How to replace hatchback handle assembly

remove door panel and find location of missing or broken linkage clip or bushing and replace. https://www.google.com/#q=rockauto

the cable from the door handle to the door lock has either broke or the plastic retaining clip has snapped ,either way take the door panel off and have a look to verify exactly what is wrong

There are only 2 places that you have the problem on the inside door handle. one is at the handle,and the little plastic holder that holds the rod to the handle broke, or the plastic clip the the door lock mechanism broke. the first can be removed without taking the door apart. the inside door handle has a screw holding it in place. you can remove the handle and see if its broken. the second requires you to remove the door panel, to replace the clip that hold the rod to the lock. I door handle in the car is a dealer item only(sorry to tell you that), the clip for the lock, you can get at the auto parts store. hope this helps

If you still have the broken piece, you can try to use that to try to open the back. Otherwise, you have to open it from the inside.
I changes mine in 2007 so if memory serves me, I had to remove the back panel and pull on the cable to open the door.

Now to see and pull on the cable, and replace the latch, you have to take off the inside liner/panel to get to the latch to replace it. This took about 2 careful hours to replace.

The trick is to get the two side pieces off.
These two plastic pieces are next to the window on the left and right sides. Each piece is about 3 inches wide and 18 inches long. Using a strong grip, or a pry bar or large screwdriver, take off both pieces. There are three clip areas that holds each piece in.

If you are using a tool, be careful to protect the area by wrapping a towel on the screwdriver/tool.

After that the bottom liner piece pulls away and you can see the latch.
There are two screws/bolts that holds the latch.

The two pieces snaps back in pretty easily.

You probably broke the plastic piece shaped like a J.
You can try to glue the pieces back, but note that the piece broke due to age. I changed the whole assembly - good for another 7 yrs. I could not find just the plastic piece.

I posted this for a manual door - not sure for automatic door.

If you still have the broken piece, you can try to use that to try to open the back. Otherwise, you have to open it from the inside.
I changes mine in 2007 so if memory serves me, I had to remove the back panel and pull on the cable to open the door.

Now to see and pull on the cable, and replace the latch, you have to take off the inside liner/panel to get to the latch to replace it. This took about 2 careful hours to replace.

The trick is to get the two side pieces off.
These two plastic pieces are next to the window on the left and right sides. Each piece is about 3 inches wide and 18 inches long. Using a strong grip, or a pry bar or large screwdriver, take off both pieces. There are three clip areas that holds each piece in.

If you are using a tool, be careful to protect the area by wrapping a towel on the screwdriver/tool.

After that the bottom liner piece pulls away and you can see the latch.
There are two screws/bolts that holds the latch.

The two pieces snaps back in pretty easily.

You probably broke the plastic piece shaped like a J.
You can try to glue the pieces back, but note that the piece broke due to age. I changed the whole assembly - good for another 7 yrs. I could not find just the plastic piece

you are correct they are flimsey and get fatigued with age easy to replace harder to find

To Remove Door Panel on 2001 Honda Accord:

A: To remove the plastic piece with the door lock button and door handle connected to it:

1- Remove the screw in the middle located behind a plastic cover button
2- Push (slide) the whole assembly Forward (toward front of car)
Besides the screw, it is held in place by 3 hooks on the backside that hook into holes in the metal door frame
3- Now unhook handle from small metal bar going through door by pushing (toward door) plastic clip (blue?) off of the bar, then the bar will come out of the clip hole, thus releasing the handle.
4- Depress little grey button /bar (purple painted on it)on elec. connector to seperate connector, thus releasing door lock switch

Now the whole assembly (metal handle, door lock switch, and plastic piece) will come off door panel

B: The door is held on by 2-screws, 7-plastic snaps/plugs, and 1-plastic plug.

The screws are located: bottom of hand hold and the other behind the handle, both covered by little covers that have to be pryed off to access the screws.(hint: the screw with the built in spacer goes behind the handle when you are trying to reinstall)
The 7-plastic snaps: 3 across bottom and 2 on each side. Not visible, they are mounted to the inside of the panel.
The 1-plastic plug is visible at the upper front of the panel and is the same color as the surrounding trim


C: Take off the big plastic triangle piece above the door panel and behind the mirror. Pull/pry off. It has 2 snaps holding it on. one near bottom and one near the front.

D: Light lens prys off from bottom. Unscrew (1/4 turn) the light assembly with bulb still intact from backside of panel

E: Remove the Hand-Hold/window switch assembly:

i have a 94 2dr cutlass and the same thing happend to me, now i can tell u how to fix the problam but the door has to be open to fix, so if your in the same boat i was with both door handles broke then there was only two ways i could think of to get the doors open with both handles broke, ether go threw the trunk and break the seat of break a widow witch is what i did, and once ur window is broke dont replace glass untill handles are fixed. what u do is once the door is open look on the inside behind handle and there is a black cover that has a few screws on it, remove this and u will have a perfect view of the lever assembly, i went to my local junk yard and got me two handles that were that were in good shape, and one u see how it works its a pretty easy fix

YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF THE DOOR PANEL ON THE INSIDE OF THE HATCH, IF IT WONT OPEN YOU HAVE TO DO IT FROM THE INSIDE, THEN THERE ARE 3 10MM BOLTS YOU TAKE OUT AND THE HANDLE AND PLATE LIGHT BRACKET WILL COME OUT AND YOU CAN REPLACE THE HANDLE... FYI MOST TIMES THE HANDLE BREAKS BECAUSE YOUR ACTUAL LATCH IS RUSTED OR FROZEN SO YOU MAY NEED TO REPLACE BOTH!!

Remove the snap ring from under the inside door handle and plate (a rag around the base of the handle and a left-right tug on the rag may loosen it, or look under it & pry the snap ring off with a small hook tool

Remove the door lock knob bezel; remove the screw & slide it rearward

Remove the door trim; Remove the two clips; slide a thin, flat wide tool under the panel and pry towards you, there are 8 clips to dislodge

Pull the door trim straight up once all of the clips are loosened.

Easy.