Below is a picture of the items needed to repair the tailgate panel. The actual tailgate repair kit has the metal pieces and the screws needed to secure them to the standoffs on the panel; the picture includes the four clips for the top and the bottom. It is recommended that you replace the clips at the time of repair, as some may be missing or break when removing the panel for repair. Total cost for everything should be about $40. The repair Kit part number is 9451866, the four clips across the bottom are 9132876, and the top four clips are 9145885.
The most asked question is how to get the trim around the handle off. Start by opening the tailgate to the fully raised position. I use a small gasket scraper, just try to work something relatively thin yet firm in under the trim to where you see the crack line where the two pieces meet. Using the below picture as an example, after the device is inserted, move the handle of the prying device towards the panel, this will lift the plastic and snap it free. You will have to pry left middle and right to get the trim to snap loose enough to take it off. In your prying you may snap a few pieces, don't worry there will be enough left to get it to hold in place when you snap it back on.
The below picture shows the trim totally snapped free and ready for removal, just pull it slightly towards you and down.
With the handle trim off, the rest is just a matter of working the panel off the tailgate. With the door still raised, I start at the top. Place your prying device under the panel and pry the panel free. The below picture shows you what the clips look like and what you are actually trying to snap free. These small clips often break, just notice how they are inserted and push them out and replace them with new ones once the panel is off. After freeing the top four clips, pull the panel free of the tailgate just a bit and then push the entire panel down in the direction of the third brake light, this will force the panel free. Some of the clips will slide off with the panel and some may stay in the tailgate. (The ones that stay in the tailgate can be removed by turning them turn and then out)
With the panel off the tailgate you are ready to make the repairs. The below picture shows the standoffs, that cause the panel not to remain secured to the clips. Inspect your standoffs to ensure they have not been broken leaving you nothing to actually attach the repair kit to. The hole can be damaged, the repair kit will solve that problem, but if the stand off is broken you will need a new plastic piece for the top of your panel. The top plastic piece is ordered by trim code. On 99% of the repairs I have made, the standoffs are just fine.
Below shows one of the standoffs with the metal bent around the standoff and ready for the small Phillips screw to secure it in place. Place the metal on the standoff and bend it into place. The screws are sharp enough to tap themselves into the plastic.
Below you can see the tailgate raised. Top left shows one of the clips still in place, (make sure you have 4 in place). You might shake the tailgate a bit to see if any plastic pieces have fallen in, setting you up for rattles later. Once all the repairs have been made to the panel you are ready to put the panel back on the tailgate. I start with the tailgate up. Line the top (bottom) in as close to the rubber seal as you can and then with your hand just bang the panel and the clips should snap into place. Then I sit on the back of the car and pull the tailgate down towards me to secure the clips along the top. You can line the holes up and then give a good smack and they will secure to the clips.
