Rear hatch wont open

[silenze]

Anyone know if its possible to open the rear hatch from the inside?

My hatch wont open.  Doors lock and unlock just fine.  Handle on outside wont engage the latch.  

Have no idea why this is happening.

[jkeaton]

Probably not without removing the interior panel but tyevthe hatch would need to be open to remove it. Maybe there is some hidden access panel?

[bramfrank]

The handle has a cable connecting it to the latch - it is either disengaged or broken - the dealer probably has a way in.  If not, then they or you could wind up chopping through trim to gain access . . . . .

[Milous]

There is a small 'emergency' access panel on the inside of the liftgate trim, at the bottom center below the light. Pry it open with a small flat screwdriver. Inside is what looks like a large plastic screwhead that can be turned with a phillips or large flathead screwdriver to open the hatch.

 

 

Edited November 29, 2016 by Milous

[silenze]

Thanks. Your a life saver

[Hankster]

Thanks this is good to know

Hank

[silenze]

Hatch won't open again.  I suspect the same problem.  This is very annoying.

[larryl]

At least you know the way in 

[bramfrank]

What was the problem last time?

[UKabitenyo Ako]

If its happening over again its either the latch is defective already and needs replacement... I have the same problem but on my driver side door...

[silenze]

this time it fixed itself after a few days.  i think it must be the cold  glad i dint have to crawl back there again.

[JourneyIL2112]

Hello,    has anyone  fixed this problem ,and what was the part & part # for the cable or Lock actuator ? 

 

i will need to get this fixed .....curious how much the dealer / private mechanic wants $$  for this repair.......  and for the time being , i will do the screwdriver fix  

[silenze]

i would try lubing it up real good.  see if that works.  mine hasn't had a problem since winter.

[Michael Fink]

I can't get the hatch to open I've tried the emergency release in the small panel under the light what do I do now

[larryl]

Get some assistance ?

[JohnnyMechanik]

Arrived 2 years later to post this. FYI: the rear liftgate latch mech WILL eventually fail. I use the liftgate on my 5-year old Journey about 12 times every day, all year round so since I knew in advance the part does fail, was prepared for it. Simple plastic gear inside, teeth eventually wear off. How to tell that's the problem before ordering another one and tearing the defective part out of the liftgate? Open up the small access hatch directly below the interior light. You'll see the white plastic item that will accept either a large flat blade screwdriver or a very large Phillips (+) scredwdriver. Turn it clockwise(to the right), almost a 1/4 turn. Prior to doing so when attempting to open the gate from the outside, your lift handle would appear to be doing nothing. Turning this white plastic piece then changes that and when you lift the latch on the outside, you'll feel a resounding "click" and the gate will open. Your remote will still allow you to lock your 4 side doors but the rear latch will remain unlocked. If you wish to re-lock it you would have to go into the rear of the vehicle and turn the white plastic item to the left. The part is available NON OEM from various places. We bought our online from Amazon.ca, $58 shipped free. The part is independent of the steel bracket latch and you remove your old one and replace it with the new one. Curious about how it's done? Search YouTube with this term 2014 Dodge Journey rear liftgate actuator replacement. Obviously your model year might be different so just change the year. The Nitro also utilizes the same latch mech. Not even going to say what the Dodge-Chrysler dealerships want for this basic part and I was once quoted a min. of 2 hours of cough, "diagnostics" at over $100 per hour for just the look see. I know for a fact they automatically knew the actuator wasn't working as it IS a common failure. Steel body but a plastic gear inside WILL fail soon enough. Note: for most anything that can or will go wrong on a Journey you can find someone on YouTube who has posted the repair for same. Seek out a parts supplier (or checkout many) before paying the exorbitant prices at the dealerships. They sell the same part but at crazy prices.

[larryl]

I got an almost brand new one from a wrecker for $25...simple R&R also

[Kubda]

 I know the question is a few years old now, but this point keeps coming up in camping forums, how to get out the back hatch if necessary.  I researched it a while back and now I’m doing it again and it occurs to me that although the solutions seemed  great, just turn that little white plastic piece… But really, that only *unlocks* the door, right? It doesn’t actually pop the opening mechanism?

[2late4u]

2 hours ago, Kubda said:

 I know the question is a few years old now, but this point keeps coming up in camping forums, how to get out the back hatch if necessary.  I researched it a while back and now I’m doing it again and it occurs to me that although the solutions seemed  great, just turn that little white plastic piece… But really, that only *unlocks* the door, right? It doesn’t actually pop the opening mechanism?   you tube.....

 

Edited July 15, 2022 by 2late4u

[Ricky_M24]

I’m late to this post and have seen the videos to open the trunk by turning the plastic emergency screw that’s inside. What happens if it won’t turn? Tried several times and don't want to break the plastic piece. Any help would be greatly appreciated