Passenger door handle not working from the inside

[marcus]

The button that locks the door from the inside snapped off on my 1985 GTL a few weeks ago and ever since then the interior door handle doesn't work - you have to open the door from the outside.

Does anyone have any idea what's gone wrong and what the fix is?

I've looked in the Haynes manual but there's nothing specific beyond removal and refitting.

[ianaudia4]

Volkswagen inside door handles are for opening the doors when they are unlocked, they won't unlock the car.
Sounds as if what is left of your plastic button is in the locked position.

[marcus]

The handle still doesn't work if the door has been unlocked with the key from the outside and what's left of the button can be seen to have popped up.

[PeteGLi]

The rod connecting the inside door handle to the lock mechanism could have popped off.
You will need to take the inside door panel off to have a look.