Hatchback broken

[rachelfran]

We're driving a 2014 Nissan Rogue and a few months our trunk started dropping down after opening -- to the point now where it's unsafe. Took it in for an inspection today and got a $900 quote to repair the motor on the hatch. There was no accident or action that would have broken the motor on the trunk and I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else -- If it's normal? Expected? I'm pretty pissed.

Thanks.

[Rogue Jarhead]

Ok I need a little more info. Do you have the power rear hatch? If so does it raise and lower with the motor? Or just raise and won’t stay up. I do not have the power hatch on mine, however I do on a Dodge Caravan, yeah I know different manufacturer.
If I raise my rear lid it stays up because of the lift struts, when lift struts go bad the lid will not stay up. They are an easy change item, if that’s all it is, and very inexpensive.


https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/nis ... pport,1404


My 2011 Rogue has two lift struts one on each side of the hatch. You will need a small flat head screwdriver and a helper to hold the lid up while you change the struts. The struts have a small clip one on each end with the screwdriver pop the clip up push the strut off the pivot ball, do the other end then put the new strut on the pivot ball at each end making sure you orient the new strut in the same direction as the old one. Squeeze the clip on the new strut into place with your fingers. That’s all there is to it other than keeping the $900 in your pocket.

Lift struts tend to fail slowly, sometimes not going all the way up, sometimes the lid slowly settles and you bang your head on it. Finally they just won’t hold the lid at all. I’m not a first and last authority on these but I have never heard of a lift MOTOR going bad. Change the lift struts first look at how they’re put on it actually quite simple. Autozone, NAPA, Carquest any of these stores can get them for you. You may even be able to sweet talk the Autozone guys to install them for free.

I can’t imagine a hatch motor going bad so quickly, a hatch strut I can understand. Probably just one of them is bad but one is not enough to hold the hatch up. It needs two working lift struts. Hopefully that will solve your problem.

[amc49]

Be aware that pretty much all aftermarket lift supports tend to leak gas out enough that they rarely last 2-3 years.................I used to sell them. Similar to some other parts made in China the replacements cannot match the OEM part for as long a life.

[Rogue Jarhead]

amc49 is so correct. Our car markets have been flooded with C.R.A.P. (Chinese replacement auto parts) that last long enough to install and not much longer. If it were wheel bearings or brakes I would suggest getting OEM or similar. However for lift struts the link I posted above has BOSCH struts in it. Bosch usually makes good stuff. I see they also come with a mounting bracket, you will not need to replace the bracket unless it’s broken, or bent.

I always say if you want to put new mud flaps on your car or hang some fuzzy dice from the mirror and you buy made in China, fine, but for parts whose failure might cause death or injury, no way.

[Nissan Dustmite]

Does it slowly drop, or seem to close partially by itself? Just curious, because these have a setting to set the hatch to open to a certain point. Used to avoid low ceilings in garages and such, I imagine.

If it drops slowly, then the stays (struts, lifts, etc) may be bad. If I recall correctly, these models use stays that combine the lift/stay functions together in each strut. There is no separate motor for the lifting/closing, like other designs. And it does seem a bit soon for them to wear out.

I would get a very detailed description or estimate on exactly what they are going to do, and what they think caused the failure. A trustworthy dealership should have no issues providing this. The stays are expensive, and a bit of a pain to change over (they connect inside of the quarter panel trim, so a bit of teardown).

[rachelfran]

it rises up high and then lowers way too low

my husband took it to a dealer some distance away from us because he thought he trusted them over our local dealers who have a terrible reputation but
a $900 quote seems very high