How to fix a jammed Nissan Versa hatch release

Every week, we take your questions about what is going on under the hood of your vehicle and pose them to a knowledgeable mechanic in the Greater Toronto Area. In today’s column wediscuss problems with the Nissan Versa’s hatch release.

Dear Ask a Mechanic,

I have a 2010 Nissan Versa and the

hatch (trunk) release doesn’t work. There is no release inside the cabin. There are a few suggestions online but those result in the hatch being permanently open. Is there a more appropriate, reasonable fix?

— Looking for answers

Zafar Habib, co-owner of Scarborough’s Humble Autohaus, said a couple of possible options come to mind: the first involves folding and taking out the back seat. This will allow the driver to remove the cover from the tailgate, exposing the latch handle that can be pulled to manually open the hatch. The second option would be to replace the button that pushes the hatch open. Most of the time, the issue is that the button is stuck.

Replacing the button is preferable for anyone who wants easy access to the hatch. The process to replace the button isn’t costly or time consuming. The situation may be further complicated depending on the way the circuit for the button is grounded in most Versas. In order for the tailgate to be effectively locked, the circuit is grounded in the unlock position in a latch on one of the front doors. If the lock position switch inside the door has gone bad, the only fix would be to replace the affected part. Habib suggests having a professional examine the issue instead of going online for answers.

Ask a Mechanic is written by Nida Zafar, a reporter who grew up in a house full of mechanics in Scarborough, and occasionally poses your questions to her dad or brother. You can send your questions to wheels@thestar.ca. These answers are for informational purposes only. Please consult a certified mechanic before having any work done to your vehicle.