Trunk Kick Sensor Doesn’t Work. Don’t know Why
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Instructor
Joined: Feb 2022
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From: Massachusetts
Trunk Kick Sensor Doesn’t Work. Don’t know Why
The trunk kick sensor on my 2022 ES350 UL doesn’t work for some reason. It works only like 5% to 10% of the time. I was outside today trying to open the trunk while making the motion with my right leg/foot with the key fob inside my pocket and the trunk wouldn’t open. I tried kicking like 10 to 20 times and nothing happened. I’ve had this issue on and off for a while now ever since I got delivery of my car back in June. I ended up opening the trunk by pressing the button on the key fob. The trunk doesn’t close either when I make the motion with my foot/leg when I kick underneath the rear bumper. I know that I’m doing everything correctly, but I don’t know why the kick sensor isn’t working like it should. Is the kick sensor on my Lexus defective? Why isn’t the trunk opening when I make the kick motion with my leg/foot with the key fob in my pocket? Does anyone else have this issue? I mentioned this to the dealership last month when I took my car in for the 6 month oil change service and they told me that the sensors are sometimes quirky. I don’t believe that. I’m wondering whether the dealership took the time to check it out. Has there ever been and kick sensor failures on the 2022 ES350 models?
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 654
Likes: 245
From: USA
I know you said you believe you were doing everything correctly, but just to make sure:
First, make sure it's turned on. Yes sometimes it's off.
Locate the sensor under the rear bumper, in the middle, try it with your hand to see if it open, it's a motion sensor, don't touch, don't go too close, go in just enough and go out, remember it's MOTION sensor, you have to do a motion in and out, straight, don't wave. If it works consistently, then the sensor is ok, just you've been doing it wrong If it doesn't work at all, then sensor is faulty, get it fixed under warranty, don't listen to dealer BS. If it works intermittently, tell them sensor is not working, if they tell you otherwise, simply ask can they perform to make it work properly 3 consecutive times in front of you. Yeah exactly, REPLACE for me please.
Few tutorial links, may be helpful maybe not:
P/S: My 19 ES doesn't have kick sensor LOL. My 20 NX does and it works 95% of time.
First, make sure it's turned on. Yes sometimes it's off.
Few tutorial links, may be helpful maybe not:
P/S: My 19 ES doesn't have kick sensor LOL. My 20 NX does and it works 95% of time.
Last edited by july1988; Dec 10, 2022 at 06:47 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,555
Likes: 1,376
From: IL
I had to practice to make mine work consistently. At first, i'd fail more often than I succeeded. I'm still not 100%.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,001
Likes: 568
From: CA
I looked like a fool the first few days of trying to get used to it. Sweeping my leg, switching my legs to kick, etc. I found out that if I line up under the rear emblem on the trunk lid and tap the bottom of the car from pretty far in, it works 95% of the time. I'm sure it might work without tapping the undercarriage of the car but making contact always worked for me so I continue to do so.
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 41
Likes: 15
From: Montreal, QC
It used to drive me nuts when I first got my ES. It would work 50% of the time back then and now, pretty much 99% of the time. My biggest advice is to slow down your motion. The way I do it is to kick forward (and not side ways) around the area below the Lexus badge. From your initial upright position with your 2 feet on the ground, you should be able to count 2 FULL seconds for your kick motion before landing you foot back on the ground. So it's not really a kick motion, but more a lean forward motion with your foot (almost like trying to reach something with your foot).
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,634
Likes: 296
From: Illinois
It used to drive me nuts when I first got my ES. It would work 50% of the time back then and now, pretty much 99% of the time. My biggest advice is to slow down your motion. The way I do it is to kick forward (and not side ways) around the area below the Lexus badge. From your initial upright position with your 2 feet on the ground, you should be able to count 2 FULL seconds for your kick motion before landing you foot back on the ground. So it's not really a kick motion, but more a lean forward motion with your foot (almost like trying to reach something with your foot).
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Pit Crew
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 180
Likes: 66
From: Georgia
I was very frustrated with kick sensor failure 80-90% of the time despite studying the tutorials and manual and practicing extensively in my driveway. After posting my complaint here someone recommended a horizontal, sweeping side to side swipe below the bumper rather than straight forward and back. That was the solution. It works 100% of the time, at least for me.
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