Power Liftgate – Misalignment of the Liftgate – Damaged Left Liftgate Hinge Mounting Area – 2013-2017 Ford Escape & Lincoln MKC

FORD:	2013-2017 Escape
LINCOLN:	2015-2017 MKC

ISSUE:

Some 2013-2017 Escape and 2015-2017 MKC vehicles with a power liftgate built on or before 9-Aug-2016 may exhibit a concern with misalignment of the liftgate due to damage that has occurred to the left liftgate hinge mounting area. This concern can be caused by repeated manual closing of the power liftgate. Updated liftgate hinges will be installed to spread the load on the rear header panel to prevent damage.

ACTION:

Follow the Service Procedure steps to correct the condition.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Check the vehicle build date. Was the vehicle built on or before 9-Aug-2016?
   1. Yes – proceed to Step 2.
   2. No – this article does not apply. To adjust liftgate alignment refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 501-03.
2. Visually inspect the left liftgate hinge mounting area on the rear header panel for deformation. Is the left liftgate hinge mounting area on the rear header panel deformed?
   1. Yes – proceed to Step 3.
   2. No – this article does not apply. To adjust the liftgate alignment refer to WSM, Section 501-03.
3. Remove interior pillar trim panels.
   1. Escape – remove left and right side C-pillar and D-pillar trim panels. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.
   2. MKC – remove left and right side C-pillar trim panels. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.
4. Remove the rear grab handles. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.
5. Release the rear 2-way locators at the rear of the headliner. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.
6. Lower the rear of the headliner.
   1. To prevent damage, do not excessively bend the headliner.
7. Remove the liftgate. Refer to WSM, Section 501-03.
8. Assemble a Porta Power tool using an offset attachment and a socket on the left liftgate hinge stud nut. Use the Porta Power tool assembly to raise the damaged area of left liftgate hinge mounting area on the rear header panel back to its original shape.
   1. Protect the headliner from staining and damage when using the Porta Power tool assembly.
9. Remove both liftgate hinge nuts.
10. Remove and discard the liftgate hinges.
11. Visually inspect the rear header panel, liftgate door opening and liftgate for body and paint damage. Is any body and/or paint damage present on these surfaces?
    1. Yes – repair body and/or paint damaged areas identified as required. Refer to WSM, Section 501-36. Proceed to Step 12.
    2. No – proceed to Step 12.
12. Paint to match the new liftgate hinges.
13. To prevent water entry, apply windshield butyl/urethane sealer around each bolt hole for the liftgate hinge studs.
14. Install both new liftgate hinges and tighten hinge stud nuts to 55 Nm (41 lb-ft).
15. Install the liftgate. Refer to WSM, Section 501-03.
16. Alignment the liftgate. Refer to WSM, Section 501-03.
17. Perform the power liftgate initialization. Refer to WSM, Section 501-03.
18. To install the headliner reverse the removal procedure. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.
19. To install the interior pillar trim panels, reverse the removal procedure.
    1. Escape vehicles – C-pillar and D-pillar trim panels. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.
    2. MKC vehicles – C-pillar trim panels. Refer to WSM, Section 501-05.

Obtain Locally

WARRANTY STATUS

Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage.
Warranty/ESP coverage limits/policies/prior approvals are not altered by a TSB. Warranty/ESP coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part and verified using the OASIS part coverage tool.

DEALER CODING

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