Audi SQ5 Tailgate Gets Stuck: Sensor Issues Revealed

Had the exact same problem on my 2016 Audi Q5 TDI. Have some experience with basic car maintenance and electrical issues. The tailgate motor was working but stopping midway, showing sensor fault messages. After checking forums and trying basic troubleshooting, took it to a workshop where they found the issue was a damaged wire connection to the tailgate sensor. The power tailgate system has multiple sensor wiring points that can get worn over time. The repair involved replacing the connector and rewiring a small section near the hinge. Total cost was 95 Euro including diagnostics. The workshop completed it in about an hour, and the tailgate has worked perfectly since then. To help further with your specific case: Does the tailgate stop at the same height each time? Are you getting any specific error codes? Have you noticed any unusual sounds from the motor? When did the problem first start? Worth checking the sensor connections before assuming worst-case scenarios. Sometimes moisture or wire wear near the hinges can cause these symptoms.

Last service at 122510 KM. Thanks for the detailed response. The tailgate consistently stops at about 60% height every time. The error message shows Tailgate Control Module Fault. Getting a slight grinding noise from the motor area when attempting operation. Issue started gradually over the past 2 weeks, first occasionally and now happens every time. Based on your experience, sounds like I should check the vehicle sensor wiring first. Before taking it to a workshop, would testing the open tailgate function manually help identify if its purely an electrical sensor issue? Also wondering if cleaning the connections might help, as we had heavy rain recently which could have affected the hall sensor performance.

Thanks for the additional details. Since you mentioned the grinding noise, this sounds slightly different from my case, though I initially had similar concerns about moisture affecting the hall sensor. The grinding noise combined with the consistent 60% stopping point suggests you might be dealing with both a mechanical and electrical issue. In my case, there was no grinding, it was purely an electrical sensor problem. Testing the manual operation is definitely worthwhile. On these models, the power tailgate system uses multiple vehicle sensors working together, and bypassing the automatic function can help isolate whether its a mechanical or electrical problem. When I had my issue, the manual operation was smooth despite the electrical sensor fault. The recent rain could be a factor, but the grinding noise concerns me more. My repair was straightforward because it was just the wiring, but you might be looking at a more complex fix. While cleaning the electrical sensor connections is worth trying, I would be cautious about delaying a workshop visit given the grinding sound. From my experience with these automatic tailgate systems, grinding usually indicates wear in the motor mechanism itself, rather than just a hall sensor issue. You might want to have both the mechanical and electrical components checked. My repair was relatively inexpensive at 95 Euro, but with potential motor involvement, you might be looking at a different scale of repair.

Thanks for sharing those details. After reading about your similar experience, I feel a bit more confident about the issue but also concerned about the grinding noise you mentioned, which seems different from your case. The consistent 60% stopping height and error messages match what you described, but the grinding noise in my vehicle suggests a potential mechanical problem alongside the sensor wiring issue. Since my problem started after heavy rain, I will try cleaning the electrical connections first and test the manual operation to help narrow down the cause. However, given the grinding noise and your insights about the automatic tailgate system complexity, I think I should probably get it checked professionally soon rather than risk further damage. The sensor calibration and motor mechanism both need inspection. While I hope its just a wiring issue like yours that cost 95 Euro, I will budget for potentially higher repair costs considering the grinding sound points to possible motor wear. Thanks again for sharing your repair experience, it helped me understand what to expect and convinced me to prioritize getting it properly diagnosed rather than continuing to operate it with the grinding noise.