See http://www.astraownersclub.com/vb/showthread.php?t=177736
has it been getting worse gradually?
The glue used to hold the micro switch in place goes brittle after 3 or 4 years, then the switch moves back when you squeeze instead of depressing the button.
20 minutes to strip, 10 minutes to fix (remove old glue, run in new glue) let glue harden before testing, 10 minutes to re-assemble).
If the bolts holding the silver trim to the hatch lids are rusted - you may need a new trim if you break the old one
Peter
December 2010