What Is a “Suicide Door” on a Car?

A “suicide door” is a rear-hinged car door that opens from its forward edge, opposite the usual front-hinged direction. The nickname stems from early 20th-century safety concerns, when these doors could catch the wind and swing open, increasing the risk of occupants being ejected before seat belts were commonplace. Today, they’re more accurately called rear-hinged or “coach” doors and can be found on select modern vehicles with added safety features.

How It Works and How It’s Different

On a vehicle with rear-hinged doors, the hinge sits at the back of the door opening and the latch at the front. When opened, the door swings toward the rear of the car. This is the inverse of the conventional setup. Some vehicles pair front-hinged front doors with rear-hinged rear doors that meet in the middle—often called “clamshell” or “center-opening” doors—sometimes without a fixed B-pillar, relying on reinforced latches and door frames for structural integrity.

Why the Nickname Took Hold

In the early automotive era, rudimentary latches and the absence of seat belts made rear-hinged doors hazardous: airflow could force a poorly latched door open at speed, and the opening angle made it easier for a passenger to be pulled out. The term “suicide door” captured that elevated risk. The name is not used by manufacturers today due to its negative connotation; the preferred terms are “rear-hinged” or “coach” doors.

Pros and Cons

The design brings distinctive benefits and drawbacks that influence both usability and safety. The following list outlines the main advantages enthusiasts and designers cite.

• Easier rear-seat access: A wider opening can simplify entry/exit and child-seat installation.
• Elegant presentation: Center-opening doors create a dramatic, unobstructed cabin reveal—popular in luxury segments.
• Packaging flexibility: Designers can optimize door apertures in tight wheelbase layouts.

These advantages explain why the format persists in luxury cars and niche models, where style and access are valued.

There are also important limitations and risks associated with the layout. The next list summarizes the main concerns.

• Wind load and latch stress: If not fully latched, airflow can exacerbate opening forces.
• Ingress/egress in traffic: Rear-hinged doors can expose occupants differently when exiting curbside.
• Structural complexity: Achieving side-impact protection—especially with minimal B-pillar—requires robust interlocks and reinforcements, adding weight and cost.

Modern engineering mitigates these issues, but they remain design and safety considerations that limit widespread adoption.

Safety and Regulations Today

Rear-hinged doors are legal in major markets, including the United States, provided they meet crashworthiness and door-retention standards (such as FMVSS door-latch requirements). Contemporary implementations use stronger multi-point latches, interlocks that prevent opening unless the front door is open, child-safety locks, side-impact beams, and airbag strategies tailored for center-opening configurations. As a result, models from mainstream pickups to high-end luxury sedans have passed modern safety testing with rear-hinged doors.

Notable Vehicles with Rear-Hinged Doors

While most cars use front-hinged doors, several historic and modern vehicles feature rear-hinged designs, either for aesthetics, packaging, or heritage cues.

• Classic era: Various prewar cars and mid-century models, notably the 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental sedans.
• Luxury modern: Rolls-Royce Phantom, Ghost, and Cullinan use rear-hinged rear doors (often called “coach doors”).
• Limited-run special: Lincoln Continental Coach Door Editions (late 2010s) brought back center-opening doors in small numbers.
• Sports/compact: Mazda RX-8 (“freestyle” doors) used small rear-hinged rear doors to aid rear-seat access.
• City/EV: BMW i3 featured rear-hinged rear doors with integrated structural latches.
• Utility/crossover: Honda Element and Toyota FJ Cruiser used rear-hinged rear access doors for cargo and passenger convenience.
• Pickups: Many extended-/super-cab trucks (e.g., Ford F-150 SuperCab, Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab) employ rear-hinged rear doors for easier cab access.
• Compact coupe: Saturn Ion Quad Coupe used small rear-hinged auxiliary doors to improve rear-seat entry.

Across categories, the common thread is improved access and distinct styling, tempered by the need for careful engineering of latches and structure.

Terminology: “Coach Doors” vs. “Suicide Doors”

Manufacturers and many owners prefer “coach doors,” a term that harkens back to horse-drawn carriages with rear-hinged passenger doors. “Rear-hinged” is the neutral technical description. The colloquial “suicide doors” persists in enthusiast circles but is generally avoided in marketing and official documentation.

Practical Tips for Using Them

If you drive or ride in a vehicle with rear-hinged doors, a few habits can improve safety and convenience.

• Verify the latch: Make a positive, firm close and confirm the door-ajar indicator is off.
• Mind the wind: Hold the door in breezy conditions; don’t let gusts overextend it.
• Exit awareness: When curbside, check mirrors and over-the-shoulder before opening into traffic or bike lanes.
• Follow interlocks: On cars where rears only open after the front, open and close in the intended sequence.
• Use child locks: Engage them when carrying young passengers.

These steps align with normal safe-door practices but are particularly helpful given the door’s opening direction and wider aperture.

Summary

A “suicide door” is a rear-hinged car door that opens from its forward edge, known today as a rear-hinged or coach door. The design offers dramatic style and easier rear-seat access but historically carried safety risks that modern engineering now addresses with stronger latches, interlocks, and reinforced structures. While uncommon, rear-hinged doors remain a distinctive, functional choice on select luxury cars, special editions, compact coupes, and extended-cab trucks.