The D-pillar is the structural roof support located at the very back of an extended vehicle, such as a station wagon or large SUV. It frames the rear cargo window and the tailgate. Automotive designers map the pillars from front to back alphabetically, making the D-pillar the fourth structural post on longer body styles.
The collision impact buckled the D-pillar, which means the rear liftgate won't align properly anymore.
Related terms
B-pillar
The vertical structural roof support located behind a vehicle's front doors.
C-pillar
The rear vertical roof support structure on a passenger car.
Liftgate
A rear door on a utility vehicle or hatchback that hinges at the roofline and opens upward.
Station wagon
A passenger car body style featuring a roofline extended to the rear of the vehicle to maximize cargo space.