I just fixed this. While it is fresh on my mind I thought I would help you get past the head scratching points. If yours breaks while the gate is shut, it is hard to get open. Here are some easier steps.
1. lower the window
2. take a large flat blade screwdriver and place it into a vertical trim piece.
3. Hit the butt of the screwdriver with your other hand to pop these off.
4. Lift/pry up on the big plastic panel piece with your hands to get the lip over the glass, then just push toward the inside of the car and it will come off.
5. Raise the window. Now get inside the car.
6. Take the screws out of the large black metal panel using a 10mm socket or nut driver.
7. Reach behind the window regulator (tight squeeze) with your palm toward the outside of the car.
8. There is a lever to push down. The lever is on the passenger side of the interior lock mechanism. Make sure you have unlocked the locks.
9. When you have raised the liftgate, lower the window half way.
10. The oval plastic piece in the liftgate has to come out. It is attached with clips and two nuts that hold the handle to the door.
11. Remove the 4 nuts to the window regulator and lift it out of its holes. Push it forward to gain access to the two nuts on the inside of the handle.
12. Remove the 10mm nuts on the handle and remove the license plate.
13. It is safest to remove the clips by squeezing them with pliers from the inside and pushing them out. Otherwise there is too much prying.
14. There is one wire harness to remove and you should be able to take off the plastic trim piece. There is also a plastic cover over the lock mechanism that just snaps off.
15. Replace the handle / latch with a new one. If the end of the cable is messed up, you should replace that cable as well.
16. On the bottom of the liftgate remove the black plastic around the lock mechanism and spray it with WD40 or white lithium grease spray.
17. Reverse steps and you should have a new handle. Hope I didn't leave much out
