Trunk Lid Lock problems of the 1999 Subaru Outback

The trunk door on my Subaru legacy Outback station wagon will not open. Once you lock it, you can not open it again unless you jiggle the lock over and over with the key. This is a very frustrating failure because when you have a station wagon, a working trunk door is vital. I was told by a Subaru dealer that it would cost about $300 to $400 to fix so I have delayed fixing it because I can sometimes work on it and get it to open. When I brought the car to a local mechanic, he told me he had 3 to 4 other Subaru owners come in with the same problem which he is not capable of fixing. Apparently, the back inside panel has to be removed and a body shop has to do the work. Yesterday, I was at a supermarket parking lot trying to open the back when a couple approached me and told me they had to replace their lock because it wouldn't open. They have a Subaru station wagon also (I don't know the year, but it was not brand new) I believe there is a defect in the motor or lock. *b.