# In a car: Are suicide doors really "suicide" doors? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2025, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511 "2025-09-30T07:32:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/1 "2025-09-30T07:32:06Z")
Are [suicide doors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_door) (rear hinged doors) really suicide doors? Are they any more dangerous? Also, is there an actual benefit to them? It seems, as an engineering problem, they are as “easy” to do as the other way. Why the preference and why are suicide doors considered more “elite?” ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/2 "2025-09-30T08:26:41Z")
Suicide doors allow you to shoot forward from inside the car. That’s the biggest advantage that I know. A suicide door should be more dangerous, since the air blast facing a moving car throws such a (unlatched) door open and keeps it that way, unlike a normal car door which is hard to push open and impossible to keep open (without much effort) when moving at high speed. The latter feature could also be an advantage when dumping people etc. out. As far as ‘elite’ goes, I reckon a suicide door makes it easier to enter the back seat. No quasi-limbo needed. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/3 "2025-09-30T08:53:20Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > the air blast facing a moving car throws such a (unlatched) door open and keeps it that way Yep. Consumer Reports identified and objectively confirmed that problem back in 1969. > **[Subaru\_360\_Consumer\_Reports\_April\_69.pdf](https://www.mysubaru360.com/manuals_and_documents/Subaru_360_Consumer_Reports_April_69.pdf)** > > 2.49 MB (See the paragraph bridging the first and second pages.) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/4 "2025-09-30T11:44:17Z")
hmm. Just a thought… If a person is getting in, and the car moves, you could very well be knocked down and run over by the rear tire I suppose. A tag along question - did Model A’s have suicide doors? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/5 "2025-09-30T11:55:27Z")
> [@Toxylon](#): > > Suicide doors allow you to shoot forward from inside the car. That and it’s easier to push someone out of car when it’s moving. > [@Toxylon](#): > > A suicide door should be more dangerous, since the air blast facing a moving car throws such a (unlatched) door open and keeps it that way, unlike a normal car door which is hard to push open and impossible to keep open (without much effort) when moving at high speed. I believe that’s why a lot of modern ‘suicide doors’ (think pick up trucks or vans or some smaller cars) require the front door to be opened before the rear door can be, specifically to deal with that issue. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/6 "2025-09-30T11:57:23Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > A tag along question - did Model A’s have suicide doors? Yes. [![](https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/raleigh/9/1915/48506/790x1024/1931-ford-model-a) ](https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/raleigh/9/1915/48506/790x1024/1931-ford-model-a) And looking at that picture, it would’ve been a real PITA to get into the back seat if the rear door hinged the other way. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/7 "2025-09-30T11:58:52Z")
Thanks. That makes sense so to not have to climb over the rear fender. ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/8 "2025-09-30T12:32:03Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > That and it’s easier to push someone out of car when it’s moving. They should be called murder & assault doors, really. ---
**Author:** ![Limmin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Limmin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Limmin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/9 "2025-09-30T12:38:58Z")
The Toyota FJ Cruiser has “suicide” doors as shown in the open configuration: [![](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/b23d3dd0af6d533b616fc444d107f2c1d1fc0082/hub/2011/03/16/711356e7-cc2e-11e2-9a4a-0291187b029a/toyota-fj-cruiser-nme_4.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200) ](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/b23d3dd0af6d533b616fc444d107f2c1d1fc0082/hub/2011/03/16/711356e7-cc2e-11e2-9a4a-0291187b029a/toyota-fj-cruiser-nme_4.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200) But the front doors overlap the rear doors when closed, preventing the rear doors from opening inadvertently. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/10 "2025-09-30T12:39:46Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > A tag along question - did Model A’s have suicide doors? The Model A came in several different body styles. Only certain types had suicide doors, but yes, some had them. [![](https://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/1932_ford_14bodystyles.jpg) ](https://carrosantigos.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/1932_ford_14bodystyles.jpg) I happen to own a Model T. The two-door version was called the Tudor. The four-door version that I have was called the Fordor. 🙂 It also has suicide doors. Like the Model A, the Model T also came in many different body styles. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/11 "2025-09-30T12:48:52Z")
How many doors did the Mordor have? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/12 "2025-09-30T12:57:17Z")
Cool. Thanks. I’ve recently moved out of the mountains to a lower elevation (5000’ - health reasons). I just so happens that our new ‘Happy Landing’ house is in an area full of car lovers. We saw two Model T’s parked on the street the other day. One guy on our street has a beautiful 1970 Monte Carlo. Another person on our street has a lift in their garage and on top of the lift looks like a late 60’s Impala. There is a '57 Belaire that I would love to buy, but I can’t quite justify it. We are doing fine, but not floating in money. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/13 "2025-09-30T13:03:10Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Are they any more dangerous? Another issue is that if you are getting out of the car and another car comes along that is too close, a standard door will just be ripped off of the car and you won’t be hurt (unless the car actually hits you), but a suicide door will slam into you and cause you a great deal of harm. > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Also, is there an actual benefit to them? I also own an MG TD that has suicide doors. Mine is nowhere near as fancy as this, but it’s the same model: [![](https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/galleria_images/14776/14776_p46_l.jpg) ](https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/galleria_images/14776/14776_p46_l.jpg) While the rear doors of a Model T/Model A and the rear doors on a modern vehicle have an obvious benefit of allowing you easier entry and exit, I haven’t noticed any benefit at all if the car’s only doors are suicide doors. It’s maybe a bit easier to reach the door latch and open the door, but that’s it. It doesn’t make the car any easier to get in and out of. My Model T, for what it’s worth: [![](https://i.imgur.com/zVF67u9.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/zVF67u9.jpeg) This particular body style is similar to what they used on the Model A pictured above. > [@Catamount](#): > > How many doors did the Mordor have? A few more, I’m sure. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/14 "2025-09-30T13:38:16Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > My Model T, for what it’s worth: Who do I send the check too? Wow. And wow again @engineer_comp_geek ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/15 "2025-09-30T14:20:59Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Who do I send the check too? Me! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/16 "2025-09-30T14:22:44Z")
Spidey may be good at climbing, but fraud is not your game. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/17 "2025-09-30T14:24:47Z")
It’s not fraud, you asked a question & I answered it. Were you looking to buy it, get a ride in it, just appreciative of the photo & giving away some of the proceeds of your recent house sale? I went with the last option 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/18 "2025-09-30T14:28:35Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > How many doors did the Mordor have? I think it was a open body design with no doors at all, because apparently you can just walk into it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/19 "2025-09-30T14:29:30Z")
Bravo. Well played. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511/20 "2025-09-30T14:47:20Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Another issue is that if you are getting out of the car and another car comes along that is too close, a standard door will just be ripped off of the car and you won’t be hurt (unless the car actually hits you), but a suicide door will slam into you and cause you a great deal of harm. Of course, that all depends on what direction the other car is traveling. For about 20 years, the only cars I owned had suicide doors (2004 Ford F-150 and a 2005 Honda Element). The only mishap is when a passenger unfamiliar with them tries to close the back door after closing the front. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-a-car-are-suicide-doors-really-suicide-doors/1023511.md?page=2)