I doubt this is related to the kick to open feature, as all that does is tell the liftgate to open or close.

There's a sensor that's supposed to stop the liftgate when it hits something. I believe it's in the actuator itself - probably senses when the arm stops moving and cuts the current to the motor. Maybe some dirt got in there and that's causing the sensor to think it's hit something. Or it could be that one actuator is weak and operating at a different speed - that could also cause it to stop. Simplest fix would be to replace the actuators and see if it keeps happening.

Frustrating that nobody at a dealer even tries to figure out problems these days - if it's not listed in the computer, they have to call it in.

 

I doubt this is related to the kick to open feature, as all that does is tell the liftgate to open or close.

There's a sensor that's supposed to stop the liftgate when it hits something. I believe it's in the actuator itself - probably senses when the arm stops moving and cuts the current to the motor. Maybe some dirt got in there and that's causing the sensor to think it's hit something. Or it could be that one actuator is weak and operating at a different speed - that could also cause it to stop. Simplest fix would be to replace the actuators and see if it keeps happening.

Frustrating that nobody at a dealer even tries to figure out problems these days - if it's not listed in the computer, they have to call it in.

Hello Wally,
THANK YOU so much for that suggestion. I'm dumbfounded when it comes to electrical or mechanical things if it doesn't come to engines. I took the liberty of your possible solution and emailed it to the head of tech repair. I didn't include the last sentence. I got a call this morning from the dealer and I have to take it in 11 days from now and leave it. Ford suggested to them about "probing some pins"? You think they would make this a priority project.
Thank you very much for that help so at least that gives them one more thing to check. This shouldn't be happening to a brand new vehicle. (well, 6 weeks old). 300 miles.
I will post the fix IF or WHEN they get it done. Glad I joined this group.

 

It occurs to me that there could be one more problem: The liftgate sensor is very sensitive and it's possible that it's picking up movement while you stand behind the car. When this happens it usually reverses the action, but it might stop it. Mine was so sensitive (kept coming down on my head while I was loading groceries) that I disabled the sensor. Don't know why it supports kick to close; seems like a dumb design.

You could try to disconnect the kick sensor (it's pretty easy - there's a thread somewhere on how to do that) and see if the problem goes away.

 

I just wanted to update everyone on the 2022 Escape SEL with the liftgate issue. I did suggest WallyB comment about the actuator, but so far they dealer is calling the Ford tech hotline and have replaced the Control Module, didn't solve it. Now they are going to replace the liftgate motor. As I stated in my original post it only opens 1/3 the way when using the foot open feature. Then you kick to close it and kick under again and it opens all the way. So the dealer is replacing one slow thing after another. I told them to try the lift arms or the foot sensors. The say they can only replace what Ford tells them they can. I'm not an advanced tech by any means. It has less than 500 miles on it now. Soon we are just going to ask for a replacement vehicle. But well see what happens. I will let you know what the fix is IF it happens.

 

For people following they did almost what Wally said. They replaced the left actuator motor on the Liftgate and everything now seems to on using the foot feature. I remember he mentioned that they weren't raising evenly which could cause an error as if an obstruction was happening. The dealer kept it over night to make sure the problem was addressed. It was tested 2 dozen times after replacing that part. Plus I made sure to test it before I went into the dealer to make sure it was working and NOT operator error. This should be it! I hope so. Thank you to Wally and those following. It has 497 miles on. I don't like intermittent electrical or mechanical issues. I like this group. Again it is a 2022 Escape SEL loaded to the max except for engine block heater. This is a good site! Thank you again.

 

Glad to hear that your liftgate appears to be fixed. I have a 20 Titanium with the hands free and towing package. In cold weather below 40 degrees I could close the liftgate using the kick motion or key fob but not using the liftgate button on the door or the dashboard. That ruled out replacing parts since it worked one way and not the other. Apparently the kick and remote are a different system than the buttons. I finally raised the issue with the service manager a couple of weeks ago and brought the Escape in last Monday. The service manager verified the issue before taking it back to the technician. The technician found a similar issue listed in the Ford database that lists other instances of similar issues. The database solution was to move a ground wire and replace a couple of wire connectors. That mostly fixed the issue. The button on the liftgate seems to work every time but the dashboard button occasionally still didn't close a couple of times in the cold weather. The problem now is if the liftgate doesn't close using the dashboard button and I get out and close the liftgate with the liftgate button opening and closing the liftgate again with the dashboard button will work. So sometimes the solution to these issues are never what you think and seem to come out of left field which makes finding the solution very frustrating especially when it is an intermitten issue. Now that the weather is getting warmer I won't be able to duplicate the issue until next winter. Since I hardly use the dash button to close the liftgate and I won't know until next winter how often it will malfunction I will probably bring it to the dealers attention but may just end up living with it.

 

a bad lift strut will cause a higher than normal load, the actuator thinks it is hitting something and stops, can be more pronounced when weather is cooler.

 

Well I am terribly sorry I wrote too soon. Still randomly acting up only when using the foot hands free feature. I took it in to the dealer to have the service manager show us exactly how they open it. And luckily it DID act up in front of the service manager twice! So it wasn't operator error. So the 2 things they have changed is the left actuator motor? Also the main control module. This is the 5th time they have looked at it and said they have never seen this issue before. They have to keep calling into the Ford hotline. I guess for suggestions and authorizations. It is only 3 1/2 months old and started acting up in the first month. 600 miles on it currently. I think they should have replaced both actuators and also the sensors under the bumper. It does have the trailer towing package on it. So don't know if it is 2 separate sensors or just one. This is a 2022 Escape SEL. I'm getting irritated that the dealer isn't making this a bigger priority. I am leasing it. But was planning on buying it at the end of the lease. This is just unacceptable. Any suggestions on how to get more action? I like this group and there are smart people on here who may be able to give hints. Thank you for reading.

 

Ok, I love this group. They seemed to have fixed this issue with the foot sensor opening the liftgate. After replacing and the SIXTH time having it in the shop they replaced the Body Control Module and now it works at least the last 10 to 12 times so far correctly. Thank you for following my ordeal. I guess they had to also reprogram the keys and such as we left both sets there. Much happier customer now.

 

Have you seen this issue again after the dealer changed the control module? I just noticed that my 2022 Escape has the same issue today. I tried doing hand-free opening today when I got out from Target this afternoon. I tried several times, but it could only open partially when using the hand-free feature....I think I may need to bring my Escape back to the dealer to get it replaced too...

 

Well shoot. I thought I was alone on this. My 2022 PIH SEL doing the same and more. Partial opening, coming down on my head and today wife tells me she was three feet away chatting outside and it just opened up. Got to be sensor and control module issues. Will make appointment for the unrelated recall and have them check on the lift gate issue as well.

 

I have never thought about it. But it could be something I will do this weekend. It was working fine for awhile but after that 2 days ago with my hands full it opened only 1/4 to 1/3 of the way. Still keeping records for the dealer.
Thank you for the suggestion.

 

I have never thought about it. But it could be something I will do this weekend. It was working fine for awhile but after that 2 days ago with my hands full it opened only 1/4 to 1/3 of the way. Still keeping records for the dealer.
Thank you for the suggestion.

Did you ever get any more info? I have a 22 that opens 1/3 sometimes, randomly closes on me, and opens at random. I've had it to 2 different fords like 4-5 times and still no solution for anything. Super frustrating but hopefully you've found some solution!