REAR LIFT GATE WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. WHILE I WAS STANDING UNDERNEATH IT, WITHOUT WARNING IT SUDDENLY FAILED STRIKING ME IN THE HEAD AND PUSHING ME INTO THE REAR BUMPER. FORTUNATELY, OTHER THEN A SORE HEAD FOR A FEW MOMENTS I WAS NOT INJURED. HAD I NOT BEEN STANDING UNDER THE LIFT GATE AT THE TIME IT WOULD HAVE CLOSED ON MY THREE YEAR OLD POSSIBLY CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES OR KILLING HER. SINCE THE INCIDENT THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED. IT WILL LIFT INTO THE OPEN POSITION AND REMAIN OPEN FOR A SHORT (UNPREDICTABLE) PERIOD OF TIME THEN SUDDENLY SLAM SHUT. CURRENTLY WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE PERSON HOLD THE LIFT GATE OPEN WHILE LOADING OR UNLOADING THE MINI-VAN. *TR