Subaru Baja Tailgate Sensor Malfunction Fix Guide

I had a similar issue with my 2008 Subaru Outback last year. Having some experience with tailgate problems, I can share what worked in my case. The automatic tailgate stopped halfway, just like yours, and the warning light appeared. The initial scan also pointed to a sensor fault. After inspection, the workshop found that the hall sensor connections had corroded, causing intermittent signal issues. Rather than a complete sensor replacement, the problem was resolved by cleaning and repairing the cable connections to the tailgate motor. The total repair cost was 95€, including the diagnostic scan and labor. They also performed a sensor calibration after fixing the connection to ensure proper functionality. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Have you noticed any unusual noises when operating the tailgate? Does the problem occur consistently or intermittently? Are there any visible signs of water damage around the tailgate area? Did the issue start suddenly or develop gradually? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if you might be dealing with a different vehicle sensor problem.

Thanks for the input. My mileage is at 16686 KM and the tailgate issue started about 2 weeks ago. The open tailgate function behaves erratically and I hear a clicking sound when attempting to operate it. No visible water damage, but there is a consistent pattern, it stops at roughly the same spot each time. I checked the sensor wiring visually but everything appears connected. The error keeps coming back even after clearing the fault codes. Will try cleaning the connections first before replacing the hall sensor entirely.

Just like in my Outback case, that clicking sound combined with the consistent stopping point strongly suggests a sensor communication issue rather than a complete sensor failure. The symptoms are nearly identical to what I experienced, especially the repetitive error codes after clearing. Based on your mileage and the sudden onset, the hall sensor itself is likely still good. The clicking noise typically indicates the power tailgate motor trying to read position data from a poorly communicating sensor. In my repair, we found that even though the wiring looked fine visually, there was oxidation at the connector pins affecting the signal quality. A thorough cleaning of the hall sensor connections with electrical contact cleaner and checking the ground points near the tailgate motor resolved the issue completely. The repair should be significantly less expensive than replacing the sensor unit, my total cost was 95€ including sensor calibration. Just ensure to have the workshop verify the signal values after cleaning to confirm proper sensor communication. Without proper calibration, the tailgate control module might still read incorrect position data even with clean connections. Critical to note, if cleaning doesnt resolve it, then a sensor replacement would be the next step, but start with the less invasive solution first. Would you mind updating us after trying the connection cleaning? It would help confirm if your issue follows the same pattern I encountered.

Thanks for the detailed responses. I cleaned all the electrical sensor connections yesterday as suggested, and I'm happy to report some improvement. The clicking noise is gone, and the automatic tailgate now opens about 80% of the way instead of stopping midway. However, the error light still appears occasionally. Given the partial success with cleaning, I think I'll schedule a proper sensor calibration at the shop next week. If that doesnt fully resolve the issue, I might have to consider replacing the hall sensor after all. The repair costs shared here seem reasonable, and its helpful to know what to expect. Will follow up once I get the calibration done and let you know if it fixed the remaining issues with the tailgate motor. Really appreciate all the troubleshooting guidance provided here.