Rear hatch on my 2001 explorer will not open, rear window will but tailgate hatch will not. how do i open it with out the unlock button, no manual release that i can see...

Yes, the 2019 Ford Explorer Sport has a power liftgate that includes a rear hatch window that can be opened independently from the liftgate.
To open the rear hatch window, press the button on the key fob twice within three seconds, or press the button located on the liftgate handle twice. Alternatively, you can also use the interior switch located on the overhead console to open or close the rear hatch window.

Maybe there is a broken wire to the tailgate

Check the wiring to the rear hatch. The cables break and cause a variety fo problems like yours. You will have to take the plastic cover off and expose the cables.

Replace the broken door latch handle and it should work just fine.

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/michael_2496c4f07ad24453

Inside the rear tail gate hatch should be a small access panel. Remove the access panel so you can manually open the rear hatch by grabbing the small metal rod linkage. They put this access panel so if the door motor actuator goes bad you can still open the rear hatch. After you open the rear hatch manually by the linkage rod. Remove the entire inside hatch trim panel so you can see all the inner workings of it and self diagnos. It sound like the electric door motor actuator has gone bad. This is pretty common for any GM product. Hope this hopes.

Press door unlock switch in car or on remote to release the lower tailgate, even if the hatch is open.

Rear Hatch Release/Lock Failure: How To Open The Glass
google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad); After a while, the mechanism (actuator) that unlocks and releases the rear glass hatch in
your Blazer or Jimmy will eventually burn out. when it does, there is really no way to open
the glass and lower the tailgate. The dash push button won't work, the rear key lock will
not work, the inside tailgat handle will not work, and you can not remove the interior
tailgate panel to access the mechanism because the screws can only be reach when
the tailgate is down (awesome GM design feature). The only way to replace the burnt
out actuator is to open the tailgate which you can't because the actuator is burnt out.

I've read stories that even the dealers don't know what to do, some have even cut up the
back panel to reach the so-called manuel release. Others said they pulled back the glued
on carpet to search for it also.

Well if you don't want to hack up the tailgate panel or rip out your carpet,
here's the easy way to open the glass:

You just pull back the interior tailgate panel right above the bump in the middle
where the latch is. There are no screws or bolts in that area, you can safely pull it back
about 2 inches. Then you'll have to stuck your finger in and push down the release bar.
See the 2 pictures below:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...z/IM000658.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...z/IM000664.jpg
(No pictures allowed in this forum , oh well, click the links then)
The first pic is of the latch, it's the gold section.
The second pic shows what you need to push downward.
When you get your finger back there, you should be able to feel for the part that need to
be pushed down. When that part is pushed down, the glass has been unlocked.


Now that the glass is unlocked, it and the tailgate can be opened. Now you can remove the
interior tailgate panel, it has one screw on each side and easily lifts off.

The actuator that needs to be replaced costs $58 from the dealer, so if you don't want
to replace it yet, but still want to open the back, you can leave the panel off and just puch the
manuel release level. Here's the pic of the tailgate:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...z/IM000669.jpg
It's in the open section right below the latch, hows my fingure pushing it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...z/IM000668.jpg

I haven't replaced my actuator yet, still trying to find it for cheaper than the dealer wants,
but hardly any part store guys know what the hell an actuator is

I think you will find a small hatch on the inside of the tailgate,this will allow you access to unlock the tailgate.Possibly the lock actuator has failed.

Check in your user's manual for your fuse location on the rear windshield wiper. These grand cherokee's have electronic actuators in every door. Inside these actuators they have very little motors and move everything via plastic. Very bad design flaw, as most of these actuators are 300-400 dollars to replace. You can find ones in salvage yards for 50 though. On your rear hatch, the door and the window are run by this actuator.