A simple handle that you put a key into to lock or unlock, then if it's unlocked you twist handle counter clockwise to unlock hatch.

Then to lock the handle you twist it clockwise and with the key lock the handle.

The handle could be designed to just lock with the clockwise twist of the handle.

Simple and about fool proof as it can be.

And as old Bucken Billy Ray always says in his chainsawing video's "Be Kind"

Yes, my latch has caused me nothing but grief! It went from not wanting to close to being seized and I scant get it open. I went to my local Toyota stealership and they want $380 for the latch and $500 for labor! That is ridiculous and help would be greatly appreciated as I haven’t used my hatch in what seems over a year now!


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this 4th gen is my first suv, so maybe i don't get the appeal of it, but i find the electronic rear hatch to be an unnecessary feature. i am always babying it when opening and closing it and i just don't really trust the whole thing. having the inside emergency release hidden in the rear panel feels like a poor design to me too.

for those who prefer the electronic door closer, what do you like about it?

I am glad a few people who read this thread agree with me that the Design and Engineering, of the hatch opening and power locking closing was a total failure of Toyota.

And as we see the Toyota stealer dealer non service Dept. are raking in gobs of money, from the many who trust them for fixing Toyota's failures.

Toyota long ago should have recalled this failure and fixed it.

you must have a blessed life if this is such a big problem!

learn to DIY, not that difficult. take back the power!

It has always been a BIG PROBLEM and it's still a BIG PROBLEM for many, and you must have blessed life of TROLLING.

I've never had an issue with my '06's rear latch, no gooey rubber button cover like some have had, and the mechanism works every time. Unless the battery is dead, which had happened a couple of times before I gave in and replaced a battery well past its time that I had been nursing along. That made it hard to get to my NOCO jump starter in the back, but I just unclipped the cargo cover on one side, folded a rear seat forward, reached back and grabbed it, and jump-started it, and headed to the auto parts store for a new battery.

The 5th gen has no such problem, just like any vehicle like a 4Runner or Landcruiser made to venture far offroad out of reach of service ought to be built. Built with critical pieces such as this made out of stout mechanical bits not prone to failure because of electrical issues.

I agree with you in principle regarding the latch itself, but I'm not going to write Toyota off wholesale for one design quirk that they had for one generation of one product.

*edit* Also, keep in mind that people who have issues with a part are the ones that get motivated to go online and complain loudly about it, and anyone else that has the same issue, and there are always others because nothing's perfect (except the Ford Explorer HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!! whatever...) will add to the conversation and magnify it and make it sound like the entire fleet of vehicles has the very same issue. The vast majority of us who have not had any issues with the latches on the tailgates of our 4th gens whatsoever (with good batteries anyway) haven't started threads about "The 4th Gens rear hatch latch what an awesome design". Same thing regarding the transmissions, the V6s, the V8s, the headlights, the sunroofs, the mufflers, the... If something just works, it simply doesn't get brought up until someone notices that it's hit 300,000 miles or more and has only needed routine maintenance, then you hear "Well yeah - it's a Toyota".

My sweet STIHL Chainsaws say hello.

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You sure are putting out a lot of terroristic comments here of late...I'd watch it...bucko

Yeah i gotta way of doing this.

Are they good for cutting out of ice and all? 2-strokes easy to start in 0° weather? Electric start propane / natural gas gennys are a blast though. That, a gas furnace, and I can watch TV and surf the net and wait out pretty much any deep freeze.

Is this on-topic too?

One under the bench is a non easy start Stihl cm211 W 16" bar one on table has a De-Comp valve it's a cm261c-m Micro Processor fuel/air adjust has a 18" bar. Both have started in close to zero weather.

Nothing like bucking firewood in the cold if needed.

I have Nat. Gas also a Blaze King President wood stove it has a Cat. I also have a nice big Honda Generator if power go's off.

OFF TOPIC Alert:

Just thought i would give people something to think about, while trying to think of ways to defend Toyota.

Why did you buy your 4Runner? Ever wish you'd spent, and continue to spend, your money on a Tailblazer or an Exploder? I mean I'm just trying to get an understanding of the hatred.

Had a 2003 Kia Sorento ex wanted it, not a bad truck but Kia would not honor even small problems, traded it off for the 08 4Runner Toyota made me the best offer.
Now besides the hatch it's been really a good truck, but the hatch has soured me on Toyota.