Open the Outback liftgate with the interior button
If your Subaru Outback has a power liftgate, look for its liftgate button on the driver’s side of the dashboard, usually to the left of the steering wheel. With the vehicle stopped and the doors unlocked, press and hold the button until the liftgate begins to open. If it does not respond, check that the power liftgate has not been disabled and consult your owner’s manual for your model year.
Outbacks with a manual liftgate generally do not have a dashboard button that opens it. From inside the cabin, you can fold the rear seats, move into the cargo area, and try the liftgate handle if you can reach it safely. Do not attempt this while the vehicle is moving.
Use the inside release if the liftgate will not open normally
If the liftgate is stuck or the battery is dead, enter the cargo area through a rear door and look for a small access cover in the trim near the center of the liftgate, close to the latch. Remove the cover and use the emergency release lever inside to unlatch the gate. The cover and lever can vary by model year, so check your Outback owner’s manual before prying at the trim.
Once the latch releases, push the liftgate outward and lift it by hand. Make sure you have room behind the vehicle, and keep your fingers clear of the latch and hinges. If the gate still will not open, avoid forcing it; a jammed latch or damaged mechanism may need service.
Check what is blocking the liftgate
Before trying the release again, check whether luggage or other cargo is pressing against the inside of the gate. Shift anything you can reach away from the latch area; pressure on the gate can make it harder to release. If you are arranging gear in the cargo area, keep the space around the latch and access cover clear so you can reach them when needed.
For more on organizing that space, see the Subaru Outback cargo organizer guide. An organizer does not operate the liftgate or replace its emergency release.
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FAQ
How to open outback trunk from inside?
On an Outback with a power liftgate, press and hold the interior liftgate button while the vehicle is stopped and unlocked. If it will not operate, reach the cargo area through a rear door and use the release behind the access cover near the liftgate latch, following your model-year owner’s manual.
Is there a way to open trunk from inside?
Yes, many Outbacks have an interior button for a power liftgate, and the liftgate latch also has an inside release for situations when normal opening fails. The location and operation vary by model year, so consult your owner’s manual if you cannot readily identify either control.
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