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Hatch won't latch. (Problem solved!)

19K views 31 replies 20 participants last post by  arruda_j  
#1 · (Edited)
I went to take some junk to recycling today and when I attempted to shut the hatch it wouldn't latch. Tried pushing and slamming, car locked and unlocked, running and not running, key fob nearby and away, door open and shut, loaded junk in and out of trunk.

Searched in the forum here and didn't find any definitive answers. Does anyone have any ideas or dance moves to do to get it to work? The car is relatively new and I'll bet the hatch hasn't been used more than 10 or 15 times in it's life.
 
#5 ·
See if the latch is in correct position to go into holder.
even used a screwdriver to push it into the closed position - where it didn't latch.
Is the latch back in the open position? If so and nothing is keeping the hatch from closing all the way, the latch should engage.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I went to take some junk to recycling today

Does anyone have any ideas or dance moves to do to get it to work? The car is relatively new and I'll bet the hatch hasn't been used more than 10 or 15 times in it's life.
No good deed goes unpunished.

You can try this. It probably won't fix the latch but it will relieve the frustration you're feeling from the stupid hatch not closing properly.
 
#11 ·
Hmmm. I looked at my EUV and it looks like, if there was anything jammed in there, it would be easy to spot. Mine latches very easily with a screwdriver and unlatches with the switch under the lip of the hatch. There is a little 1 inch square access cover right above the latch. But, as far as I could tell, there are no moving parts in there. I'm as stumped as you are.
 
#13 · (Edited)
From your description, I would say you have a stuck solenoid. This would prevent the latch from holding when it goes over-center onto the latch bar. When you push the latch with a screwdriver and it will not stay in the closed position it means the plunger to open the latch has not retracted.

Edit. To test this, use the release switch like when you open the hatch. There should be two "thuds", one when the solenoid actuates and the second when it returns.
 
#15 ·
From your description, I would say you have a stuck solenoid.
Problem solved! I believe it was, as you say, a stuck solenoid - or maybe just a stuck switch. I didn't get your message until I just now come in to say it was "fixed".

I was examining the switch you press to open the hatch and noted it is about 2- 2 1/2 inches long. I was curious as to whether it had one contact or more along it's length. I worked my way along it with my thumb and near the one end when I pressed it I heard a click. Whether it was the switch or a solenoid it now works!
 
#23 ·
2023 Bolt EV with <5k miles checking in. Had this problem today loading groceries. No junk in the latch, the car is too new anyway.

Walked up, pressed open trunk button on hatch. Possibly twice, I have had to do it twice before since the key fob does not always read.
Loaded groceries, closed the hatch, but didn't feel the "cushy" door close feel. Thought it just needed more oomph so tried slamming it harder, nothing. Even harder, nothing. Kept it closed and then went start car, no errors or warnings just the red trunk open highlight on the dash. Went back to trunk door opened it. Thought to press the trunk button, saw the latch on the hatch latch. Closed trunk door and it finally felt "cushy". Door open cleared from dash.

I noticed a lot of grease on the latch hook on the car, don't know if that's notable.

Annoying problem. Hopefully it does not come back. At least it is a easy fix. Will update if it does.
 
#24 ·
2023 EUV … I had this problem this morning. Closed the hatch, didn’t latch. Tried it again a couple more times and noticed that the cargo area cover was not pushed all the way down. I thought that was blocking it, so I pushed it and tried closing it a couple more times. I read this thread tried, “massaging” button on the hatch. Nothing worked for me. I’m gonna have it checked Monday morning.
 
#30 ·
Just had this happen to me today on a camping trip. Lots of camping gear in the back but clearly nothing in the way. It does prevent you from fully locking the car.

Got home, took everything out and then it worked. Was thinking that maybe there is some sensor that was blocked that prevented it from working, but then saw this thread. I didn't do anything to the latch release button to fix it, but maybe starting the car cleared a stuck latch solenoid?