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Opening Tailgate With Foot Movement

16533 Views 22 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  nbg
Is anyone having trouble getting the tailgate to consistently open using the foot-kick movement? Our success rate is less than 20%. Note that we have the trailer hitch installed - I'm not sure if that somehow plays into it. We've tried everything that we can think of - slow kicks, fast kicks, kicks in a sweeping motion, kicks closer to and farther from the bumper sensors. Nothing seems to consistently work. The key fob is always in one of our pockets. We haven't checked with the dealer yet but that is our next step if no one here has a suggestion.
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So we tried it again last night and think we've found the sweet spot. The sensors seem to require the leg/foot kick action between the right side of the left exhaust port and the left-most side of the rear diffuser. It takes some practice, or at least it did for us. :smile
So we tried it again last night and think we've found the sweet spot. The sensors seem to require the leg/foot kick action between the right side of the left exhaust port and the left-most side of the rear diffuser. It takes some practice, or at least it did for us.
That sounds right, the guide shows a diagram of the the sensor that is left of center under the bumper to the right of the exhaust pipe.
the kick

same here, can't consistently find that sweetspot yet.
We struggle with the foot action tailgate. But I have come to the conclusion that it is the proximity of the key fob that is key. Hold the key fob close to the car and wave your foot under the sweet spot and it'll open every time (Or that seems to be what I have found). What's frustrating is to be in a parking lot with your arms full of bags, etc. that are in front of your body (blocking the key fob) and you want that rear gate to open and it doesn't. :|
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When we went in for our test drive, the dealer shared that the right "V" on the rear tailgate "Volvo" acts as an arrow to the sensor. Don't have ours yet, but kicking right below that might help?
In the future voice commands should become an option for these because that's also how smart devices will be shifting in experience. The rise of assitive services plays right into our home and car experiences.
I had an issue with this with my acadia denali. Its embarrassing when you try to show your party trick and it doesn't work lol
When we went in for our test drive, the dealer shared that the right "V" on the rear tailgate "Volvo" acts as an arrow to the sensor. Don't have ours yet, but kicking right below that might help?
I tried your suggestion, and no dice. I always aim using the first o and it works every time.
I had an issue with this with my acadia denali. Its embarrassing when you try to show your party trick and it doesn't work lol
Give it time and eventually Voice integration will be a thing and there's no messing that up. These systems learn how you speak over time and become better at understanding commands.
This is the most irritating thing. The manual even says you have to move your foot slowly. I usually get it on the third try. Sub-optimal!
When my dealer showed me how to do it, she did a side-to side motion, That doesn't work!

I'm probably 95% successful on the first try with an in-and-out motion.
Yep had the same problem , proud and eager to show this feature then bam just embarrassed lol
In the future voice commands should become an option for these because that's also how smart devices will be shifting in experience. The rise of assitive services plays right into our home and car experiences.
I hope you're right. The voice commands/nav programming is horrible.. really not much better than my friend's 11 year old S80 and renders the nav almost useless.
Hands Free Tail Gate

My XC 40 Inscription model hands free tail gate also didn't work no matter what I or the salesman did. Get this... When I brought the car in for them to investigate I was informed that the factory put on the WRONG bumper. So hands free sensor not there. I think they put a bumper from another model on it. I was shocked at this poor quality control. Waiting now for the dealer to get the correct bumper in. It is taking a while for them to locate the parts. Anyone else have this sad story.
We took delivery about 3 weeks ago of our Momentum and for us the feature works about 90% of the time. With the kick in method and right where the second sensor for left to right is.
Like the voice control, this is essentially a useless feature. After 3 months, I'm still not sure I've ever gotten it to respond on the first attempt. Sometimes even after many attempts it just won't open. So now I don't even bother. Besides just being outright frustrating, you look like a fool standing there holding grocery bags and waving your leg under your car. ?
I kick under the first O in Volvo, and get it to work now 100% of the time. Works on my XC 40 and the loaner 90 I'm driving.
Reviving this old post. Discovered something today. The kicking motion will also CLOSE THE HATCH. Be careful when standing at the rear of the car with the hatch open. If you slide your foot under the car at the “sweet spot” unintentionally, the hatch will hit you in the head. OUCH!
When my dealer showed me how to do it, she did a side-to side motion, That doesn't work!

I'm probably 95% successful on the first try with an in-and-out motion.
Our dealer also taught us to use a side-to-side motion, which the manual doesn't mention at all. From left-to-right to open, from right-to-left to close. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but it seems to work for us.

The standard kick motion, as described in the manual, also works to open, but it's less effective than left-to-right, as far as I can tell.
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