Tailgate still stuck - door alignment is straight & true. Removed inside trim panel - lock works fine, slides back & forth. Sprayed every part around latch with lubricant, still wouldn't open.

The only way I could get it open was to pry the door slightly up - say 1/8 inch - from inside the wagon using a large flat screwdriver. Once I gave it some encouragement, the latch rotated out and the tailgate opened. If I don't close it fully, I can press the button and pull it open from the outside as normal. If I shut it completely, then I have to go back inside and pry it up first.

The latch itself is rusty and I can't get it to move with a screwdriver. Its siezed up. It's supposed to rock on a pivot from the open to closed position & vice versa and it will rotate closed under the inertia of swinging the gate closed - and there it stays stuck.

I did notice that when depressing the button on the outside or pulling the T-bar on the inside, the pressure on the latch only comes to bear at the very end of the button or bar travel. And the pressure exerted isn't enough to open the latch due to heavy friction, stiction or its partially siezed condition.

Is the latch easily removed and worked on & replaced - anyone with a shop manual or prior experience? I'm thinking I may be better off with a new part. I hope its not too expensive.

BTW, just bought the volvo last Thursday and my wife & I hope to put on many happy miles - or km's up here. I'm on the lookout for a good volvo mechanic in the Montreal area.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

best regards, sbike

P.S. Thanks for your tips, John and Karl. Your suggestions led me to this point.