JoshBryan/ShutterstockSince its rise to prominence in the early 2000s, the modern SUV has become a cargo champion for American drivers, offering far more carrying capacity in the cargo area than a sedan's piddly old trunk ever could. Increasingly, SUVs — especially top trims and luxury models — now offer power liftgates to make loading and unloading cargo easier and more convenient, while pickup trucks have their own power tailgate designs, like the F-150's Pro Access Tailgate. For the cargo enthusiasts among us, such conveniences are a godsend, but power tailgates (and even just gates with an electric latch) necessarily have more failure points than manual ones do, and trying to wrench your stuff out of the rear gets a lot harder when your liftgate refuses to open.One of the most common problems you are likely to find with a power liftgate is that it stops working altogether. When this happens, you'll need to troubleshoot a few different systems to identify the source of the issue. First, check that your car's battery has enough juice to power the vehicle's systems. If the voltage is low, the battery may not be able to supply enough power to the motor, causing the liftgate to fail.If the gate works when you try to open it by hand but not when using your key fob, you could instead have a problem with the fob battery, which you can easily replace. If neither of these fixes gets you anywhere, it's time to check the fuse box for a blown fuse. Your owner's manual can tell you which fuse is the likely culprit, and if it's blown, you can swap it with a new one relatively cheaply with only a couple of minutes of work.AdvertisementAdvertisementRead more: Never Jump Start A Modern Car Without Checking For These Things FirstCommon problems with truck tailgatesMiljan Živković/Getty ImagesTruck tailgates can operate quite differently from an SUV hatch. Truck tailgate mechanisms are more exposed and therefore more prone to malfunction. Some truck owners may find that their power tailgate feels stuck or needs to be jostled to open properly, while others have reported the tailgate randomly opening or actuating, particularly on Chevy Silverados. Cybertruck owners have tons of tailgate troubles as well, including gates getting stuck open due to warping. They'll have to take that up with Tesla, though.A sticky tailgate that won't open without being pushed in first may be the result of poor lubrication on the latches rather than an electrical problem. Try spraying the latches with your lube of choice and testing it out. Reapply lubricant as needed over time. Some trucks require you to turn the power tailgate function on. If your tailgate is set to manual mode, its power functions won't work. Search for your tailgate settings on your infotainment system and try tweaking things there. This is common on F-150s from recent years.If you're having problems with your latch actuator turning on and off seemingly randomly, you may have a problem with the electrical switch in the tailgate. As an electrical issue, this is a bit harder to fix, but it's still possible to do a DIY repair, and at least it's less obnoxious than your electric door handles failing and locking you in the car. On YouTube, 737mechanic has a detailed video about how to diagnose and repair this issue on a Silverado, but the logic should hold for other trucks experiencing a similar issue. If you're not up for such an involved repair, though, there's no shame in visiting an auto shop.Stuck, slow, or noisy liftgates are a problemHadrian/ShutterstockYou may find that your power liftgate works right up until it doesn't, getting stuck before fully opening or closing. This can cause all kinds of problems but is especially annoying when you're trying to turn your SUV into a camper. If you encounter this problem, there are two likely causes. The first is actually a feature, not a bug; you just have to figure out how to actually use it. Some liftgates allow owners to set the liftgate's maximum height. This is an accessibility feature that helps individuals use their liftgate more easily, but it can get turned on accidentally and cause inconvenience.AdvertisementAdvertisementCheck the owner's manual to see if your car has this feature. If so, the controls are likely inside the cabin or found in your infotainment menus, and adjusting the height controls should resolve the problem. If not, you probably have a sensor issue on your hands. Try wiping off the liftgate's sensors, which are used to detect obstacles and stop the gate before damage occurs, then try the gate again. If cleaning the sensor doesn't work, it's probably time to visit a professional.Liftgates utilize a complex combination of struts and motors to operate, and these parts can wear down over time or accumulate dirt and debris. When this happens, the gate may slow down or start making excessive noise. If it's just a problem of lubrication, you can get the system regreased at a dealer, but more mechanical issues will need a professional touch.Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox, and follow us or add us as a preferred search source on Google.Read the original article on Jalopnik.