'96 Taurus compressor

Even if you got the door panel off you would play hob getting the door open. Would you like my method of getting it fixed?

Borrow a recipcating saw or sawsall. Put in a new metal cutting blade and using a flashlight located the door latch bracket. This should be something shaped like a d. Look at the passenger side. Then cut the bracket off open the door and replace the bracket and the latch assembly.

What do you think?

Use the passenger door and l look at the latch. You might run into a bit of a frustration on this one. Now, first do me the favor of thinking about contacting your Honda dealership and posing this problem to them. If they give you a big run around and don't decisively know a solution then consider this as a solution for you to try. From the outside of the car you will probably not be able to see the latch or striker. Look at the same side back door and you will see the angles needed to be used. You can try a blade off the saw and see how this pans out. Also, I would then once you have the blade shaped to catch the striker wrap a couple of layers of electrical tape around the blade to protect the paint of the door. I would then insert the blade in the door, (working from the outside) and feel the striker from the top. Hook up the saw and let it slowly cut the striker.

Good luck, I have done this before with success but it is up to you.