My tailgate doesn't lock or unlock when the key is used in the tailgate slot. I have to unlock the car from one of the side doors to unlock the tailgate. This just started happening. I'm waiting for owners and repair manuals to arrive, but thought I might find an answer here.

Thanks,

Gary

you may only need to lubricate it. I am a locksmith and we use a great lubricant called Tri-Flow which is a teflon based lubricant. Don't use WD-40 unless it feels very gritty, wd is really only a degreaser - it works well to flush out junk & water but then use tri-flow. Im not sure where you are but the lock could be frozen!!! I use the tri-flow on all of my car locks at least 1 time a year to keep things working. good luck, Bob

The lock turns OK - it just stopped activating the lock/unlock latch.

My gray cells are faltering. If you turn the key to the left, it unlocks. To the right, it locks and you can pull the key out to keep it locked. Or is it right and left?

Klaus
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The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Yep - left to unlock and right to lock. The key turns easily both ways but doesn't activate the locking system. Is that lock fused separately? [Still awaiting manuals]

Same fuse as the door locks run the motor to unlock the rear hatch. The key does not run the motor. There is a separate shaft that pushes against the lock mechanism.
All I can assume is that the shaft has fallen out of position and no longer works properly. The Haynes manual does not diagram that well.
I don't think I have ever used the key in my V70 rear hatch. It is unlocked when the car is unlocked and vice versa.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Same thing with my 855 - when I unlock the car from the doors the tailgate unlocks too. I'll have to look into that lever/shaft you mentioned as it feels like no resistance to the key when I turn it in the tailgate lock.

Make certain you are using the master and not the valet key.

Definitely using the master key. It just stopped working one day last month.