Miss-alignment of the top part, causing it to deflect each time you close the hatch, will cause it to fail. To align it correctly, try this ( its an adjustment procedure, but parts still apply):
Repair Electric Release - The electric release is not hard to repair, but unless things are checked in the proper order it is easy to get caught in an endless loop. There are a lot of rumors on a fix even using pennies but few work. The design on the lock is such that it wears over time and relieves the tension that is necessary to spring the hatch open. There are several things to watch for here.
Shims - Before starting any repairs check both the bottom and top latch for any shims that may have been installed in previous attempts to make repairs. Remove all shims that are not factory installed.
Motor Operation - Open the hatch and activate the automatic release. Look inside the lower latch to make sure that the metal latch operates with the motor.
Spring - The motor on the latch cycles from open and back to close is a short period of time. The spring in the middle section of the latch pushes up on the hatch and forces it open during the cycling of the latch. Check to make sure the spring has tension and is not broken. The spring is located under the round center plastic piece in the lower latch.
Worn Catch - Inspect the plastic moving catch in the upper latch. This part is meant to wear over time saving other expensive parts of the latch. If it is worn it will have to be replaced before things will work reliably.
Latch Release - Remove the upper latch from the hatch. Push it down into the lower latch. Operate the motor to verify that the latch pops out when when the motor cycles. If this does not then the bottom latch is not releasing enough to to clear the top catch. The design of the latch is for the upper catch to operate with the key and the lower catch to operate with the motor. The lower catch operates on an arm in the bottom of the latch. The arm can become disconnected or the bushing in the arm can wear causing the lower catch to be restricted in its travel.
Alignment - If the latch releases when not attached to the hatch then the automatic release is working correctly and the problem is in the alignment of the hatch. If the upper latch binds in the lower latch then the spring will not be strong enough to push up on the hatch during the open cycle and the hatch will remain locked.
