[dead]

Why are they called ‘suicide doors’?

It's a slang term that the car companies don't endorse.

If you're getting out of the back seat on the drivers side and the door gets clipped by another car, a rear hinged door will kill you.

[SoCal Pubbie]

My 28 is the explanation I’ve always heard.

[FatherofFive]

If you're getting out of the back seat on the drivers side and the door gets clipped by another car, a rear hinged door will kill you.

But in a regular door, you would get crushed between the oncoming car and the open door. Don't see muck of a difference

[Celerity]

In mine the doors could open independently of the front. I think that is what calls it “suicide”. If you open the door while at high rate of speed it could tear right off the hinges. And you couldnt’ stop it. It was a giant steel parachute.

I never thought of the passing car clipping it. That’s a better reason to call it that.

[Yaelle]

If you’re getting out of the back seat on the drivers side and the door gets clipped by another car, a rear hinged door will kill you.

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Ok, I’m not into that. I like my invisible van doors thank you.