I recently had my car at a shop to fix a dent just below the door handle on the passenger side door, and since I got the car back the door cannot be opened from the outside. Inside work just fine. What I'm wondering is if this is something that is easy to fix yourself? Could it be something simple like an unplugged cable or something? Assuming it isn't broken.

 

Likely the actuator rod came unclipped off the handle lever.

If you paid someone to fix it...take it back

Otherwise the inner door panel needs to come off...and then you need to hook up the rod or check to see what the problem is...and re-install the door panel

 

this just happened to me yesterday but i cant open it from the inside either, can the panel be taken off while the door is closed?

 

You can try this: remove the oval plastic trim piece that surrounds the lock and handle on the inside. I think it has a Philips head covered by a round cover. This will expose the linkages from the handle to the lock. Wiggle both of those and see if you can 1) unlock and 2) open the door from there.

If it's just the lock, you may need a new lock actuator assembly. The motors in these tend to fail with time, and the symptoms is the door will not unlock. If it unlocks fine but still doesn't open, then the linkage fell off somewhere. I remember reading that there is a way to take the panel off with the door closed, but don't remember the details. The way it's made should make it possible, but working in a constricted space makes this difficult.

 

Here's some more good reading! https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tec...t-open-177163/