Janep, to me it sounds like you have a crossed wire under the dash and it is causing the starter signal to be sent to the solenoid for the rear hatch. Unfortunately, that is going to require crawling under the car and seeing what you can find. This is going to require a hand over hand inspection of the cable bundle to determine where the signal is getting crossed. I would say to try pulling the fuse going to the starter solenoid and then attempt to start the car. Does the rear hatch open at this point? Let me know and then I can take things from there. Without the car in my hands, it is going to be a lot of try this, try that unless you can find a local shop that can look at it and repair the car. It shouldn't take long provided whoever is working on the car has the correct stuff.

I have exactly the same problem . Looks like I'm going crawling

Thermo, Greetings, Do you know if ALL X-type estates have the opening hatchway window in the rear lift up boot door?
I have a 2004 2l D Estate which will not budge the hatchway although there is the little button under the rear wiper base. That button works on my brothers 3.0 L Petrol estate.
Can you advise please?
Thanks, DaveP.

Leaping =

X-Type Estate- Rear Glass Tailgate won't open- How to proceed?

Right........! Now I am pee'd.
My X-type estate has been fabulous since April, however as I said above, the rear hatch way window would not release.
2 weeks ago I closed the rear hatch door and found the hatch window was hanging open.
And now it won''t flipping shut and stay shut!!
I get in the car, strap in, start, and barely go 50 yards when I hear the rear hatch pop undone and my interior lights come on, which is a real bugger at night..
6 months without opening, now 2 weeks of it letting itself open.
Any one any ideas?