The rear door will not stay closed. When I operate the latch mechanism in the door manually (move it to the closed position) I can move it back open without pulling on the door handle. The other side locks in place.

Hello, Stephanie -

I had a similar problem with a different make of car. It turned out that somehow I had inadvertantly tripped the door latch mechanism to the closed position in the door after I opened the door and before I tried to close it (to no avail.)

After I figured out the problem by comparing the latch mechanism for the other rear door, when it was open, with the problem door, it was easy to flip the mechanism which was in the closed position back to the open position so I could close the door.

I believe the information here will prove instructive:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-door-hood-or-trunk-will-not-close

Best wishes.

Inside door mechanical issue broken

You probably need to pull the manual release and physically move the latch back into its unmatched position. The latch hook will rotate open so that it can receive the fixed bar on the body.

Sounds like the latch is seized or the tension spring is broke.
You'll probably have to replace the latch.

Hi John, If the latching mechanism is in the locked position, does it open when either of the handles are pulled? If it is not opening you may need clean and service the linkages and the latching mechanism or replace the latch. The locking mechanism inside the latch is is an off center sort of horse shoe shape. If it is closed you will see a bar which will be in an almost vertical position, and it should release when either of the door handles is operated. If it is failing to lock, (which I am suspecting), the latch will be at an angle of about fifty degrees. If that is the case, using a Philips (star screw driver) push the latch back to find out if it is latching. If it does, use either of the handles to release it again. If it fails to hold in the closed position, the linkages from the release handles may be fouled, damaged or disconnected. If everything is correct in those areas, the latch may need replacement. Check that first, let me know how you get on and if we need to go further and carry out a replacement, which will mean removing the door panel, and the mechanism let me know so we can go through it together. Regards John

Door latch on door itself is in closed position if it will not close at all. In this case, open door and pull outside handle hard to pop open door latch. If you have door opening at random, door latch needs replacing or door catch on body is loose.

I have 2 different door problems with my 99 Park Ave: one door opens more than it should and often can't get it to move to close it and the other door opens but when trying to close it, the door will not latch closed. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by door wouldn't close, but with your mention of the metal parts, I'm gonna take a guess that it doesn't latch closed (kind of bounces back open too). For that problem I do 2 things to avoid actually fixing the problem. First, I check that the door handles are in the closed door position (my outside handle stays stuck out in the pulled position); I push them both in. If that doesn't work, I push down on the latch mechanism in the edge of the door to find that it was stuck in the open position. Once I do those 2 things, my door closes perfectly.
I hope this helped!

Check the latch assembly where the door closes. If the latch claw is closed it won't latch. Make sure the door is unlocked. Insert a screwdriver into the middle of the claw (circular opening where the striker latches). Open the door handle from inside or outside and pull sideways on the latch it should pop open. If it doesn't then the lock mechanism is in the lock position. Remove door panel follow lock rod to the latch and manually try to move the lever to the unlock position. If all fails you probably will need a new latch assembly.

Do any of the door handles inside or out feel sloppy (when you pull on them does it feel like there is nothing connected to them)?

If so that the levers on the latches are probably rusted up and sticking. Say for example the outside door handle lever that is attached to the door latch is stuck half way in the open position it will not allow the door lock mechanism to lock or unlock. The door will still latch and stay closed because the lever will not be stuck far enough to release the latch mechanism from hold on to the striker.

I have had pretty good luck removing the door latch (the part that actually holds the door closed) and soaking in penetrating lube and working all the levers until they move freely.

As far as the door that doesn't open I suspect it is stuck in the lock position and one of the handle mechanisms is in the partial up position. Again the symptom would be a sloppy door handle. That lever will need to be put back in its normal resting position before the door can be unlocked. This can be done with a slim jim. Once you have the door panel apart on the door that still opens you will be able to see the parts you need to move. You can then use that knowledge to move those parts on the other door that doesn't open.

If you don't have any experience with a lockout kit (i suspect most people do not) that that's the best way I can describe how you can do this yourself.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

Hello and welcome the problem is very simple to resolve first make sure you have battery power turn off vehicle open rear gate unlock doors go to rear gate and look at lock unlock again and push the Grey plastic lock trigger mechanism forward towards front glass close gate unlock again make sure lock is still in the position you just set it to and close glass it will the lock. Normally what happens in this situation was power was removed from your jeep and the rear gate was opened with no power running to electric lock so it stays in a set position you cannot lock the glass because there was no power in the electric lock I will lock once you reset it Hope this help. Please Rate Me . For further assistance you can always ask me.