For modern day drivers, door latch safety probably registers on the old awareness meter as much as having to pump the gas pedal a few times on a cold morning. Unless, of course, they remember a few years back when Chrysler minivan tailgates had a tendency to unlatch when hit from behind. Having a door open unexpectedly on a vehicle that was most likely filled with kids was a recipe for disaster.

Since the 1960s the government has subjected the automotive industry to door locks, latches and hinges standards. Gone are the days when the hood pops open on the highway, and fewer are the instances of doors suddenly opening in the middle of a rollover, ejecting your passenger from the relative safety of the vehicle. So important are these largely ignored components that NHTSA estimates they saved 1,398 lives in 2002.