Hatchback/liftgate Lock problems of the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan

Our back latch on our Dodge Grand Caravan does not release enough to let the automatic lift gate open. The dealer cleared the code and said it worked, but it does not fully release and the auto lkift gate fails everytime.

1. There were no warning signs, according to the mechanic it wasn't going bad it just went. 2. I was pulling out of a parking lot into traffic when suddenly the vehicle just stopped moving. I was merging into traffic and instead of getting out and going I got out and almost got hit. The car coming towards me slammed on the breaks and was able to swerve around me. 3. The rear planitary gear weld failed, this failure was described as a sudden catastrophic failor. The vehicle could not be put into park. It was towed into the dealership they said the fluid was bad and the filter clogged. The vehicle has 55,000 miles they say the 7/70 warrenty didnt apply to my model. The second mechanic said there was nothing wrong with the filter or the fluid that they have to replace a lot of these part the welds fail alot. I called diamler/Chrysler and told them what the mechanic said that I wanted to send them back the part that showed that the failure was manufacturer's defect they explained to me that it didn't matter that it why it failed just that it was out of warranty and they don't want to see the part. I was lucky the next person may not be. The vehicle is 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan sport. So far the hatch doesn't work when this part failed I was also notified that the wheel cylinder on the rear brakes failed and that could have caused fire to the vehicle the dealership wanted 4. 000 plus tax to fix these problems. The entire rear braking system had to be redone and the transmission had to be rebuilt. I have decided not to deal with fixing the hatch so it opens.