SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO DETECT TAILGATE REMOVAL USING ALARM CIRCUITS

A vehicle includes a cabin and a vehicle body including a cargo area rearward of the cabin. A tailgate assembly is mounted to the vehicle body that closes the cargo area. The tailgate assembly includes a rear-mounted video camera. An electronic control unit receives image data from the rear-mounted video camera. A connector communicatively couples the electronic control unit and the rear-mounted video camera. The connector has a closed configuration with the tailgate assembly mounted to the vehicle body and an open configuration with the tailgate assembly removed from the vehicle body. The electronic control unit includes logic that, wherein executed by a processor, causes the electronic control unit to receive signals from an alarm circuit when the connector is in the closed configuration and detect when the signals from the alarm circuit have stopped when the connector is in the open configuration.