How to Fix Your Honda CR-V Tailgate That Won't Stay Open

Honda CR-Vs are built to haul camping gear, sports equipment, and many other kinds of cargo. In other words, you probably use your tailgate a lot, and a broken one can really put a damper on your day.

Well, you can toss out the broomstick you've been using to prop up your tailgate because we have great news for you: it takes only about 20 minutes of your time and a couple inexpensive parts to restore your tailgate’s lift.

In most cases, you just have to replace your liftgate struts, which are the black rods on both sides of your tailgate. These nitrogen gas powered springs are designed to support a lot of weight, but they will eventually buckle under weight as a result of wear or improper use.

Can you spot the liftgate struts on this CR-V?

What You'll Need

Replacing your struts is much easier than you think. As long as you have all of the following, you should be able to complete your project quickly:

• A friend or that broomstick you’ve been using to prop up your broken tailgate
• A flathead screwdriver
• OEM liftgate struts designed for your year model (see part numbers below)

2017 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74820-TLA-A01

Part Number Left: 74870-TLA-A01

2016 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74820-T1W-A01

Part Number Left: 74870-T1W-A01

2013-2015 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74820-T0G-A11

Part Number Left: 74870-T0G-A11

2012 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74820-T0G-A01

Part Number Left: 74820-T0A-003

2007-2011 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74820-SWA-A01

Part Number Left: 74870-SWA-A01

2005-2006 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74825-S9A-J01

Part Number Left: 74825-S9A-J01

2002-2004 CR-V

Part Number Right: 74825-S9A-003

Part Number Left: 74825-S9A-003

Keep in Mind

1. We highly recommend replacing both liftgate struts at the same time to ensure equal weight support.
2. It’s always a good idea to replace your struts as soon as they start to show signs of wear or failure.

Replacing Your Liftgate Struts

First, prop up your tailgate. Having a friend hold it up is ideal because it has to be all the way up. If you can't find another person to help you, then that broomstick will come in handy.

Next, use the flathead screwdriver to pry off the clips holding the struts in place. Inspect the mounts to make sure they're still in good shape. Remove the old liftgate struts and then put in the new ones before putting the clips back on.

Either have your friend slowly let go of the tailgate or remove the broomstick and see if the tailgate stays up. It should hold up and close properly. If not, the new struts weren't installed properly and you might need to re-install them.

If you run into any problems during the installation process or if you need help finding the right replacement struts for your CR-V, please contact us. We're more than happy to help!