Since this seemed a simple fix, we just ordered parts off the internet for about $100 and did the repair ourselves... That was not an easy task as you have to disassemble the whole door to access the area that needed fixing, but we knew this having done the rear passenger door about a year ago.
This worked well for us until about 18 months ago when the passenger went to open the door and we heard the sound of a spring breaking inside the door. Luckily, the door still works, just the handle inside is loose. I don't feel it is worth the cost to repair (close to $300) that spring just yet.
On a side note... This was the second door latch to fail. We have had similar issues with 3 of the 5 doors and fixed both the passenger sides ourselves. I am having to take the car in for repair on this 3rd one as I am now older and cannot do the labor myself. And we never thought to take pictures.
Since this seemed a simple fix, we just ordered parts off the internet for about $100 and did the repair ourselves... That was not an easy task as you have to disassemble the whole door to access the area that needed fixing.
That worked for about 6 months then one day the door just would not open, and it has not been open in over 3 years, but I can live with that.
On a side note... This was the first door latch to fail. We have had similar issues with 3 of the 5 doors and fixed both the passenger sides ourselves. I am having to take the car in for repair on this last one as I am now older and cannot do the labor myself.
I am just tired of repairing the doors on this thing.
I am beginning to believe this is more of a defective part than just normal wear & tear. Since this is not my first, but my third door latch failure on this car, I know what the issue is and what it will take to fix it, so I am heading to a neighborhood mechanic. His initial parts search was $245 for parts alone, plus labor, so this will be a $400 fix!!!!
If I was physically able to replace the parts myself, I would happily do it, because this car still has two more latches that will fail eventually unless there is a recall.
On a side note… This was the third door latch to fail. We have had similar issues with 3 of the 5 doors and fixed both the passenger sides ourselves. I am having to take the car in for repair on this one as I am now older and cannot do the labor myself.
Thought the plastic door handle snapping off in my hand was just a natural wear & tear thing, and since we no longer have an in house repairman, I was forced to take to dealership. (Oh how I dislike this dealership, but it is the most convenient).
$238 dollars and three days later...
On a side note... This was the first door handle to fail. We have had similar issues with 3 of the 5 doors and fixed both the passenger sides ourselves. I am having to take the car in for repair on this last one as I am now older and cannot do the labor myself. I would have had the front passenger door spring replaced, but did not have the extra $240 to spare that week.
When it first happened, I was stuck in the car. I just need to know where to take the car to have new handles put on, or where I can purchase them to let my daughter install (she is really good at fixing these things).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Since this seemed a simple fix, we just ordered parts off the internet for about $100 and did the repair ourselves... That was not an easy task as you have to disassemble the whole door to access the area that needed fixing, but we knew this having done the rear passenger door about a year ago.
This worked well for us until about 18 months ago when the passenger went to open the door and we heard the sound of a spring breaking inside the door. Luckily, the door still works, just the handle inside is loose. I don't feel it is worth the cost to repair (close to $300) that spring just yet.
On a side note... This was the second door latch to fail. We have had similar issues with 3 of the 5 doors and fixed both the passenger sides ourselves. I am having to take the car in for repair on this 3rd one as I am now older and cannot do the labor myself. And we never thought to take pictures.
- everwinslo, Euless, US