rear hatch not releasing from one side

[deeunlucky1]

I have a 1997 safari and today my rear door will not release from one side, there is no way I could open manually?

[Blue Bowtie]

Welcome Aboard!

The latches at either end of the lift gate are electrically released. You'll have to remove the interior trim from inside the vehicle to manually release the offending latch. There is a Phillips screw in each of the lower corners of the interior lift gate glass trim. Remove those, then carefully pull the plastic surround away from the lift gate and glass. There are several steel spring clips retaining the trim around the perimeter. Don't be too surprised if some pull off the trim rather than out of the gate. You can remove them with pliers and clip them to the trim when you reassemble it.

Hopefully, the problem is only a connection, but latch motors and the switch/lock are available.