Tailgate does not latch by tailgate button

Thanks for the information. In fact, this car was slightly hit on the rear by another car. Since then the tailgate could not be locked by the lit button. Base on that, do you think the trouble is in the button itself? If so, what should I do?

Here are the pictures of the tailgate. There is no cosmetic damage, except that a piece of small plastic block was broken.

Thanks Ken. I will try to do it this weekend.

Hi, Ken: we finally replaced the stop button and the tailgate is in perfect working condition. Thank you very much.

If I press the tailgate button, use my keyless remote, or manually try to close the back tailgate, it does close but will not latch.

Thanks for the post. My sensor was broken had to replace it all fixed! I love this site.

I just fixed mine. Just by push the Red Button for 5 second and hear the BEEP and everything back to normal. No need to buy new actuator!

My 2007 ML350 is doing the same thing. I can hear the motor trying to engage the latch, but the latch never hooks. Which “red” button are you talking about Andy? If I press the one on my trunk it starts to close my trunk door so not sure how to hold it for 5 secs.

Went to open the lift gate on my 2003 Mercedes ML350 and it would not open. When I hit the remote I can hear the actuator movement behind the rear latch and I cannot manually open the lift gate from the inside. So I doubt it is the SAM unit, but more likely a broken latch? How do I get the lift gate open and what would I be looking for?

You were right. The linkage came unhooked. I found pieces of black plastic laying in the tailgate which I believe may have once been the clip that held the linkage together. I zipped tied the rod loosely to the frame so to assure that the linkage will not come unhooked again, but yet not to tight enough to bind any of the mechanisms. At least that is my goal. :-)

All is working well. Thanks for getting back to quickly.