Postby ColoradoPath » Tue Aug 09, 2011 8:23 am
First I tore the entire tailgate apart, which isn't too hard and re-positioned/ tightened the bolts on the body-side of the latch and it didn't work. Also drove it without the trim to eliminate that. After that, the only solution was to replace the latch mechanism. I had the dealer do it, because the part was kind of expensive and I didn't want to guess at it.
By the way, one of the other signs that the latch was bad, was that I heard an electric motor running to releasing the latch for a few seconds prior to the actual tailgate release. It doesn't do that anymore.
Courtesy parts seems to be about the best Nissan parts source i've found. The latch comes as an assembly. Knowing what I know now, I would have done it myself.