A lot goes into building a vehicle. When you think about maintenance and replacement parts, your mind might initially go to dirty oil filters and worn-out belts. However, there is an entire skeleton underneath all of those mechanisms that hold the car, truck, van, or SUV together. One of those elements is known as the A-Pillar.
Located on the front of the transport, the A-Pillar is a type of structural support for the roof that is positioned on either side of the windshield. Every model on the road today has a set of these. The average sedan also includes B-Pillars for the front and back doors. C-Pillars are also a thing for the rear windows.
On larger vehicles with extended cargo areas - like SUVs, minivans, and crossovers - the C-Pillar is vertical. It is also bolstered by extra supports known as D-Pillars. As for coupes with hardtops, they have no fixed B-Pillar set. These are the rarest form.
So, when would you need to replace the A-Pillar? The answer to that is probably never. If the A-Pillar is damaged, then this indicates a severe accident that most likely left the vehicle totalled.