My 2003 Expy's liftgate handle was not working last week. You could pull it and nothing happened. I was able to get the interior back panel off (not very fun in the cold) and I found a cable had snapped. This cable connected the handle mechanism to the clasp mechanism (such a bass-ackward set-up, I don't know why they didn't have a direct connection.) The cable was a relatively thin stainless-looking twisted cable that was inside a rubber hose.

Is this part available anywhere?

 

A parts department at any dealership should have it