The Ford Power Liftgate and Hands-Free Liftgate Guide

Ford Power Liftgate and Hands-Free Liftgate Guide | Germain Ford of Sidney

When it comes to innovation and forward-thinking technology, Ford continues to lead the industry in terms of convenience features. Helping to simplify some of life’s daily challenges or annoyances is only part of what makes Ford vehicles so popular with those who drive them. Two such examples are the Power Liftgate and Hands-Free Liftgate available on select Ford models. Simplifying how you access and store your most prized possessions, these two great convenience features are especially useful on a day-to-day basis. If you’re curious about how these two liftgate features work and which models are currently available with them, you’re in luck! Germain Ford of Sidney has created this handy power liftgate and hands-free liftgate overview that covers this topic in great detail.


Ford Expedition Power Liftgate

How Does the Ford Power Liftgate Work?

On models equipped with the available Power Liftgate, you’ll notice the vehicle does not have a large pull handle on the exterior of the liftgate. Instead, you’ll find a soft-sided button inside the rear access handle. Simply tap the button and the liftgate will open automatically. Once in the open position, you’ll find another button on the lower portion of the tailgate which can be pressed to close the Power Liftgate once again.

You can also stop or reverse the motion of the tailgate by pressing the buttons on the liftgate itself, the button on the center console at the front of the vehicle, or by using your keyfob-mounted button (availability of these features varies by model). There’s also an integrated obstacle detection system that will prevent the Power Liftgate from closing if an object is detected in its path.

Did you know you can also adjust the opening height of the Power Liftgate to prevent it from hitting the garage door? Simply open the liftgate and manually raise or lower it to your desired height. Next, press and hold the button on the lower portion of the liftgate until you hear a chime. This indicates that the new height has been set. Remember, you can adjust the height at any time by repeating the process.


How Does the Ford Hands-Free Liftgate Work?

Offering even greater convenience, the available Ford Hands-Free Liftgate lets you access the cargo area without pressing any buttons or using your hands at all. There’s no worse feeling than rushing to your vehicle with your hands full of shopping bags as pouring rain starts to fall, forcing you to set your bags down, fumble for your keys, and scramble to store your possessions. With the available Hands-Free Liftgate, you’ll avoid all of that inconvenience!

To use this innovative feature, simply swipe your foot underneath the center of the rear bumper of your Ford vehicle. Next, step backward and give the liftgate the necessary space to open fully. To close the liftgate, you can either repeat the process of swiping your foot under the bumper or use the button mounted on the lower portion of the liftgate. You can also use the keyfob button or interior button found on the dashboard to open the liftgate. All of the same great features like obstacle detection and adjustability from the standard Power Liftgate are included with the Hands-Free Liftgate as well.


Ford Power Liftgate & Hands-Free Liftgate FAQ

Which Ford vehicles are currently available with the Power Liftgate or Hands-Free Liftgate?

  • Escape / Escape Hybrid / Escape PHEV
  • Bronco Sport
  • Explorer
  • Edge
  • Mustang Mach-E
  • Expedition

What’s the difference between the Power Liftgate and Hands-Free Liftgate?

• The difference is quite simple! The Hands-Free Liftgate offers the additional convenience of accessing the cargo area with a quick swipe of your foot under the rear bumper of the vehicle. Power Liftgate models require you to activate the feature using either the exterior liftgate handle, keyfob button, or interior switch. Otherwise, these two features function in a similar manner.

Is a similar feature available on Ford trucks?

• Yes! Select F-150, F-150 Lightning, and Super Duty models are available with a feature called a Power Tailgate that can automatically open or close at the touch of a button. This feature operates similarly to those found on Ford SUVs and crossovers.