Trunk stuck on '06 Sonata

A buddy of mine has a 2006 Sonata that suddenly developed a problem
with the trunk latch, it will not open with either the key or the
remote. What happens is you can hear the latch operate and the
trunk pops up barely enough to feel it move, then it won't budge.
The rear seatbacks can't be folded down either because the security
switch (located in the trunk!) has those locked up as well. In addition,
the trunk warning light on the dash stays lit all the time. We could not
get anywhere with this thing, so he took the car to the dealer (it's still
under warranty).

The car was there all day but it seems they have not been able to figure
out a way to get into the trunk to work on the latch. So it looks like
they need to keep it a while. In the meantime I'm loaning my friend
one of my old non-computer, non-remote-access AMC vehicles that he loves
to poke fun at. (Never had this kind of problem with them in decades
of driving!)

Any Hyundai mechanics reading this group that maybe have seen this
problem or maybe have some ideas?

 

100% guaranteed to work solutions. Pick one.
A. Sawzall
B. Local criminal recently charged with burglary
C. Chop shop

I don't understand the seat latches. I did not think they were tied
in with anything to lock them. I check on hmaservice.com and did not
see much about trunk lids or rear seats. The do show hot to change the
actuator, but they assume the trunk is open.

 

We could not get those seatbacks to budge despite much tugging and
cursing. So we finally dug out the owner's manual and it shows a
security latch -- inside the trunk, of course -- that determines
whether the seatbacks can be opened or not. Apparently the car
was delivered with the seatback function disabled. (My friend says
he has never tried to open them before.)

Maybe the rear seats can be removed to get into the trunk? If not it
may well come down to the dealer having to drill or cut a hole to get to
the trunk latch, very messy indeed...

 

Well, the dealer managed to get the trunk open. (Maybe they used a
bigger hammer!)

It turns out that something inside the trunk got caught in the
latch and damaged it. Not a warranty item but not too horribly
expensive from what I'm told. I told my friend to also make sure that
the security latch for the rear seatbacks is released so they can
be opened in case this happens again!!

 

Just what this group needs most - occasional sarcasm.

BY the way, don't forget the universal "WONDER-BAR!"

solutions. Pick one.
A. Sawzall
B. Local criminal recently charged with burglary
C. Chop shop

 

May be something just on the 06. My '07 and -'10 say nothing about it
and I've not seen anything about security. It would save you from
valet parking attendants playing in the trunk, but eliminating it
saves 75¢ a car.

 

Might well have been a one-year thing, I'm not all that familiar with
these cars. It sure was a PITA in this case.

I took a look at the car when he got it back, everything works OK
now including the seatbacks opening up. The only remaining issue
is that apparently the plastic panel in the trunk lid that covers the
wiring was broken along with the latch and that was not replaced,
in fact it was removed. (Price of a new plastic panel would have
been $108! Sounds like a piece begging to be found in a junkyard
instead for a few bucks, though it would have to be from a car
wrecked from the front or side...)