Do you mean the beeper that sounds twice before the hatch opens or closes? Do you hear the beep when you unlock or lock the passenger doors with the button on the outside door handles? I think it may be the same beeper.

 

Not that, there was a mechanical motor sound like bzzzz bzzz in the latch like a lock after the click closed.

Not related to the beeping sounds.

 

My 2017 still makes that noise so I know exactly what you are talking about. It might be worth having the dealer check it.

 

Yeah, I'll probably wait until the end of winter, and if it's still like that when it's not freezing temps, I'll have the dealer check it.

Powered tailgates usually have trouble when it's freezing.... and it will remain that way for another 3 months or so.

 

Our LWB will usually make the buzz sound, like it's motorized into the latch position. Some times it just closes with the thump. I have never figured out a rhyme or reason why it does it sometimes.

 

Here is how that works. When you release (open) the hatch the pull down motor raises the latch. When you close the hatch and the striker engages the pull down motor then draws the latch inward sealing the hatch against the weather strips. That is the motor buzzing noise that you hear...The pull down motor drawing the hatch in by perhaps another half of an inch.

If the pull down motor stops working in the "up" position the hatch may not be securely closed. You should have wind noise and possibly water leaks and the hatch may rattle while driving. OR....If the pull down motor never raised the latch then the hatch may be engaging in the fully closed position already. Hence no wind noise, no water leaks, and no hatch rattling around but the solid CLUNK you hear as the striker hits the latch.

Watch the hatch as it closes. If it does not latch and THEN pull down another half inch or so then something is amiss. I suspect in your case the latch is stuck in the retracted position and thus the hatch is sealing as it should.

 

Yeah, it was sealing as it should.
It's warmer today around 0C so I tried the tailgate and it works now....

Yup, it clicks, and then it pulls in half an inch usually, exactly.
Maybe when it's too cold the latch just jams closed like you said?
Motorized tailgates never work well around and below -20C.... my wife rav4 you can't even open the manual tailgate below -20 because it just won't close after, grease is frozen in there or something....

Is it a problem if "in your case the latch is stuck in the retracted position and thus the hatch is sealing as it should."?

 

Well, it may be hitting the latch harder than normally necessary and that is probably not good for the long term health of the latch. I have never noticed any issues with the pull down motor not working in colder weather, and we have a lot of that here.