I used to have an old 960 which suffered from the same problem--nothing to hook a bungee to if you need to tie down the hatch. To fix that, I just backed out a latch bolt, looped some stranded cable around it and tightened it back. Worked great and did not interfere with operation of the latch.
However, on my 98 V70, this is not possible what with more carpet and plastic cladding. I have hooked bungees to the inside frame of the rear hatch release lever, but I don't like securing the door with a plastic frame.
Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to make a simple, effective hook for the rear hatch? Preferably nothing that would require cutting a hole in the interior plastic covering and sticking an ugly u-bolt through the gate itself.

Thanks!

 

A proper repair is probably your best bet.

 

As I understand your post, you are looking for away to bungee it shut when something is sticking out of it right?

Like if you had a snowboard in the back, and wanted to let the end stick out over the bumper rather then putting the seat down>?

If so, try this simple remedy.

Take a screwdriver (or a key, or something other then you finger) and press in on the latch where it closes over the striker. It should pop closed, and you can pass a loop of small line over it, or maybe even the hook of a bungee or two.

The other end can hook below the bumper, or to the striker plate.... where ever.

The only 'catch' to using the catch... You have to remember to lift the gate latch to 'reset' the latch before you try to close the hatch.

 

Ha!

Now it makes sense, and I look like an ***.

I was under the impression the latch had failed and they were attempting a Red Green style repair.

 

I've tried using the actual lock itself to tie things into, but things that are thin and small enough to loop through the latch are also likely to be cut by the latch with the weight of the door flopping around.

Oh well, thanks for the replies anyway.

 

It's a PITA on the 2001 as well. The only "effective" way I found was to use a pair of curved big metal hooks and attach one to each end of the bungee cord.