Hi All,
I Recently bought my 2009 Freelander 2 GS and can only open the tailgate with the key fob, just wondering if there is any way I can open it just by depressing the handle on the tailgate? can I reset the key fob or something?
Its just a pain in the butt when i'm filling up with fuel and want to get into the boot I have to take the key from the slot and press the button to enter.
Thanks.

Very likely to be a tailgate switch failure. Do a Search (see above) for "Tailgate switch/latch issues, all here" there is a full thread all about it.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

There's one more way you can open the boot door - there was a thread here with tips & tricks... Maybe someone else can link it (can't find it for the life of me)...

Open tailgate by pressing the door LOCK & UNLOCK buttons from your dashboard at the same time. After a few second, you will hear the boot door unlock.

But, yes, you should get that latch fixed because it is annoying as hell. Mine does a quirky annoying thing (yes, I need to fix the latch as well): open boot door with LOCK/UNLOCK, rush out and close the driver door vigorously, try to open the boot door only to find it latched again. Quirky mechanism, what can I say...

Isn't this a feature of the two stage unlock function? I have mine set to unlock the car on one click but it can be set to only unlock the driver's door on the first click and the remainder on the second click of the keyfob unlock button.

On the later cars it is set or reset in the in-car menu and on the older cars, I think, by button press combinations or time held on the keyfob.

This might be it...

Pressing both lock and unlock at once for 3 seconds alternates between opening just the drivers door and all doors on first press

Boot micro switch is a common failure and not expensive to repair. Look for threads on here about it.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

Would appear not to be a micro switch... OP says he can unlock the tailgate with the key fob but not with the handle. That suggests that two stage unlocking locking is active.

Taff763... when you unlock your car with a single press of the keyfob, do the passenger doors unlock too or is it just the driver's door? Try pressing unlock once and then check all five doors. Then lock the car again and press unlock twice and try all five doors again.

Let it s know what happens.

Defo Boot Micro Switch. I had same symptoms.

Take off back panel, change loom that comes with the micro switch/release handle and number plate lights. Around £30 to £40. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current

HappyNomad wrote:

Would appear not to be a micro switch... OP says he can unlock the tailgate with the key fob but not with the handle..

Just to clear up some possible misunderstanding, there are TWO microswitches. 1: The boot handle switch at the number plate has one. 2: The latch mechanism has one. I believe that in the OP's case, the boot handle switch is at fault.

Bob 10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

The original switches have an aluminium plate inside which corrodes and either snaps off or fills up with corrosion and will not allow the switch to be pressed.

Later switches have a plastic plate so when you upgrade you should not see the issue again 👍