Hatch Adjustment - Excessive Gap

OxZed

2017 Model here ... and, I can't imagine Nissan let this out of the factory this way - yet, at the same time, there is nothing to indicate otherwise. All panels are factory & the car has had zero body damage.

The gap on my rear hatch is excessive. I've compared to others new-on-the-lot & took panel measurements based on the factory specs detailed in the service manual. The gap is good at the top & down the sides right about to the gas strut mounts ~ then, the gap gets out of spec all the way around to the other side. The weather-stripping does not even touch in this area either.

I've adjusted the latch per the service manual - I have it all the way down & that did help a little, but no cigar. Any ideas??

ZontheRocks

Unique case, indeed.

Heat must have affected the plastics and soft rubber seals.

OxZed

I've bounced this idea around as well ~ quite a bit actually. It did get hot in the cabin, but not "too" hot. Examining everything, I just plain do not see "anything" out of whack in the hatch area ... seals are like new, plastics like new, exterior trim & panels like new.

I just can't make any logic out of this alignment issue being related .. unless it affected the latch itself, but even it works perfectly.

I can push the gate down, & the alignment corrects - but the latch is not holding it there. Another clue is that before I adjusted the latch, I'd have to hit the fob button twice to open the hatch ... first hit released it, but it wouldn't pop up past the latch. I checked the little spring-bumpers on each side - like new.

OxZed

As a test (that I sort-of already suspected what the result would be), I removed the latch assembly altogether & the hatch sits/lined up perfectly without it.

At this point, I'm pointing the finger at the latch (although it "looks" perfect) or its mount. If the mount, I'm gonna have to do some cutting to gain more adjustment room.