# 2013 Toyota RAV4 - Sticky tailgate

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** toyota\
**Created:** [May 19, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921 "2021-05-19T01:43:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Ashley42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@Ashley42](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ashley42)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921/1 "2021-05-19T01:43:45Z")

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My electric controlled tailgate sticks when opening or closing.  
Should i replace the gas struts ?  
Remote is fine and also is the switches in the car and on the tailgate.  
The tailgate sticks more so on the offside/drivers side or righthand side as you are looking at it.

any help would be appreciated

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**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921/2 "2021-05-19T01:53:02Z")

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what do you mean by sticks? do you mean it goes part way up and you have to lift it the rest of the way? if so it could be a worn out strut. how do you know its the right side? if your hearing a squeaking or creaking on that side then try lubing the hinge.

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**Author:** ![Ashley42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a587f6/32.png) [@Ashley42](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ashley42)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921/3 "2021-05-19T02:35:34Z")

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When I press the button to operate the tailgate it opens to about an inch and the same when closing.  
Could the strut be bent.  
I have purchased a pair of electric struts secondhand.  
Should I replace them?

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 4:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921/4 "2021-05-19T04:20:39Z")

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Open and close the liftgate manually, if there is a great amount of resistance or drag, the liftgate actuators are failing.

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**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 4:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2013-toyota-rav4-sticky-tailgate/176921/5 "2021-05-19T16:13:46Z")

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you first said you have gas lift struts. and now you have bought electric struts. if they are electric struts check fuses and relays first before replacing.