Technical Rear hatch release catch.

[Yolanda]

Yes it does, I've been thinking along lines that the handle has been changed sometime in the cars life.
Its no problem really having to open the hatch with the key, but I'm one of these that if something's fitted it needs to work regardless of it's age.

 

[rmjbn1]

Maybe cleaning and lubricating the latch itself might help? I'll give that a go too and see if it continues to work.

It's been a month since I cleaned and lubricated the latch and last opened the boot with the key, and the rear hatch continues to release from the handle switch. I haven't used the key in that time.

Which I think might be the longest the switch has worked reliably since we got the car, so maybe that has helped.