# Car windows that don't roll all the way down

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-windows-that-dont-roll-all-the-way-down/319065>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 29, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-windows-that-dont-roll-all-the-way-down/319065 "2005-08-29T04:27:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![rippingtons\_fan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rippingtons_fan/32/11767_2.png) [@rippingtons\_fan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rippingtons_fan)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-windows-that-dont-roll-all-the-way-down/319065/1 "2005-08-29T04:27:19Z")

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Why do certain automakers put windows in their car doors that won’t roll all the way down? It’s hard to rest one’s arm with an inch or more of glass sticking up.

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-windows-that-dont-roll-all-the-way-down/319065/2 "2005-08-29T04:29:10Z")

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I think (WAG) this feature (almost exclusively in rear windows IME) has some sort of relation to child safety, keeping younger children from being able to climb out an open window as easily.

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**Author:** ![brianjedi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@brianjedi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brianjedi)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-windows-that-dont-roll-all-the-way-down/319065/3 "2005-08-29T04:31:38Z")

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In some cars, it’s a matter of geometry. Depending on where the fender wells are and how that affects the door shape, it may not be possible for the window to go down all the way.

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [August 29, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-windows-that-dont-roll-all-the-way-down/319065/4 "2005-08-29T11:42:50Z")

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> [@brianjedi](#):
>
> In some cars, it’s a matter of geometry. Depending on where the fender wells are and how that affects the door shape, it may not be possible for the window to go down all the way.

Exactly. Look at the bottom of the rear doors in most cars, how they are much narrower than the top of the door. There’s simply no place for the glass to go when it slides down.