Is there any side to side play? If so add a washer or 2 on the drivers side hinge to center it. I did this on my 2nd gen and it worked perfectly.

 

No play, just the gap is larger on the passenger than the drivers. I added a tonneau cover & you can see it more pronounced now. I'm sure the dealer can adjust it but it's a 30 min drive each way.

 

Pictures would be helpful.

 

All Frontiers come with a 12 month 12k mile warranty on body panel adjustments.

Use it or lose it. Simple as that.

 

How sure are we it isn't the bed rails? And what Grumpy said

 

My passenger slide has slightly more gap but I never noticed it until reading this thread.
Also, I installed a hard cover and never noticed anything.
As mentioned before, pictures are helpful.
Here's mine:

 

What is the "more gap"?? 1mm, 1/16", 10mm, 1/8", a smidge, a pinky width??

These are trucks and do not have the most perfect alignment of panels. As @Grumpy Shihtzu stated, go to the dealer to have them adjust it.
As an FYI: my tailgate is not perfectly centered either, but as long as the shortest side has a decent clearance, I'm not worried. YMMV

 

@GreyFox
I don't know if the above was directed at me but I was just showing the OP mine for comparison.
I'm good with it.

 

@GreyFox
I don't know if the above was directed at me but I was just showing the OP mine for comparison.
I'm good with it.

It was to the OP. That's why it was a reply to his post.
Yours's looks acceptable and similar to mine. As long as it's not too close vs. too far, no one should have any issues.

 

Ok....Mine looks exactly like dz302's pic posted. I'm used to tight body panels on cars. This truck cost a lot, brand new 2025. I would expect to not have to notice a gap like that.

 

Tailgates on pick-ups get used the most (at least in theory). So that gate will open/close many times over like the driver's door. The tailgates are not 'sealed' and have some play and many gaps/open areas that rain/water/dust can enter. Again, its a pick-up truck. Even the more expensive full size trucks have the same design and flaws. If it really bothers you THAT much, just go to the dealer to have a tech 'adjust' it for you. Otherwise, drive it and enjoy it My two cents.

 

Tailgate alignment should not enter the OCD arena.

 

Yeah...That's on me 😁
Here is what mine looks like. I'll get the dealer to mess with it when I get my 1K oil change.

 

Yeah...That's on me 😁
Here is what mine looks like. I'll get the dealer to mess with it when I get my 1K oil change.

because the tailgate is removeable there is no adjustment for those gaps, the hinge point is two cheap 1 dollar cup style hinges which allows the gate to freely float in the installed position for easy opening and closing.

 

That's not even that bad. It looks like every truck I see on the road, regardless of how much they cost. The tailgate has to slide side to side in order to remove it. The hinges are just two tubes that hold it in place. The passenger side has a cut out for the tailgate to slide out. If the fitment was any tighter, the tailgate wouldn't be able to slide out. You would have to remove the hinges to take the tailgate off. The only adjustment the dealer can do is forward or rearward. My tailgate stuck out more on the driver side, about 1/2". The dealer pushed the hinge in and now it's flush with the body.

 

Ok, good to know

 

AI answer:

To adjust a tailgate, you'll typically need to loosen hinge bolts, potentially install shims, and then adjust the striker (where the tailgate latches) to achieve proper fit and flushness. For some vehicles, you may also be able to adjust the height of the tailgate through settings on your vehicle's infotainment system.

Detailed Steps for Tailgate Adjustment:

1. 1. Loosen Hinge Bolts:
   Begin by loosening the bolts that secure the tailgate hinges to the truck bed on each side. This allows for movement and adjustment of the tailgate's position.
2. 2. Install Shims (if needed):
   Depending on the vehicle and the issue, you might need to install shims (thin metal or plastic pieces) to adjust the tailgate's position.
3. 3. Hand-Tighten Bolts:
   After loosening the bolts, hand-tighten them to allow for fine-tuning of the tailgate's alignment.
4. 4. Adjust for Fit and Flushness:
   Close the tailgate and make adjustments to the strikers, which are the components that the tailgate latches onto.
5. 5. Open and Tighten Bolts:
   Open the tailgate and fully tighten the hinge bolts, ensuring the tailgate is in its desired position.
6. 6. Check for Flushness:
   Open and close the tailgate multiple times to ensure it's flush against the truck bed.
7. 7. Adjust Strikers:
   Loosen the striker bolts (or the striker itself in some cases) and adjust them as needed to achieve proper latching and flushness.
8. 8. Final Tightening:
   Once you're satisfied with the alignment, tighten the striker bolts.
   

Additional Considerations:

• Shims:
  If you need to install shims, they are typically placed between the tailgate hinge and the truck bed.
  
  
• Striker Adjustment:
  The striker is the component that the tailgate latches onto. You may need to adjust the striker's position to ensure a tight and secure latch.
  
  
• Power Struts:
  If your tailgate has power struts (also known as lift assist shocks), they may need to be replaced if they are causing the tailgate to slam down or not stay in the open position.
  
  
• Tailgate Damping:
  Some vehicles offer tailgate damping systems that help slow down the tailgate's descent and prevent slamming.

As a former detailer for a body shop, the shop I worked for would use varying types of shims for minor adjustments. FYI

 

I think they are all like that slightly off. I have a super black 24 pro-4x. Mine is the same
way but you can’t see it because of the color. 🤣