2023 Rear Hatch Lock

[oldnissanguy]

During my recent trip the rear hatch lock quit working, mostly. It did actually lock one time after the problem started. I tried both locking from the door button and with the remote. No joy.

[VStar650CL]

The gen3's all use a cinch motor in the hatch lock assembly, driven by the ABD Controller for a power door or the BCM for unpowered. There's no actual "lock", the position of the cinch motor keeps it shut and when the doors are "locked" the controller simply refuses to run the motor. The only mechanical latch is a "half latch" mechanism present only on the ABD version. So what could be wrong depends largely on the exact symptoms. "Latching" and "locking" are two different things. If it won't latch, that's almost always a bad motor, bad closure switch, or a jammed mechanism. You should hear the cinch motor run when the door contacts the striker and when you press the release button. If you don't, that's probably a bad motor. If you do, it's probably a bad closure switch or jammed mechanism. Either way, it means replacing the lock assembly unless it's a jam which can be cleared (happens frequently from broken glass). If the problem is that it latches but won't lock, that's a problem in the security system. If nothing locks then the most likely problem is a fob left inside the car. If only the back door won't lock and you have ABD, it's likely the ABD controller has lost CAN contact with the BCM.

[VStar650CL]

PS - I've seen a few of these and I hope it isn't a trend, because the hatch locks are hideously expensive.

[oldnissanguy]

Latches but won’t lock. Manual door. As for cost, it has less than 7K on the clock so it’s on Nissan’s dime.

[oldnissanguy]

Maybe I could be clearer. Doors lock, hatch doesn't.

[VStar650CL]

That's a little weird. Since it latches and unlatches normally, the motor and wiring have to be okay. So does the closure switch, or you'd be getting a "gate ajar" warning. The gate lock doesn't work the same as the door locks, though. You can't "pull on the handle" without pressing the request button to see if it's locked like you can with the doors. The gate has its own antenna and the button is a request switch, so the only way to check if it's actually locked is to push the button with no fob in range (range is about 15 feet with Walk-Away Lock, about 3 feet without it). If that still opens it even though you've hit the lock button, then something has to be wrong in your BCM.

[oldnissanguy]

Before it would lock when the the lock button on the drivers door was used or when the lock button on the fob was pressed. It would stay locked until the unlock button on the door was used or the unlock button on the fob was pressed twice. Pressing the request button or the fob location (fob is usually in my pocket) did not seem to have any effect. Will try the test you recommend tomorrow.

[oldnissanguy]

Discoveries: Hatch will not lock if a fob is near. Would before. Hatch seems to lock if all fobs moved away after locking. Not sure what actual distance amount is required. Hatch will not unlock if approached without the fob. Same as before. Hatch will unlock and unlatch if the release button is pressed on the hatch handle with the fob near. Wouldn't before. Had to use the unlock button on the fob or door.

Initially the locks worked exactly like my 2013 Rogue, now they don't. So, since I don't know when the hatch actually locks or if it locked, the only way I can be assured that the hatch is locked is to approach the vehicle without a fob and try the door. Not very practical or confidence inspiring, especially in a parking lot. (You go ahead to the concert while I go back to the parking lot to see if the car is actually locked, Oh and hold my key fob for me.)

[oldnissanguy]

Took it to the dealer and the dealer said it's now working like it should. They even verified by testing another Rogue on their lot. They guessed that there was originally some lack of communication between the fob and the rear hatch antenna. I don't comprehend the utility of this feature but it seems I'll have to trust that the hatch is actually locking when I walk away.