Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Tailgate Release Handle: Removal
- Open the tailgate.
Vehicles with tailgate step
- Push the tailgate step release button.
- Open the tailgate step.
All vehicles
- If equipped. Remove the bedliner tailgate cover.
Torque
: 22 lb.in (2.5 Nm)
- If equipped. Remove the tailgate access panel bolts and the tailgate access panel.
Torque
: 22 lb.in (2.5 Nm)
- If equipped. Remove the workspace tailgate access panel bolts and the workspace tailgate access panel.
Torque
: 71 lb.in (8 Nm)
- Remove the tailgate moulding. Refer to: Tailgate Moulding (501-08 Exterior Trim and Ornamentation, Removal and Installation).
- Remove the tailgate handle nuts.
Torque
: 80 lb.in (9 Nm)
Vehicles with mechanical tailgate handle
- Remove the tailgate release handle.
- Release the retaining clips and position the tailgate release handle from the tailgate.
- Disconnect the tailgate handle to tailgate control assembly rod.
- If equipped. Disconnect the tailgate lock cylinder rod.
- Release the wiring harness routing clip and disconnect the rear camera electrical connector.
-
NOTE: This step is only necessary when installing a new component.
Transfer components as necessary.
- If equipped. Remove the screw and the rear camera and bracket.
- If equipped. Remove the tailgate lock cylinder nut and the tailgate lock cylinder.
Torque
: 28 lb.in (3.2 Nm)
Vehicles without mechanical tailgate handle
- Remove the tailgate release handle.
- Release the retaining clips and position the tailgate release handle from the tailgate.
- Disconnect the tailgate release handle wiring harness routing clips.
- If equipped. Disconnect the keyless entry rear antenna electrical connector.
- If equipped. Disconnect the rear camera electrical connector.
- If equipped. Disconnect the tailgate release switch electrical connector.
- If equipped. Disconnect the tailgate light electrical connector.
-
NOTE: This step is only necessary when installing a new component.
Transfer components as necessary.
- If equipped. Remove the screw and the rear camera and bracket.
- If equipped. Remove the screw and the tailgate light.
- If equipped. Remove the screws and the keyless entry rear antenna.
- If equipped. Release the tailgate release switch retaining tabs.
- If equipped. Remove the tailgate release switch.
-
NOTE: This step is only necessary when installing a new component.
Transfer components as necessary.
- Remove the tailgate release handle pull cup screws.
- Remove the tailgate release handle pull cup.
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.