah, it can be a possible case against Ford/Lincoln.

 

[MattMacMan]

Hi MattMacMan. Help me out here: Is this a standard feature from the factory, which is owner configurable in the Driver Control Center?
Or are we discussing what some owners have referred to, via self-help reprogramming with FORScan etc.?

Thanks and good luck.

And theres many other features hidden on many other cars too. My Fusion has the reverse tilting mirrors turned on now. Theres alot of little things you could add to your MKZs, just head over to the 2gfusions.net website, they have a whole spreadsheet you can check out about enabling and disabling options. FORScan is a powerful tool, I used it to upgrade my Fusion to an H7 AGM battery (in the BCM so it changes the charging curve now that the vehicle is aware of the new battery type, itll be charged accordingly) you can use it to restart modules, enable other options like my Fusion has Adaptive Cruise with Stop and Go now, since it was only on 17 and up models, by upgrading the lane keeping camera to the 17+ one, the feature is now available, after flashing the ABS module. The cruise control module also has options hidden like visible car detection, (even when adaptive cruise is in the off mode, I can still see cars ahead pop up in the instrument cluster as the vehicle detects them, and it shows me closing in on them as I get closer. You can also change the headlight settings too, enabling fog lights to stay on when the auto high beams kick on, makes for greater visibility on pitch dark roads especially with deer movement this time of year. You can enable cornering lights, and change your DRLs from the default low beam to dedicated DRLs if you upgrade to the Ford Mondeo lights. My tail lights now have amber turn signals.....and rear fog lights, you can change how hot your heated seat settings are, change how warm your steering wheel gets, I replaced my SYNC 2 MyFord Touch system with SYNC 3.4 with 2025 maps and apple carplay and android auto, etc etc etc. If you upgrade to LED turn signals you can flash the BCM from Halogen to LED so they dont hyperflash, no sketchy wiring hacks needed. Just plug and play. Theres much more, reprogramming keys.....the list goes on and on.

If say your vehicle doesnt have an option. Say like Active Park Assist. If you install the sensors, and get the right wiring harness for your bumper, and the button for the console/dash...you can literally turn on active park assist in your PAM and enable the front bumper sensors so theyll work even when inching up on something no button push needed. Its all factory too, no aftermarket switches in the dash...just all factory parts, and enabling the options in the respective modules that were disabled from the factory by flipping binaries in the as built data table and then hitting the flash module button. The module takes the new code input and restarts with new factory options just like it was an update. Its really neat. and its FREE. Ford FDRS/IDS software is very expensive and while it is more powerful in the sense it can literally provision new modules and bypass the security system in the vehicle as well as delete keys from the vehicle and actually update firmware in modules (all stuff FORScan cant do) FORScan easily picks up the slack and is readily available to the masses.

______________________________

 

[bbf2530]

This is a hidden option. Only enabled by Ford FDRS/IDS dealership software or FORScan. I have both as I work for Ford as a Service Advisor. However I believe that while these vehicles are CAPABLE of this feature, it is disabled by default because of Cadillac and their Proximity Lock feature. If I was a betting man Id say it was to avoid legal cases since it can be enabled after the fact, but its not sold outright with it, so GM cant sue them lol. If they were rolling off the assembly line and being sold with it on, yeah, it can be a possible case against Ford/Lincoln.

Hi MattMacMan. Thanks for the information. That’s what I thought, since I was relatively familiar with the 2024 Corsair I assisted my sister to purchase, and it had no factory “walk-away locking” feature available from the factory. However, I wanted to ask to be sure.

In my defense, and to avoid confusion: Since the vast majority of Lincoln owners will never use FORScan and similar software, I try to answer questions other members ask by providing information pertaining only to how Lincoln/Ford vehicles come equipped and programmed straight from the factory. Unless the forum member is asking about FORScan etc.

Without getting into patent law … The fact you verify it is possible for 2023+ SYNC 4 and later Lincoln vehicles via FORScan (or Lincoln Drakership reprogramming, if we can find one willing to do it) is still good information though.

Good luck.

 

[bbf2530]

And theres many other features hidden on many other cars too. My Fusion has the reverse tilting mirrors turned on now. Theres alot of little things you could add to your MKZs, just head over to the 2gfusions.net website, they have a whole spreadsheet you can check out about enabling and disabling options. FORScan is a powerful tool, I used it to upgrade my Fusion to an H7 AGM battery (in the BCM so it changes the charging curve now that the vehicle is aware of the new battery type, itll be charged accordingly) you can use it to restart modules, enable other options like my Fusion has Adaptive Cruise with Stop and Go now, since it was only on 17 and up models, by upgrading the lane keeping camera to the 17+ one, the feature is now available, after flashing the ABS module. The cruise control module also has options hidden like visible car detection, (even when adaptive cruise is in the off mode, I can still see cars ahead pop up in the instrument cluster as the vehicle detects them, and it shows me closing in on them as I get closer. You can also change the headlight settings too, enabling fog lights to stay on when the auto high beams kick on, makes for greater visibility on pitch dark roads especially with deer movement this time of year. You can enable cornering lights, and change your DRLs from the default low beam to dedicated DRLs if you upgrade to the Ford Mondeo lights. My tail lights now have amber turn signals.....and rear fog lights, you can change how hot your heated seat settings are, change how warm your steering wheel gets, I replaced my SYNC 2 MyFord Touch system with SYNC 3.4 with 2025 maps and apple carplay and android auto, etc etc etc. If you upgrade to LED turn signals you can flash the BCM from Halogen to LED so they dont hyperflash, no sketchy wiring hacks needed. Just plug and play. Theres much more, reprogramming keys.....the list goes on and on.

If say your vehicle doesnt have an option. Say like Active Park Assist. If you install the sensors, and get the right wiring harness for your bumper, and the button for the console/dash...you can literally turn on active park assist in your PAM and enable the front bumper sensors so theyll work even when inching up on something no button push needed. Its all factory too, no aftermarket switches in the dash...just all factory parts, and enabling the options in the respective modules that were disabled from the factory by flipping binaries in the as built data table and then hitting the flash module button. The module takes the new code input and restarts with new factory options just like it was an update. Its really neat. and its FREE. Ford FDRS/IDS software is very expensive and while it is more powerful in the sense it can literally provision new modules and bypass the security system in the vehicle as well as delete keys from the vehicle and actually update firmware in modules (all stuff FORScan cant do) FORScan easily picks up the slack and is readily available to the masses.

Hi MattMacMan. Thanks for the information. I am actually very active on many other MKZ/Fusion/SYNC forums and am very familiar with the possibilities of FORScan. I even have the MKZ/Fusion tables.

And you can find many other threads here on the Lincoln Forums, where I mention the possibilities of FORScan software.

However, in most threads, (and since 95%+ of Lincoln owners will never use FORScan) I stick to providing information solely as to how our vehicles are programmed from the factory. Then I let them know there are some programmable features, but will leave further information up to others to explain. Especially since, as you know, making some of the more serious mistakes can turn our vehicles into an expensive driveway ornament (at least temporarily). And cost money to have a Lincoln/Ford dealer correct our mistake.

Again, only explaining how I approach my replies and why.

Thanks again for all the information and good luck.

 

[MattMacMan]

Hi MattMacMan. Thanks for the information. That’s what I thought, since I was relatively familiar with the 2024 Corsair I assisted my sister to purchase, and it had no factory “walk-away locking” feature available from the factory. However, I wanted to ask to be sure.

In my defense, and to avoid confusion: Since the vast majority of Lincoln owners will never use FORScan and similar software, I try to answer questions other members ask by providing information pertaining only to how Lincoln/Ford vehicles come equipped and programmed straight from the factory. Unless the forum member is asking about FORScan etc.

Without getting into patent law … The fact you verify it is possible for 2023+ SYNC 4 and later Lincoln vehicles via FORScan (or Lincoln Drakership reprogramming, if we can find one willing to do it) is still good information though.

Good luck.

Absolutely! I always want people to know theyre getting the most out of their vehicle. Yees, FORScan isnt for the faint of heart. Its for the average tinkerer to mess with. Trust me, we get vehicles all the time that get brought in, "Hey so all of a sudden this stopped working and this isnt working right yada yada..." yeah, then we hop in, and one thing about FDRS/IDS is it can tell us how many times a module was flashed and when. Well, when theres options in the menus that are not enabled at the factory when we run the VIN through FDRS and check module configuration and the as built programming is NOT the same. Lol yeah, thats not a warranty fix guy, thats going to cost an hour of labor. Sure, I can fix it right here today, but its not going to be a warranty claim. Ford is well aware of FORScan and requires us to submit a log pulled from IDS when trying to warranty a module. Same goes for tuners. We can easily see that too. However, it wont VOID said warranty, say if you enable a bunch of options, then you come in and have a headlight out (LED headlights are EXPENSIVE!) but you enabled say high beams to leave the fog lights on, thats ok. Still warrantable. But if you flash your BCM wrong, and the car wont recognize the key anymore...and it gets brought in on a tow truck? Then the customer says hey...so my car doesnt recognize my keys, it just says no key detected and I had to get it towed in, and IDK what happened.....we hook up the computer, it shows the BCM was flashed at 3 AM this morning....hmmmmm. Yeah, Ford knows their dealerships arent open at those hours. Gonna be a bit hard to get them to OK paying for labor and towing etc etc.

Its definitely to be used with caution, and NEVER make changes unless you have a backup of the as built data beforehand. But it does suck not knowing what you can enable in your own vehicle thats fully equipped for said feature thats disabled.