steve35044

My daughter has an '02 Escape XLT and we are unable to get the hatch/tailgate to open. Also the glass will not open separately either. This just happened recently. When using the remote to unlock doors I cannot hear a "click" from the rear. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your support.

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"I've always wanted to pretend I was an architect"

360ci

Did you try the key? If the key won't unlock the hatch then the motor and/or mechanism is rusted. My Durango has a similar problem as I douse it with synthetic oil spray every four months so it doesn't seize up. Worst case would be crawling back there, taking off the interior panel to the hatch and open the lock up manually.

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'00 Durango R/T 360ci 290hp (modded); 138,500m
'06 Pontiac G6 GT 3.5L 220hp; 44,000m
'12 Chrysler 200 Limited 3.6L 283hp; 13,000m
'99 Taurus 3.0L 2V Vulcan 145hp; 154,300m - Traded
Amsoil in all vehicles!

wantedmaverick

Yes, the only way to get the door open is the take off the panel and unlock it. I just paid $400 to get the lock unit replaced in my 2001 Escape. Sure makes it nice to reopen the door when you need it.

hurk

The early models (1st generation?) do not have a keyed lock for opening the rear hatch... stupid stupid stupid.

If you search here or at other Ford Escape forums, you may come across one or two topics w a fix.
From memory.... There's a plastic piece that breaks. Ford doesn't offer the piece separately, so you'd have to buy the mechanism or whatever it is that the plastic piece is attached to. To get at it, you have to remove or pull off the interior plastic.
OR... Instead of the expensive Ford part, there might be a new plastic doohickey available at the auto parts store - some other modification might be necessary to install it. Again, this is all from memory.
Or... It might be a defective lock actuator. I believe these are available aftermarket... not sure if that's true any more. I checked into an Omega DS2.1SQ actuator & it's no longer available (NLA).

Edit: if the hatch is closed & you can't get it open, you can try pushing in on the hatch while pulling the hatch release handle. If you still can't get it open, you kinda have to peel off the interior plastic panel at the top, then carefully lift the center over the window latch. The plastic panel is attached w screws at the bottom, so don't try to pry it there. Alternatively, the dealer probably drills a hole into the plastic panel in-line w the rod so that the rod can be lifted to unlock the hatch; then they install a decorative plastic button to cover the hole.