Kia Optima Power Tailgate

A fairly common issue for Kia models equipped with electric power tailgates is that they fail, in some way or another. This also happened to myself for a Kia Optima 2018 PHEV (Hybrid), and based on my troubleshooting journey this is what I performed.

MY ISSUE: Power Tailgates would not operate at all. Pressing any button (inside, outside or Key Fob) did nothing at all. No operation at all, but the chimes from the car signaling that an attempt to open the tailgate were present.

So let's look at what we can troubleshoot

1. Check the fuse, located inside the car on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel
2. Try a reset of the tailgate, Kia instructions below:
3. Check for OBD error codes using a OBD Scanner.
   In my case I did indeed have an error, B24B500 ( B24B5(00) ) which is 'Power Trunk Module - Test Failed'
4. Do the latch release but the power tailgate does not operate at all or only partly?
   If yes your issue is probably the electric power tailgates themselves.
   If no then the tailgate latch is the main culprit.

In my case the latch would not release at all, and given the error code the first step was then to replace the tailgate latch. In Sweden a new latch costs 6000 SEK (~600 EUR) new from Kia. The electric power tailgates are 14 000 SEK (1 400 EUR) from Kia. I bought a latch from a salvage yard for 1 000 SEK (100 EUR).

Replacing the latch is not complicated at all, but here is a step-by-step guide in how you perform this replacement. What we are starting with:

1. Start with removing the upper trim, simply using gentle force and pushing the tabs that hold it into place towards you.
2. Secondly we will remove the side trims. Remove two PH2 screws and then pry the trims out using gentle force.
3. Now it's time for the big center trim. Start by removing two PH2 screws, one on each side. Then remove two plastic clips, either using a dedicated 'clip removal tool' or simply a screwdriver. (one already removed in first image) Remove two PH2 screws from inside the handles. And finally start prying the trim away from the body once again using gentle force. Once the entire trim is completely loose, you will have to disconnect the button closing the tailgate when it is opened. Once that is disconnected the entire trim can be put to the side.
4. Now we uncrew the latch itself. Three 10mm screws is what we remove. Also disconnect the connector, by pressing on top of it and sliding it out.
5. And we also remove the power assembly. Four 10mm screws to be removed. Same procedure with the connector as with the latch.
6. Slide everything out.
7. Compare the old assembly (top) to the one you have purchased (bottom). Should be identical in terms of shape.
8. Install the new latch and assembly, screw everything in place and push the trims back in place.
   You are done!

In my case this solved the issue of an unresponsive tailgate. Replacing the electric power tailgates is also a simple procedure, where two interior trim pieces will have to be removed to accomodate connecting the replacement tailgates electrically. Will do a tutorial on that when they fail on me :-)