Trunk latch when emergency release handle is missing

Ask technical questions or post on problems/issues related to the Kizashi under this topic. Symptoms and pictures of your problem are a good idea.
NOTE: Any car related technical question can be posted here.
Post Reply
ibkev
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2025 12:05 am

The trunk lid of my Kizashi from time to time doesn't want to latch. Usually I can get it working just by some combination of pushing a key into the latch slot on the lid, then using the remote unlock, then slam good and hard.

But today for the first time this isn't working.

Searching on this site I see pictures of the latch mechanism with a bright yellow or green emergency release handle and I don't have this on mine.
If pulling this handle releases the latch, then is the mechanism still supposed to latch if the handle is no longer present at all?
User avatar
KuroNekko
Posts: 5278
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 5:08 pm
Location: California, USA

The lack of the emergency handle might be due to regulations based on market. Where are you located? Are you sure it ever came with one?

As for the latch mechanism itself, it's electronic and can fail over time. Mine did, exhibiting the same issues you are experiencing of not latching. It was intermittent at first and then resulted in a more persistent issue. I replaced the latch and the problem was permanently resolved. My suggestion is to replace it. It cost me like $20 on Amazon. More info on my write-up here:
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=5756
2025 Mazda CX-50 Preferred Hybrid
2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS 6MT (Sold)
old tech
Posts: 802
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2018 1:51 pm
Location: n/w pennsysvania

Make sure the striker bolts are tight. Ive seen this problem before. About the glow in the dark safety release, it doesnt need to be there for the latch to work correctly.
User avatar
Obama_is_hot6
Posts: 163
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2023 1:24 am

mine actually broke off when i was inside my trunk messing around with the carpet, thankfully my seats were down so i was able to crawl out lol
YUUUURT
Post Reply