The inside door handle/ lever on the driver side of my 2004 Sebring will not release the door. The outside door lever works fine. 1) How do I remove the inside door panel? Thanks, Larry

handles may be in good condition but the lever on the latch itself may have came loose. your mostlikley looking at dismantelling the apolsery with the door closed to rectify it.

Remove the door trim and reattach the rod/ lever that has come out of the fitting of the latch.

You didn't mention if the inside release works. Typically there are little rods and levers involved and something comes loose. If you find a rod off, do something, as it will want to pop off again, only sooner. Sometimes you find broken plactic and you need to get a new part.

It is annoying to get into the door if neither inside or outside will release the door.

Some doors are affected by pulling on a lever, near the time unlock button was pushed... If lock, and unlock )with no levers being pulled (by you)) does not release it, surgery is next step.

the handle might of broke internally, theres a rod and a clip that gets attached to the handle. i would take the door panel off and visual look at the latch mechanism and the rod that goes from that to the outside handle

since it is the drivers front door it could be the outside door handle , the rod that goes from the handle to the lock asbly or the lock asbly its self take the door trim panel off and then loos inside the door and latch the door with the door open. open the door with the outside door handle and watch the rod and the lever that the rod is pushing down the lever might not be pushing the lever down far enough to release the lock. If the lock does not open try pushing down on the lever and see if the lock releases if it does ck the outside door handle for cracks along the hinges of the handle I have found that most of the time that it is the outside door handle cracked and the rod is not moving the lever far enough to release the lock.

I have the same car, same problem. I've still not been able to fix it, despite taking the inside panels off the rear doors, checking the rods were seated, applying WD-40 to the lock mechanisms, and manually working the mechanism. Child locks are not engaged, but I tried putting them on and off too. Just won't open.

Bring the vehicle into the dealer if you have a sticky gas pedal. This is a TOYOTA PROBLEM.
Door handle:
It easy ! You need a philips and flat screw driver,and a needle nose pliar.
Use flat screw driver and pry out the two or three dust covers for the arm rest screws then use philips and remove the screws. Next use the flat screw driver and pry out the black plastic mirror cover from the inside of the door. Pry out the switch with the flat screw driver and disconnect it. On the side of the door panel just above the striker/loch mechanism is this plastic push pull type of a hold in screw. Use flat screw driver to get it to move a little then pull it out with the needle nose. Depending on which door your doing if you have a map folder in the door there are two more screw to remove on the bottom of the door.
Now the inside door handle is tricky it comes out in TWO pieces. Use philips and get the only hold down screw you see out.( you may have to pry out a little screw cover first) Now the inside door handle cover is removed by placeing the flat screw driver on the rear of the outside of the cover top and on the outside rear bottom to release the tangs that are holding it onto the panel.Pry it out lightly you may have to place the screw driver over the top of the door release button and pry that way. Don't loose your cool its a pain but it will fall out. Once its removed unhook the panel.

Next lift the plastic cover and remove the door handle hooks and levers . Basically use common sense this is easy stuff. There may be two screws from inside of door panel that keep handle in place . Then work handle loose from outside and inside . reverse for installation.

On mine, a RHD, it is a plastic lever just forward of the door post. It is a crappy piece of plastic about four inches long.Mine has recently broken and will result in a bill for about £60-70 for replacing the lever and the cable (the cable is very tight)
Getting the handle off was a hell of a job until someone spotted that inside the handle, on the lower part as accessed from the outside, is a clip that needs to be pulled out to release the handle. Only then could we reach the cable and that took an enourmopus amount of effirt to release the bonnet.
As the mechanic said, "I didn't expect this sort of rubbish from VW"

First off, you'll need to be able to remove the door panel. there are plastic clips (Push in body clips) as well as a couple of screws that hold the panel on. If you do not have power windows, you'll need a tool available from most any parts store to remove the window crank handle. You can get a window crank handle off with a couple of standard screwdrivers (There is a small metal clip that locks the handle on) but this normally results in damage to the panel. When the panel swings freely away from the bottom of the door, gently slide it directly up to remove it.

Once there, you should be able to clearly see the handle assembly, look for a metal rod about 1/4 inch in diameter that is supposed to be attached to the handle assembly via a little plastic clip. if either the clip or the handle assembly is broken, the rod will disconnect and you will be yanking on a handle attached to essentially nothing.

Door rod clips are available through most auto parts stores for $4-5, handle assembly's you can sometimes get through a wrecking yard, or order from the parts store.

Once you have the panel removed