The tailgate latche mechanism on my V70 won't engage in cold weather. Works fine if temperature is above -5 celcius, but as soon as temperature drops the mechaism won't properly engage. It eventually will lock as the interior of the car warms up, but until that time it's not engaged.

I think it's a design fault, but manufacturer or dealer won't do anything for me.

Is there a quck fix? or does anyone know of a recall?

I live in Saratoga Springs, NY. My 2000 V70 Tailgate developed the same problem this nasty winter. The fix was not hard. Get the correct torx screwdriver bit, losen the mounting bracket on the receiving part of the catch mechanism (on the car, not the tailgate), and move it slightly towards the rear of the car. Seems they come too tightly adjusted from the factory, and cold weather is just enough to cause the problem. I use a high pressure hose to clean the car and have had no leaks around the seal. You might also notice the black plastic skin covering the latch mechanism in the tailgate is cracked and may have disintigrated from around the metal parts. The catch works without this, but this also contributed to my problem.

The dealer adjusted the receiving end of the catch mechanism on the car and viola, it now works!

I wonder why they didn't try this the first time I took the car in? Perhaps they wanted me to spend $350 for a new latch mechanism? I'm too cynical.

I am assuming that the 99 tailgate latching design is the same as the 98. If so, I notice that no one has mentioned the possibility of a failed or intermittent microswitch. This microswitch senses that the tailgate is shut and triggers the locking mechanism. It also causes the "tailgate open" warning light to extinguish ... or not. The switch can be replaced, but it is a solder job ... per my Haynes Manual.

Mine acted up some years ago, but ..... (and I always hesitate to say something like this) .... seemed to have fixed itself.

Let us know how it turns out.
--
Dave in Virginia; 98 V70 T5(M): IPD MOTRONIC+ ECU Upgrade, Sport Muffler, VDO Boost Gauge, IPD Anti-Sway Bars; 88 245 DL; 67 MGB

My 99 V70 has this problem. My theory is that in cold weather, the door rubber moulding is more stiff and does not compress enough to allow the latch to engage. I can usually engage the latch by pushing the door against it on close to resist door recoil/bounce off the latch before it engages. The latch plate at the cargo floor appears to be slightly skewed. I intend to have it repositioned outward a touch to allow the latch to engage in cold weather. I'd have adjusted it myself but it uses those funny-headed star/torx fasteners. Perhaps this is the problem?

Glenn

Well, we've just finished up a week of bitterly cold temperatures here in Toronto (-24 degrees) and so far, no problems. I do notice that at that temperature, doors close "differently" or least make a diferent sound. Have you tried spraying de-icing fluid in the effected area. What about parking the car in a heated garage and then starting over, with new lube or de-icer?

Strangely enough I'm in Toronto too, but don't have access to a heated garage.

I may try the de-icing fluid, although I don't imagine that react well with lube.

load of CRAP answer from the dealer!!!! Ask him what his liability would be
if your kid was sitting in the back and came flying out of an unsecured rear door during a roll over 2 weeks from now!!!! I think he would have a different response for you! I'm tired of these dam pompous volvo dealers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"...Ask him what his liability would be
if your kid was sitting in the back and came flying out of an unsecured rear door during a roll over 2 weeks from now!!!!"

On a related but different topic I can't imagine putting a child (or an adult in the rear-facing seat, locked tailgate or not. That seat is inherently dangerous because there is literally no protection in a rear-end accident.

The V70 is designed with a crumple zone between the second and third row seats; the third seat area is designed to protect occupants. An illuminating photo of a rear-ended V70 is occasionally posted here.

There are no recalls for such a problem.

It has never happened to me yet in 55,000 miles on my 1999 V70.

The lube as discussed earlier is a place to investigate.

The lubricant may be congealing at low temp. Try cleaning and relubing the mechanism.

I thought I was the only one that had this problem. I tried taking it off and cleaning it then lubing the hell out of it, but no luck. I just ordered a new latch for it.
--
'87 765Ti - 145K: '87 745Ti - 202K: '88 765Ti - 170K

How much did a new latch cost? We are having this problem on our 99 V70 sporadically and have to really check to make sure the latch engages. Having a cracked steering wheel reservoir and hose replaced today so the latch may be the next thing for us to deal with....