Loose latched tailgate?

[morganater]

When I close my tailgate, it latches, but it is very loose and moves back and forth. Does anyone know how to adjust or fix this? It is becoming annoying, and everyone near my truck is like

[Supercharged03]

Fold your tailgate down so that you are looking at the bed side of it. There's a large panel that attaches with 8 or 10 Torx bolts; this panel provides access to the latch mechanism. Remove the panel, close the tailgate, and check for the loose condition. If the tailgate is now tight, then the latching mechanism is being jammed by the panel. Check the panel for dents and, if any are found, pop them out. My panel got bent so bad (after slamming it closed on a load of bricks) that I couldn't operate the latch at all, but the panel straightened out with a few hammer wacks.

If the taligate is still loose, try adjusting the latches on each side of the tailgate (the parts inside the tailgate, not the hooks mounted to each side of the bed). Loosen the Torx bolts enough so that the latch can move towards the outside of the tailgate about 1/16 inch, then tighten the bolts and recheck the tailgate fit. Repeat the adjustment until the fit is correct.

Good luck!

[Azgoldrat]

Look at the rubber bump stops near the latches most likely they have worn down on one side and are no longer flat replaceing them stops the rattleing tailgate ........................Az

[movinfwd]

If none of that works try adjusting the striker on the side that is rattling. by loosening the two bolts and pushing them towards the front of the bed slightly (don't go too far or it will not latch at all)