2000 V70 XC - Broken Tailgate Latch

steve_o · Post by **steve_o** » 22 Oct 2014, 08:33

We have a 2000 Volvo V70 XC, AWD, 5 cylinder, automatic. After on & off issues with the tailgate latch, it broke late last year. We replaced it with a used one in January. Unlike the previous latch, which gave some warning signs & would intermittently work, the replacement one just broke.

We had no issues with the latch prior to this, and do not use the tailgate very often. When it broke this time, the tailgate bounced back up about a foot when I shut it. After looking at it for a few minutes, I saw that the actual latch (the plastic part that slips over the post in the trunk) was in at least 2 pieces. Found the ratchet tie downs & strapped the tailgate shut, although the Trunk Open indicator now is lit all the time.

My used replacement ran about $90 & lasted about 9 months. Thus far, replacements I've found online are in the $140+ range.

Not wanting to throw (more) good money after bad, I'm hesitant to drop $150 on another latch assembly, in which the latch itself seems to be made of non-durable plastic. New or not, without changes, any one I replace it with is the same problem waiting to happen (again). Because of a pretty costly repair this summer (replacing fuel pump in the tank), we just don't have the extra cash available to replace the same latch again.

Is there any way to fix/replace the broken part of this latch? I'm going to try to post a picture of the old one, zoomed in on the piece that actually breaks (rest of the latch is fine).

: Broken part of latch; busted volvo latch.PNG (386.33 KiB) Viewed 2179 times

: Latch Assembly

DrJammer · Post by **DrJammer** » 22 Oct 2014, 09:09

Hi, are you sure it's broken? Can't you get a screwdriver into that gap and pry the latch back to normal position, so when it hits the loop on the base it levers it into place? Pic looks like it's in closed position. My latch gets stuck every now and again, especially in cold weather.

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Oct 2014, 09:25

OP's main question was: can this be fixed? I don't think so, I recently dealt with a broken latch from a 2000 V70, and I was not able to disassemble the latch body, although I was not working down in the catch portion where this one may be broken.

One way to look at this: The first and second latch each lasted almost 15 years. These data suggest the non-durable plastic lasts 10 to 15 years.

So you can buy another used one (roll the dice again), or you can buy a new one. Rolling the dice again could be similarly frustrating, at this point I would probably be waiting until I could buy the new one, hoping to not have to deal with it again for 10 years.

steve_o · Post by **steve_o** » 22 Oct 2014, 11:15

DrJammer wrote:Hi, are you sure it's broken? Can't you get a screwdriver into that gap and pry the latch back to normal position, so when it hits the loop on the base it levers it into place?

It's a little blurry, but in the close-up photo you can see 2 pieces of the lock mechanism. There's a jagged edge above the bottom of the latch mechanism, over to the right. The one currently on the car is very much the same, except it has already had a piece of the latch to come out of the mechanism.

steve_o · Post by **steve_o** » 22 Oct 2014, 11:19

erikv11 wrote:One way to look at this: The first and second latch each lasted almost 15 years. These data suggest the non-durable plastic lasts 10 to 15 years.

So you can buy another used one (roll the dice again), or you can buy a new one. Rolling the dice again could be similarly frustrating, at this point I would probably be waiting until I could buy the new one, hoping to not have to deal with it again for 10 years.

I understand, but was hoping there was a way to fix what was actually causing the problem. The rest of the latch functions perfectly, it's just that plastic piece that's broken.

Even though you're right about buying a new product, a bad design is still a bad design. I wish there was a way that the broken piece could be replaced, as it probably costs $9 versus the $150+ to replace the whole thing.

Post by **erikv11** » 22 Oct 2014, 12:30

And I hear ya, I agree.

Are you saying you had two fail in exactly that way? If that is the case, then I wonder if the striker plate could be out of adjustment, putting undue stress on the latch pieces? I have dealt with broken latches but so far they were all in the lock mechanism, not down in the latch hook itself. Worth checking out if you end up replacing it.

For what it's worth, I was able to get a used one (for 2000 V70) for like $65 from someone with a wrecked V70 by posting an ad in the parts section, it did take a while to wait for it to show up though.

steve_o · Post by **steve_o** » 22 Oct 2014, 15:13

erikv11 wrote:And I hear ya, I agree.

Are you saying you had two fail in exactly that way? If that is the case, then I wonder if the striker plate could be out of adjustment, putting undue stress on the latch pieces? I have dealt with broken latches but so far they were all in the lock mechanism, not down in the latch hook itself. Worth checking out if you end up replacing it.

For what it's worth, I was able to get a used one (for 2000 V70) for like $65 from someone with a wrecked V70 by posting an ad in the parts section, it did take a while to wait for it to show up though.

I'm not sure how you can tell if the striker plate is out of adjustment. It appears to latch just fine, when the lock latch isn't broken.

Fine with waiting on one to show up, but the ratchet tie-down I'm using just screams "Redneck Trunk Latch".

Post by **abscate** » 05 Jul 2018, 05:11

Old thread alert

I went through this with the 99. I got a used latched from a parts car buy, so it was free, sort of, but the used one lasted six months. The new one fromFCP closed butter smooth and cost $140

A part breaking after 18 years isn’t a design defect