Door Lock sometimes jams
 

1989 Camry 4 door, 150k miles, power everything. The answer is probably just to go slowly and unlock the door, then open the door latch, but I want to be safer rather than sorry and prevent any problems.

Since I bought the car about a year ago, the unlock power lock on the driver's side doesn't work, but lock does; everything's fine on passenger side. All doors unlock on passenger side key, on driver's side only driver's door.

I drive alone without human passengers.

Sometimes, I don't seem to completely pull up on the driver's side plastic knob, such that that knob sticks, and I can't open the door. I tried unlocking the driver's door with the key by lowering the window down, but that doesn't work. Unlock/lock on either door power button doesn't help. Somehow jiggling the up/down stick and the chrome latch release gets it to work.

Beside my simple solution, is anything wrong? What's the trick to get that stuck up/down plastic door knob to open?

Thanks in advance

As a precaution suggest you remove the door panel then inspect the lock mechanism. It could need just lubrication or it could be a plastic part or spring has failed.

The concern one day the lock may no longer unlocks (this happens). Then taking the door panel off with door closed will be much more difficult.