If you’re older than 45, listen up. You are about to enter the age of the shoulder rotator cuff tear. Believe me, it’s not the worst change your body will undergo, but it’s on the top ten list. If you’re a grown-up, you already have friends and family, maybe a spouse, who have already had the surgery. By age 50, over one in ten Americans has rotator cuff tears visible on imaging. By age 80, it’s half of us. Your choice of vehicle can be one of many steps you can take to help prevent the tears, and if you already suffer from sore shoulders, a simple feature can help you right now.
We created the image at the top of the page to help illustrate what we are talking about. Shoulder injuries are often caused by or worsened by quick, instinctive movements we make without thinking. For my dad, it was pulling a box of wedding rods down off a shelf at work. For my best buddy, reaching back to grab a banister while stumbling on the last step of a staircase. My shoulders are shot from a combination of typing 1,000 words a day for fifteen years and too much kayaking. More accurately lifting the kayaks up and down off the top of the vehicle.
Of all the dumb things automakers do, putting the tailgate close button at the very top of an SUV’s tailgate must be one of the worst offenses. That button is right there, in plain view, and it is very tempting to reach up and tap. For those of us with bad shoulders, an empty hand is enough to cause shooting pains. For those with small rotator cuff tears, the movement can make matters worse. Add a bag of apples to the hand that reaches for that awful button, and you may make a manageable situation go from an annoyance to a scheduled surgery.
This past week, I tested a new Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. I loved nearly everything about this SUV. Nobody makes better SUVs for combined off-road adventure and luxury than Jeep. What I love most about Jeep and its siblings in the Stellantis family of brands is that the engineers and designers actually seem to think about what they do and how they do it.
The tailgate close button on the Jeep Grand Cherokee has been removed from that dangerous location and relocated to the side of the cargo area. It is about waist or chest-high, depending on your stature. No need to lift your arm up. You just reach forward. This feature that Jeep offers should immediately be mandated by law for all SUVs with power tailgates.
Sure, you can find a lot of SUVs with that kick function to allow you to open and close the tailgate. I’ve been testing that on various brands and models for 15 years now. A new vehicle every week. I’d say that one in twenty kick-to-close tailgates actually works when I try it. My kick is not right. The feature is not enabled. My foot is invisible. I’m too impatient to learn the proper technique. I don't really care. All I know is that I can hit a button with about 99.99% success on my first try. I’d be totally fine if both were offered.
Yes, I also know the keyfob can operate that tailgate, but when you come out to help with groceries, you may not have the fob. You can also search the front of the car and find that tailgate button somewhere inside the dark interior. Maybe down to the left of the steering wheel. “Where are my darn gasses?” Again, I’m not against that button. Just give me the easy one in the lower part of the tailgate area, and for the love of Mike, please remove the button from the top inside lip of the upraised tailgate. I have a few more mistakes left in me before I’m looking into my copay for surgery, and I’d much rather be playing frisbee with a grandkid than reaching up to close a tailgate when the final straw is drawn.
About the Author:
John Goreham is a 14-year veteran of Torque News. An accomplished writer and a long-time expert in vehicle testing, Goreham also serves as the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and has a growing social media presence. He’s also a 10-year staff writer and community moderator for Car Talk. Goreham holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an undergraduate Certificate in Marketing. In addition to vehicle and tire content, he offers deep dives into market trends and opinion pieces. You can follow John Goreham on X and TikTok, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Top of page image is obviously generated. I took the other two with my phone.
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