phil47

This was really frustrating me. Finally took some time to figure it out. Can now open/close 100% of the time. Trick is to kick up and slightly touch area per photo below. At least this works for me. My Q8 is equipped with trailer hitch. Takes a second to react so be patient and don’t swipe around or kick multiple times in a row.

SherylR

I hope this works for me!!! Thank you so much!!

GoRunners

I am a new Audi Q8 owner and this thread is dated, but thanks to phil47's picture/instructions I can get my tailgate to go up and down hands free now. thank you!!!
PS - I love how it beeps like a tow truck in reverse before it starts closing

rogueq8

Q8's auto tailgate is kinda sensitive. But once you get the hang of it, it works well. And yes, thanks to phil47.

Runamuck

So I’m going to sound like an absolute idiot but just in case this helps someone else....

I was reading all these instructions about where to “kick” to get the thing to open hands free and so I literally was out KICKING my bumper. Like take the flat of my foot and kicking it all along the bumper trim on either side of the hitch receiver. My wife comes out and was like “WTF are you doing? You are going to break or scratch your bumper!” And she walks up and does this little foot sweep thing right beside the hitch and it opens right up.

Since then I’ve figured out the foot sweep UNDER the bumper and it works every time.

So for any other slightly too-literal readers here. Do NOT “kick” your bumper. Sweep your foot UNDER your bumper. Left to right motion, just to left of the hitch.

Now to go buff the bumper......

Runamuck

Can’t figure out how to edit my post but correction....it’s a RIGHT to LEFT sweep motion, under the bumper, to the left of the hitch receiver.

vhtran

For me, I just kick twice (habit) dead in the middle and back off a little.

G.T.Hairston

Is the car off or on?

Runamuck

Off and locked or unlocked. Doesn’t matter. Just walk up with key in pocket, sweep foot under bumper just to left of center (or where hitch is located on mine) in a single, smooth right to left motion. Left to Right motion works as well, but I find it’s more consistent with right to left. Back tailgate opens every time.

SCarGuy

The car doesn’t care if you move your foot front to back (which is how we at Audi are taught), left to right or right to left. What it does care about is that after moving your foot you take a decently size step backwards. If you stand at the edge of the bumper you can kick to your hearts content and the gate will not move