Floppy Assist Handles

xtremeterrier

Does anyone have thoughts on how to repair passenger assist handles that suddenly won't flip up anymore? They now hang down and hit you in the head as you get in and out of the vehicle. I've taken them off (one in front and one in back) to see if the internal spring can be reset, but it looks like it slipped off a plastic node or something and won't catch again. It doesn't look like anything inside the handle broke, so its a mystery as to why it won't work. Is this a common problem?