How to remove the inside panel of the tailgate on a 2004 Ford Territory

An electric tailgate release needs power and it is possible the wiring has internal breaks where it passes from the body to the tailgate. This isn't unusual.

The only way is to get inside and remove the interior tailgate trim and troubleshoot and provide independent power if necessary to open it.

Use amonia , paint thinner and spatula

you can access and release the tailgate manually from inside the vehicle. remove the trim and access panel from inside.

If this is an original equipment replacement part should work just like its predeceser before the accident. Just check that everything is wel connected and in place by removing the panels and take a look inside.

Slide the plastic cover off the tailgate ******** the passenger side to reveal a 10mm bolt.

Remove the bolt and the strap/

Using a flat prying instrument, remove the center trim section one the inside of the tailgate above the window.

Grab the top edges of the side trim sections on the inside of the tailgate and pull down to remove.

Using a flat instrument, pry at the bottom edge of the tailgate main trim panel, it is held on with about 12 plastic pop-in fasteners so it will take several 'pops' before it is released.

Behind that there is a metal access cover the width of the tailgate, held on by ~5x pop in fasteners and ~10x 10 mm bolts. Remove the bolts and pop the panel loose, it will hang by the wiring so support it while you do your camera work :)

The license plate trim panel, should you need to remove it, requires remoaval of the license plate.

Then remove ~3x 10mm bolts from the top of the panel, accessed from the inside.

Using long needle nose pliers compress the pop-fasteners holding the lower corners of the license plate trim panel on, being careful not to let it drop and slide down the vehicle, scratching the paint :)

There is a tendancy for the Triggers from the handle to Disengage internally to the Latch due to Wear and Tear, or sometimes Stressing the Mechanism when the Tailgate is Locked and someone forgot.
Gently unfasten the trim panels around the Tailgate, from the INSIDE, and if you THINK about the project, you will be able to release enough of this All in One piece enough to trip the triggers by hand, and open the Tailgate. Continue to unfasten the moulded grips, and remove the whole panel. This will then give you the access to fix the Release mechanism, mounted on the Tailgate inner body.
Regards, DT

I had a 94 with the same problem. On the inside of the tail gate, you'll see a long, narrow cover, it should have several bolts, probably torx type. Remove that cover and you'll have access to the latch where you can unlatch with a pair of pliers or something.. Good luck.

Unscrew the two screws holding the handle on the bottom of the tailgate, then using a long screwdriver pry the clips loose on the inside holding the panel on. Replace in the same order.

Mine just did the exact same thing. The latch may be moving freely because it is not hooked to the latching mechanism anymore. In my case, the handle had broken where the handle hooks to the rod that operates the mechanism. Go to the Ford dealer and buy a new handle. Here in S.C. it was $24. You can't get this at the parts houses. Start by removing the plastic "Ford" cover that is over the liscense plate lights. You then have to remove the aluminum rivets that hold the handle to the tailgate from the outside and remove the broken latch. Remove the pull handle loop on the interior side of the tailgate (2 screws), unsnap the inside plastic tailgate interior panel, and pull down the black plastic sheeting that is underneath the panel to make access to the mechanism inside of the tailgate. There is also a hard plastic cover that you will see that needs to be pulled loose to open another access hole. Install the new tailgate latch handle by sliding back into the mounting holes and attach with two 10-32 screws and nuts. The new handle will come with a new yellow rod attachment piece on the handle. You will see inside of the tailgate a small rod hanging down, most likeky it will have the same rod attachment piece as the one on the new handle. Note the position of the yellow piece on the rod, as you will connect the new piece in the same place. Once the rod is hooked up, relubricate the metal mechanism with a light machine oil, replace the black plastic cover, replace the black plastic sheeting, (secure with a small amount of duct tape), replace the tailgate interior panel, replace the pull handle loop, shut tailgate, replace "Ford" cover over lights, and you're done!

Let your tailgate down and look inside where your tailgate was and there are astric style screws to take out and its really that easy