Ford Escape: Liftgate - Vehicles With: Power Liftgate / Opening the Liftgate

Opening the Liftgate From Inside Your Vehicle

With the transmission in park (P), press the button on the instrument panel.

Note: Be careful when opening or closing the liftgate in a garage or other enclosed area to avoid damaging the liftgate.

Note: Do not hang anything, for example a bike rack, from the glass or liftgate. This could damage the liftgate and its components.

Note: Do not leave the liftgate open while driving. This could damage the liftgate and its components.

Opening the Liftgate From Outside Your Vehicle

1. Unlock the liftgate with the remote control or power door unlock control. If a passive key is within 3 ft (1 m) of the liftgate, the liftgate unlocks when you press the liftgate release button.

   

2. Press and release the liftgate control button.

Note: Allow the power system to open the liftgate. Manually pushing or pulling the liftgate may activate the system’s obstacle detection feature and stop the power operation or reverse its direction, replicate a strut failure, or damage mechanical components.

Note: Be careful when opening or closing the liftgate in a garage or other enclosed area to avoid damaging the liftgate.

Note: Do not hang anything, for example a bike rack, from the glass or liftgate. This could damage the liftgate and its components.

Note: Do not leave the liftgate open while driving. This could damage the liftgate and its components.

Switching the Power Liftgate On or Off

You can switch the power liftgate on or off through the vehicle settings on your touchscreen.

1. Press Settings.
2. Press Vehicle Settings.
3. Press Power Liftgate.
4. Select your option.

When switched off, the liftgate only unlatches and will not power open or close.

Opening the Liftgate Using the Remote Control

Press the button twice within three seconds.

Note: Be careful when opening or closing the liftgate in a garage or other enclosed area to avoid damaging the liftgate.

Note: Do not hang anything, for example a bike rack, from the glass or liftgate. This could damage the liftgate and its components.

Note: Do not leave the liftgate open while driving. This could damage the liftgate and its components.

Opening the Hands-Free Liftgate (If Equipped)

Make sure you have the passive key within 3 ft (1 m) of the liftgate.

1. Stand behind your vehicle, and face the liftgate.
2. Move your foot, in a single-kick motion, without pausing, under and away from the rear bumper detection area.

   

3. The liftgate opens.

Avoid the following actions when using the hands-free opening feature:

• Making physical contact with the bumper.
• Holding your foot under the bumper.
• Sweeping your foot from side to side, or kicking at an odd angle.

Detection Zones

Vehicles Without a Trailer Hitch

The detection area is in the center of the rear bumper.

Vehicles With a Trailer Hitch

The detection area is on the left-hand side and right-hand side of the hitch, between the exhaust and the hitch.

Note: Allow the power system to open the liftgate. Manually pushing or pulling the liftgate may activate the system’s obstacle detection feature and stop the power operation or reverse its direction, replicate a strut failure, or damage mechanical components.

Note: Any physical actions that mimic a kicking motion such as splashing water, trailer chains or vacuum hoses may cause the hands-free liftgate to activate. Switch the power liftgate off through your vehicle settings or keep the passive key away from the rear bumper detection area.