It sounds like water in the mechanism which froze in the cold weather.
It could also be that someone has used graphite or similar to lubricate
the lock. People vary in their opinions re WD40 vs Graphite. Some swear
by one and damn the other. I favour WD40 and haven't ever had and issue.
I'm not sure about Antifreeze on paint work. I thought it wasn't
recommended?
Back in about 1993, we went to test drive an Espace. It was a S/H- while
we planned to buy new they only had a S/H in stock, at it had been
parked by the car wash in winter and been caught in the 'spray'. The
doors were frozen solid- encrusted with ice. Before we could drive it,
they have to climb in via the rear hatch and turn on the heating to
de-frost it. It must have been the worst but of salesmanship in history.
--
Smile for the camera ;-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxyL2_38EsQ
Remarkable Coincidences:
The Stock Market Crashes of 1929 and 2008 happened on the same
date in October. In Oct 1907, a run on the Knickerbocker Trust
Company led to the Great Depression.