.

This happened to me also. I did a search around the forum and someone suggested to put some bodyweight on the hatch, pull the handle and lift. It worked for me on the first try, sprayed some WD-40 all over the latch and replaced the struts. Works fine every time now!!! Good Luck!!!

Happened to my 95 grand cherokee as well. What i did was crawl inside. Carefully pull back the top of the plastic panel, just enough reach your hand down in there and trip the latch.

What happens is there is a threaded rod that has a cheesey clip that connects the handle to the latch. Take off the panel, adjust the threaded rod clip dealie, open and close it a few times to make sure its fixed, then put the plastic panel back on

.

I'm going to have to pull the panel on mine, I have to put quite a bit of weight on mine to get it open

The hatch on my 98 is stuck. I tried the lean into trick with no luck.

I pulled the interior panel back, busted it pretty good. Grabbed the rod that clips into the clip, tried pulling and pushing down in it... still wont open.

Which direction did you move that rod to open?

I honestly dont remember what way is the correct way to pull it, are you sure you got the correct rod? Is should? be a rod that points straight up and down then the hatch is closed,...

I'll try it again eventually... after the skin grows back on my right arm.

I already destroyed the panel.. might as well just rip it off so i can see what i'm doing.

I had that problem too. I did crack the bottom panel to get the door panel off. The rod just pull up and after you open screw up the rod. It was chalenge. I suggest replace the lifters. They only $22 a piece.

After battling with the rear hatch on my 97 I just ripped off the plastic piece that the license plate is attached to. It made quick access to everything I needed and I could see what I was doing. Got the latch to open. Ended up needing to replace my handle and all the parts attached to it. Also while at the JY I sourced a new plastic piece to put in place of the one I broke! Total for all the parts set me back $30!

Nice tip, thanks for posting.
Dan

I accidently shut my hatch right on cardboard and couldnt get it open, so what I did was I crawled under and loosened the 2 5/8 bolts that go to the latch in the floor and it came right open.

.

I had thought about that but didnt think the striker post studs would go up far enough through the body to swing the hatch open. I'll have to try this.

If you remove about a 3" square of plastic from the inside of the liftgate liner right at the bottom and just to the driver's side of center you will see the metal housing surrounding the latch. In this housing is a small hole; insert a common screwdriver into the hole with the blade vertical and with a bit of trial end error you can pry up the latch arm to release it. It's a lot easier to get the trim panel off with the liftgate open. I'm considering using stainless steel safety wire to help the actuator rod stay in the crappy clip, as mine has jumped out a couple of times.