Why Are They Called “Suicide Doors”?

They’re called “suicide doors” because rear-hinged car doors are more likely to swing open into oncoming airflow at speed, historically increasing the risk that an occupant could be pulled from the vehicle or struck by the open door if a latch failed or a door wasn’t fully closed—especially before seat belts and modern latches were commonplace. The nickname emerged in the early automotive era to describe this elevated risk, even though the door layout itself predates cars and was common on horse-drawn carriages.

What the Term Refers To

“Suicide doors” is a colloquial name for rear-hinged doors—doors whose hinge is at the rear edge rather than at the front. When the door swings open, it opens toward the back of the car. Automakers and coachbuilders often avoid the grim nickname and instead use “coach doors,” a term rooted in carriage design. In everyday usage, you may also hear “rear-hinged,” “clamshell” (when paired with a front-hinged front door), or brand-specific labels like “freestyle” or “clubdoor.”

How the Nickname Took Hold

In the 1910s–1930s, rear-hinged doors were common on sedans and limousines because they eased entry to the rear seat, especially when a chauffeur was present. But early latches were less robust, seat belts were absent, and many cars lacked a central “B-pillar” to resist door opening forces. If a door popped ajar at speed, oncoming air could catch the leading edge and fling it wide. That heightened the chance of passengers being ejected or injured—risks that fed the morbid slang “suicide doors” in mid-20th-century automotive culture.

Specific Hazards Cited at the Time

Several practical issues from the early motoring era explain why rear-hinged doors developed a dangerous reputation.

• Oncoming airflow: If unlatched or weakly latched, a rear-hinged door can be grabbed by the slipstream and forced wider open at speed.
• Ejection risk: Before seat belts were common, a passenger leaning on, adjusting, or inadvertently opening a rear-hinged door could be pulled outward if the door swung open.
• Latch and pillar design: Early door latches were simpler, and many cars lacked a rigid B-pillar, reducing resistance to door-opening forces.
• Traffic-side exits: In busy streets, stepping out against traffic with a rear-hinged front door could expose the occupant sooner than a front-hinged door would.
• Wind and terrain: Crosswinds, uneven roads, and body flex could exacerbate door movement if the latch wasn’t fully engaged.

Individually, these factors were manageable; together—without modern restraints or robust latching—they fostered a reputation for danger that cemented the “suicide” moniker.

From Carriages to Luxury Cars: “Coach Doors”

The layout traces to horse-drawn coaches, where rear-hinged doors eased dignified entry and exit. That heritage is why luxury marques prefer the term “coach doors” today. Rolls-Royce has made them a hallmark on modern models, emphasizing elegance and curbside access while avoiding the negative connotation of the slang term.

Modern Engineering and Rear-Hinged Doors Today

Rear-hinged doors didn’t disappear; they evolved. In contemporary cars and trucks, they’re used selectively—often as smaller, secondary doors or as part of a luxury experience—backed by safety tech that mitigates the old hazards.

Safety Features That Changed the Calculus

Today’s implementations rely on layered safeguards that directly address the historical risks associated with rear-hinged doors.

• Stronger latches and standards: Reinforced hinges and multi-stage latches designed to meet stringent regulations (such as FMVSS 206 in the U.S.).
• Interlocks: Rear doors that can only open when the front doors are open (common on coupes and pickups), reducing accidental opening at speed.
• Body structure: Hidden or integrated B-pillars, door rings, and reinforced sills that resist flex and keep doors secure in a crash.
• Electronic safeguards: Door-ajar sensors, speed-dependent locking, and warning chimes to prevent driving with a door unlatched.
• Occupant restraints: Seat belts, side airbags, and improved seating geometry that markedly lower ejection risk.

These changes don’t just improve convenience; they materially shift safety outcomes, allowing designers to use rear-hinged doors without inheriting their early-century dangers.

Notable Vehicles Featuring Rear-Hinged Doors

A range of vehicles across eras has used rear-hinged doors, from chauffeurs’ sedans to sporty coupes and utility vehicles.

• 1930s–1940s American and European sedans from brands like Packard and Rolls-Royce (rear doors often rear-hinged).
• 1961–1969 Lincoln Continental (iconic rear-hinged rear doors on a pillarless design).
• Extended-cab pickups (late 1990s–2010s), including Ford F-150 SuperCab and Chevrolet Silverado Extended Cab, with rear access doors that open only after the front doors.
• Honda Element (2003–2011) and Toyota FJ Cruiser (2007–2014), featuring clamshell rear-access doors.
• Saturn Ion Quad Coupe (2003–2007) and Mazda RX-8 (2003–2012), with small rear-hinged rear doors unlocking after the front doors open.
• Mini Clubman (2007–2014 R55), a single “Clubdoor” rear-hinged access door on the passenger side in many markets.
• BMW i3 (2013–2022), with rear-hinged rear doors integrated into a carbon-fiber body structure.
• Modern Rolls-Royce models (Phantom, Ghost, Wraith, Dawn, Cullinan), which brand them as “coach doors.”
• Lincoln Continental Coach Door Edition (2019–2020 limited run), reviving the concept in a modern luxury sedan.

The throughline is clear: when paired with modern engineering—or used as secondary access—rear-hinged doors can deliver style and practicality without the bygone risks that inspired their nickname.

Etymology and Usage

“Suicide doors” is informal American automotive slang, widely used by enthusiasts, custom-car media, and the general public by the mid-20th century. The exact first use is hard to pin down, but the term’s persistence reflects its descriptive punch: it encapsulates the elevated risk rear-hinged doors posed in the pre-seat-belt era. Manufacturers typically avoid it in official materials, favoring “coach doors” or other neutral labels.

Summary

The name “suicide doors” arose because rear-hinged doors were more likely to be forced open by the wind and to expose unbelted occupants to ejection or injury in early automobiles. While the design comes from traditional carriages and continues to be used for its elegance and accessibility, modern vehicles mitigate the historic hazards with strong latches, structural reinforcements, electronic interlocks, and occupant restraints. Today, the layout survives largely in luxury cars and specialized models—often under the gentler moniker “coach doors.”

Why are suicide doors not used anymore?

‘Suicide’ doors largely disappeared due to previously mentioned structural integrity issues resulting from having no B-Pillar which an increasing focus on safety and crash testing in the latter part of the last century would have driven.

Why do luxury cars have suicide doors?

Luxury vehicles from the Rolls-Royce lineup to the Lincoln Continental have featured suicide doors to eliminate or minimize the B-pillar and maximize entry space.

Why are suicide doors called suicide doors?

They are called suicide doors because, without seatbelts, a door swinging open while the car was moving could cause a passenger to be ejected from the vehicle and into traffic. The name reflects the significant danger and potential for serious injury or death associated with the door’s design. 
The Dangers of Suicide Doors 

• Ejection Risk: Because suicide doors are hinged at the rear, they open outward and forward, away from the vehicle’s interior. In a moving vehicle, if the door’s latch failed or was not fully secured, it could spring open.
• Lack of Safety Measures: Early vehicles with suicide doors lacked seatbelts and other modern safety restraints. This meant a passenger, especially a child, could easily be pulled or fall out of the open door into the path of oncoming traffic.
• Obscured View: A passenger trying to close a partially open suicide door would be unable to see the oncoming traffic because the door would block their view, creating an additional risk.

These dangerous characteristics led to the nickname “suicide doors” to emphasize the fatal risks involved.

What is it called when a truck has suicide doors?

Extended Cab
• You have to open the front door to open. the back door. • The front door opens the opposite. direction of the back door. • Commonly referred to as ‘suicide doors’