2009 SXT - rear latch problem after rear window install
Hi - has anybody had or seen this problem?
We're the new owners (3 mos) of a 2009 Gr. Car. SXT. A few days ago, it was driven into the garage at slow speed with the rear hatch up (ugh!!). The rear window was shattered.
After the glass was replaced (3rd party PGW glass), the rear hatch won't close. The electric latch motor can be heard trying to close the hatch the last inch or so, but after two tries it gives up.
Dealer said the replacement glass was too wide and is hitting the two rubber body strips on each side of the glass. This made sense, since you can even see where the glass actually cut a slit into one of the strips. Beyond this, they said the glass is bowed outward in the middle - not sure if this could have any affect on the latch operation.
But - glass guy came back to inspect, and found that when these rubber strips are removed, giving the glass all the clearance it needs, the latch motor still won't close the latch!
Other things checked:
- no glass in latch mechanism
- tailgate itself was not hit, doesn't appear to be bent in any way
- tailgate operation is fine, moves up and down smoothly
Has anyone had this problem, or have some idea of what the problem is?
Thank you!
We're the new owners (3 mos) of a 2009 Gr. Car. SXT. A few days ago, it was driven into the garage at slow speed with the rear hatch up (ugh!!). The rear window was shattered.
After the glass was replaced (3rd party PGW glass), the rear hatch won't close. The electric latch motor can be heard trying to close the hatch the last inch or so, but after two tries it gives up.
Dealer said the replacement glass was too wide and is hitting the two rubber body strips on each side of the glass. This made sense, since you can even see where the glass actually cut a slit into one of the strips. Beyond this, they said the glass is bowed outward in the middle - not sure if this could have any affect on the latch operation.
But - glass guy came back to inspect, and found that when these rubber strips are removed, giving the glass all the clearance it needs, the latch motor still won't close the latch!
Other things checked:
- no glass in latch mechanism
- tailgate itself was not hit, doesn't appear to be bent in any way
- tailgate operation is fine, moves up and down smoothly
Has anyone had this problem, or have some idea of what the problem is?
Thank you!


