Rear door latch is broke

can you open from the inside, its the only way you going to get to sort this, failing that you may need to get a new door card and rip the one off the door at the top corner near to the lock latch and split the plastic and pull the door pin inside to open then take the door card off. sometimes you can do it with out braking the door card but would not say it will not brake. inside there is a plastic clip that the handle go's on then another bar to the lock. this is designed to snap if some one trys to open the door with force.failing that the handle part can snap where the bar fits to it. that you would need to change the handle.

You must be talking about the door handle itself. The rod connects the door handle to the door latch. The plastic clip when snapped onto the rod will keep the rod from coming out of the hole in the door handle where it attaches. Is it the handle that is broke or the clip?

Here's how I repaired mine. Go inside and remove the plastic 2" square plastic cover. By pushing on the lever inside this area, the latch will release. Push on the door at the same time, when the latch is pushed. With the door open, remove all four screws from the plastic panel. Now pry carefully the big plastic panel off the door. There are plastic snaps holding this on, all around the edges. Now there is another metal cover over the latch mechanism under this panel. Remove this. You now can see into the latch area and put the handle back into the slot where it came out of. You'll see that the ends of the handle can be put back on the round bar, but to hold them in place, I attached 2 nylon ties on one end. You can also purchase a metal push on retainer from the local hardware store. Mine has been repaired for 8 months and had no trouble. Ford used no retainer on these handles and after prolonged use, they bend and the handle can be pulled off. A twenty minute job. Your wife can even do it.
Fred C

Technical Instructions
See picture below
1. Remove door trim panel and water shield per
NOTE: Place a strip of masking tape along the edge of door before removing trim panel to prevent scratching the door with the trim panel removal tool.

2. Snap cable housing end from slot on inside door handle assembly and disconnect cable.
NOTE: Use care to prevent bending of cable housing retainer bracket.

3. Remove rear window channel retaining bolt to allow access to door latch.

4. Position a block (screwdriver handle) between the latch and the door inner panel and snap the cable housing end out of slot (towards inner panel) on door latch assembly and disconnect cable at latch.
NOTE: Use care when removing cable housing to avoid bending of the latch. Discard cable.

5. Hook up new cable at latch and snap cable housing end into slot.
NOTE: Make sure the cable housing is fully seated in the slot.

6. Apply a light film of Teflon grease to the barrel end of the cable. See Figure A.

7. Install return spring. See Figure A.
NOTE: Ensure that the push button rod is located between the spring and the door inner panel.

8. Install foam block at latch. See Figure A.

9. Position water shield over the return spring and install push pin to retain upper portion of water shield. See Figure B.
NOTE: Push pin goes in the same hole as the return spring.

10. Clean hands of grease before performing step 11.

11. Remove protective backing along the lower edges only of the water shield. See Figure A.

12. Install latch water shield at door latch. Pinch the exposed adhesive surfaces together to secure the water shield. Check to insure water shield is not showing through the door shut-face latch access hole. See Figure B.

13. Attach cable to inside door handle assembly and snap cable housing into slot.
NOTE: Make sure the cable housing is fully seated.

14. Check the gap as shown in remote control using a 3/16 drill bit shank end. The drill bit shank should fit in the gap without any clearance and a tight fit is preferred. See Figure C.

15. If the drill bit is too loose or does not fit, adjust by bending the cable bracket as required.

16. Place plastic wedge on remote bracket as shown. Wedge must fit with at least a light press fit for retention. See Figure D.

17. After installation, Apply a dab of special Teflon grease, supplied with the service cable to cable housing openings at inside handle end. The grease should surround and contact the cable all the way around, to seal the opening between the cable and the cable housing.

18. Check all latch functions to insure correct assembly of latch system. If the inside handle does not release properly, replace the inside handle remote release mechanism.

19. Reposition and install trim panel using new push pins if required.

check to see if your latch is open unlock door put a screwdriver in the latch and open door with out side handel latsh will release

go inside, lift on handle, then beat the **** out of the door pounding it like your trapped in it trying to get out. latch mechanism is probably corroded and froze shut. once open, spray with wd40 and work the lever a lot. then get door panel off to see if handle is broken inside

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

there is plastic snaps that attatch the panel to the door all the way around the panel which you can buy a tool to remove the panel without breaking the snaps,the door handle may have a cable hooked to it that releases the latch and it might be stretched causing the handle to pull hard

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: