Jeep Cherokee Rear Hatch latch is stuck or broken

PROBLEM: Jeep Cherokee Rear Hatch latch is stuck or broken. Unable to open rear hatch normally.

RESOLUTION:

There are several methods you can try to open a stuck rear hatch:

Method Two: Look underneath the Jeep between the bumper and the gas tank. You are now looking at the bottom side of the cargo floor. You should see the two metric nuts that secure the striker bracket to the floor of the Cherokee. This bracket holds the hatch closed. A tow hitch bracket or gas tank skid plate may block your access to the striker nuts. If you can see the nuts, use a metric socket and socket wrench to remove the nuts securing the striker plate. The hatch should now swing open. You can now reinstall the striker to the floor and retighten the two nuts.

Method Three: Sit in the cargo area and remove the plastic trim cover on the inside of the rear hatch to access and adjust/repair the latch mechanism. The plastic cover on the inside of the rear hatch is attached with 4 screws along the inside top and 4 more along the sides (2 each side) and approximately 10 snap fasteners spaced around the inside. The 4 screws at inside top are accessible from inside the vehicle, the 2 screws on either side are not accessible when the hatch is closed.

To remove the plastic cover:

(1) Remove the 4 screws at the top. (2) Along the lower edge of the rear window, using any kind of medium sized angled flat-bar or lever, gently pry the edge of the plastic cover away until the 4 snap fasteners pop free along the lower edge of the rear window. (3) This will allow you to pry the plastic cover open far enough use a flashlight and examine the latch mechanism. (4) Reach in and down and manually pull the latch lift bar up to release the latch and open the hatch.

Once the hatch is open you can remove the side screws, pry the rest of the snap fasteners free and completely remove of the plastic trim cover on many Cherokees. 1997 thru 2001 Cherokees have an inner hatch grab handle that requires a Torx socket wrench bit to remove. Pry the little rectangular cover off of each end of the grab handle. Use the Torx bit to remove two screws that secure the handle. Once the handle is removed the tailgate plastic trim panel can be fully removed.

Now that you have the hatch open, the plastic trim removed, and can access to the working parts, lightly lubricate the hatch handle mechanism and the locking mechanism with some Lithium grease. Inspect both mechanisms for misadjusted or loose connections. Apply a small amount of spray lubricant on the external parts of the latch.

Finally, test the tailgate for proper function and reinstall the plastic trim panel and any other parts that were removed.


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