My 2011 Durango Citadel just started having problems with the power liftgate the other day. When I hit the button on the key fob or pull the handle to open the liftgate, it opens normal but when it gets to the top, without any warning, it starts coming back down extremely fast and slams shut. I would love to troubleshoot and fix myself, if possible, to avoid the costly repairs from the dealership. Thank you!

 

It sounds to me like the gas strut is shot. My 2012 did that while still under warranty. The fact that it goes up on its own would leave me to think that the motor side is fine.

This is a pretty common wear item on any vehicle. My mother just had the one on her Mazda 6 hatch fixed, and I know she commented that the independent garage that she took it to was far cheaper than her dealer.

Steve

 

Easy replacement:RockAuto