It's called the Gesture Tailgate. I have a 100 percent success rate opening or closing it from the driver's side but a zero to 10 percent success rate on the passenger side. I know it works because I can do it on the right side every so often.
Anybody else solved this problem if you had it? I haven't found the sensor to see if I can clean it.

Here's the instructions to open it:
Sensors are positioned both sides of the rear bumper, behind the rear wheels. The sensors recognize movement of a foot below the bumper level and allow automatic opening or closing of the powered tailgate.

To operate the gesture tailgate, approach the vehicle, and perform a smooth kick and return motion. This should last between 1 and 2 seconds and should take place within one of the vehicle's two sensor areas, as illustrated. When a valid kick movement is recognized by the vehicle, the turn signals flash and the tailgate operates. The powered inner tailgate also operates

 

Ditto! Exactly the same. Was like that from new. Asked them to check it out when I had it in for a few issues last September and was told it 'functions as intended'. But it doesn't
Just this evening I tried 20 kicks on the right hand passenger side with no luck. Walked around and it worked immediately on driver side

Pls post back if you solve it!!

 

I don't really need it. But I like things to work the way they're supposed to.
Will take a look underneath sometime and see if I can find a solution.
I've got a pretty good dealer/service dept but I don't want to take it in just for that. I've got 2 more years of warranty.
I'm afraid to let the dealer touch it because it runs great and I don't want any software upgrades that could ruin that.

You do have to do the kick from the sides, not from the back.

 

So this doesn't work walking up behind the vehicle?

 

 

The thing I noticed helps me the most is it's an angled kick towards the back.

 

I'll try it. You mean you are facing a bit towards the back when standing at the side behind the rear wheel?

 

 

Is there a quick way to disable this option (fuse?). I have a 100% success rate opening the tailgate by accident while walking past my Disco in the garage and into the house (I've taken to holding the FOB extended in my right hand to hide it from the sensor) and a 5% success rate when trying to open the tailgate on purpose. I'm fine just hitting the button.

 

Holy Cow, hopefully the dealer can help? Ours literally just arrived today and I can already see the wife accidentally opening the tailgate into the garage door and $2500 damage.