20 Basic Car Interior Parts Name with Pictures and Functions

A car is a four-wheeled vehicle that travels and transports passengers. To put another way, we can say that the car primarily moves on roads, with one to eight seats, four wheels, and a focus on transportation of people instead of goods.

In 1886, the first car Benz Patent – the Motorwagen was invented by German inventor Karl Benz. Cars have their own unique controls for the driver, passenger comfort, lighting, right-hand turn, and so on.

As time goes by, and additional features and controls were installed on vehicles, the car became more complex, but easier to operate, and safer.

These simple systems provide added controls: reverse cameras, air conditioning, navigation, in-car entertainment, heating and ventilation controls and mirrors. The list goes on, but we will go through the devices mentioned in this article. So, let’s get to know the parts of the car interior or car parts one by one.

Car Interior Parts Name with Pictures and Functions

car interior parts

Following are List of Car Interior Parts Name:

  1. Steering wheel
  2. Speedometer or fuel gauge
  3. Turn signal indicator
  4. Air ventilation
  5. Side mirror
  6. Rear view mirror
  7. Vehicle audio
  8. Emergency flashers
  9. Glove or storage compartment
  10. Air bags
  11. Clutch pedal
  12. Brake pedal
  13. Gas pedal
  14. Power window or door lock controls
  15. Transmission or stick shift
  16. Ventilation controls
  17. Cup or beverage holder
  18. Emergency brake handle
  19. Floor carpet
  20. Seat and seat belt

#1. Steering Wheel.

A steering wheel is a kind of steering control in cars or automobile vehicles. It is also known as the driving wheel or handwheel. The steering wheel is part of the steering system that the driver can control but the steering system will then respond to driver inputs.

This may be by mechanical connection such as sprocket or ball or mechanical systems such as hydraulic power steering, and in some modern vehicles, with the added mechanics of drivers either themselves or through preprogrammed computer-controlled motors, referred to as “electric power steering.”

The steering wheel also contains a horn device used to emit sounds that can be heard to get nearby automobiles and pedestrians to pay attention.

#2. Speedometer and Fuel Gauge.

A speedometer shows the speed of the car, while a fuel gauge shows how much fuel is stored in the fuel tank.

Both are very good for a motor vehicle, they started to be used as standard equipment in the early 20th century.

For other vehicles, speedometers are referred to by different names and may use some other speed sensing method. In fact, it is referred to as a Pit log in boats, while in aircraft, it is referred to as an airspeed indicator.

#3. Turn Signal Indicator.

There are turn signal lights on all four corners of the vehicle; inside, they typically show as green arrows in the direction of the expected turn.

In some vehicles, a left-side turn signal lever is provided next to the steering wheel. The lever works simply enough that moving it up indicates a right turn and down for a left turn.

#4. Air Ventilation.

Most cars today come with air ventilation also referred to as an air-conditioner. It usually comes with two different methods.

First, air recirculation mode is an air conditioning system that re-circulates air within the vehicle for cooling purposes.

Second, Fresh air mode brings air outside the vehicle into the vehicle by opening an air duct located at the front of the vehicle. Both modes of air conditioning have their advantages and disadvantages.

#5. Side Mirror.

A side mirror is mounted outside of vehicles to assist the driver in seeing outside the driver’s peripheral vision, as well as the rear and side views of the vehicle. This is also known as a wing mirror.

Side mirrors are often used for manual or remote vertical and horizontal adjustments to allow the operator to have coverage from different heights and body positions in the seating.

#6. Rear View Mirror.

It is a type of car interior part, designed to allow the driver to look behind from the rear window of the vehicle. The rear-view mirror is enhanced by one or more side-view mirrors, which serve as separate rear-view mirrors on trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles.

#7. Vehicle Audio.

Vehicle audio is a significant component of the car interior that provides in-vehicle entertainment and information to occupants. In the early 1950s, it was simply AM ​​radio.

As technology advanced, it was equipped with FM radio, 8-track players, cassette players, record players, CD players, DVD players, Blu-ray players, navigation systems, and smartphone controllers such as CarPlay and that was called Android Auto.

#8. Emergency Flashers.

Emergency flashers are lights mounted on your vehicle to alert other drivers that you may be in an emergency or parked on the side of the road.

They are activated when the driver presses a hazard light button or switch. All the turn signal lights are illuminated when the emergency flasher is activated.

#9. Glove or Storage Compartment.

A glove compartment is a dashboard storage space in a car. It has miscellaneous storage and is typically found above the passenger footwell.

The glove compartment is also called a glove box. The origin of the name is slightly different, as it is a compartment for driving gloves. Glove boxes are seldom found in a box on the floor near the driver.

#10. Air Bags.

An airbag is a part of the vehicle’s interior, which is a bag that has been designed to expand quickly and then deflate quickly during an incident. The interior or cushion of the airbag, as well as a flexible cloth bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor are all included within the definition of an airbag.

The purpose of the airbags is to provide the occupant of the vehicle with soft cushioning and controlled support during motor vehicle accidents. The airbags effectively limit the chance of injury resulting from collision between the occupant and the interior of the vehicle.

#11. Clutch Pedal.

If you’ve driven a car before, you’re aware of what clutches are. A clutch pedal, an element of manual transmission-type cars, is found on the floor to the left side of a brake pedal.

By pressing on the clutch, the driver closes the clutch, preventing the transfer of power from the engine to the transmission, and by releasing the clutch, it simply applies power through the transmission.

#12. Brake Pedal.

Modern vehicles have a braking system that is operated via the pedal located on the floor to the left of the acceleration pedal.

It applies the brakes, slowing and/or stopping the vehicle, when pressed by the driver. In order to apply the brakes, you must move your right foot to apply force on the pedal.

#13. Gas Pedal.

The accelerator or gas pedal is located on the floor to the right. It determines the amount of

gas injected into your engine and will ultimately impact your speed. When your vehicle is accelerating, gently push down on the gas pedal.

#14. Power Window or Door Lock Controls.

Power windows are windows that can be opened or closed with buttons. Ford Motors first introduced power windows in 1941.

Power windows were first used in Lincoln Custom cars and Packard Custom Super 180 cars. Instead of the manual handle, the power window works electronically.

#15. Transmission or Stick Shift.

Manual transmissions, or stick shifts, are the most common because the driver can shift gears using a stick shift.

Whenever the driver speeds up or down using the gas pedal or brake, they also have to shift gears using the stick shift which is usually located on the center console of the car. The shift lever is connected to the transmission using a linkage.

#16. Ventilation Controls.

The driver controls the temperature inside the car from the control panel. Depending on the selection of ventilation blower, either cold air from the A/C or warm air from the engine cooling medium will enter the passenger compartment through ventilation openings at the correct location.

#17. Beverage or Cup Holder.

A cup holder is a device to use as a car table or drink holder while traveling. It can be built in automobiles or chairs or installed on the walls of airplanes, boats, buses, and trains.

The main purpose of the cup holder is to hold drinks, food and any other small things you would like to keep. These are sustainable, strong materials. And are easy to use.

#18. Emergency or Parking Brake.

The emergency or hand brake functions as a hand-held lever designed to be used in an emergency position for stopping, and is located in the console area of the car

The emergency brake comprises a long cable connected to the two-wheel brake and then to some pulling mechanism. The parking brake is intended to keep the car from rolling forward or backward while it is in a parked position.

#19. Floor Carpet.

Dirt can also be brought inside on your shoes and make the smell dirty and unhygienic. Floor carpet will stop the collection of dust and water in the interior of the car.

#20. Seat and Seat Belt.

A car has a driver’s seat and a passenger seat that has a seat belt. The person who drives the car sits in the driver’s seat. The passenger seat is where the passenger car sits next to the driver’s seat.

A seat belt is a vehicle safety device that helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle during an accident or during a sudden stop of the vehicle.

#21. Rev Counter.

Located between the fuel gauge and speedometer, the rev counter shows the number of revolutions, or up and down motion, of the car’s conrods and pistons. The rev count of a standard passenger car engine should be about 600 revolutions per minute.

#22. SatNav.

An acronym for satellite navigation, SatNav is located generally next to the dashboard and uses GPS and a combination of satellites and a mapping software to determine exactly where your car is located, with an accuracy of about 10 metres, then mark a route to your desired destination.

#23. Sun Visor.

The sun visor is a simple flat flap like structure attached to the top of the windscreen, one on the left corner and a second on the right towards the passenger seat. The sun visors are attached to the glass with a hinge allowing you to drop or unfold the visor when you need to block out the bright sunlight from getting into your eyes.

#24. Odometer.

Located on the dashboard, the odometer will show how far you have traveled in your car. A standard odometer records the distance your vehicle has travelled by measuring the number of wheel rotations and calculates how far that has travelled.

#25. Horn.

A vehicle’s horn is located on the drivers steering wheel, in the centre of the wheel. When the driver presses the horn, transferring power, it makes a loud noise outside of the car.

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Car interior parts – Listed and Explained

Cars are essential for our family, personal, and workplace needs. We use cars for transportation, which is necessary for our day-to-day routines. However, most cars are luxurious. All cars consist of several exterior and interior components.

All these components perform a specific role in the proper functioning of the vehicle. Most of these components work together to achieve a common goal. Therefore, if any of them malfunctions, it’ll affect others.

This article will discuss the car interior parts you should know. And if you read this article to the end, you will learn the interior parts of a car and their functions.

What Is a Car Interior?

The car interior is the inner components inside a vehicle that drivers and passengers feel when they sit inside a car.

They are major safety features. They are also offering incentives for the right decision. These components include the steering wheel, seats, carpets, radios, air vents, etc.

Car Interior Parts Name

Car interior parts
  • Seat fabric
  • Sun visor
  • Assists grip
  • Luggage trim
  • Rear shelf
  • Toolbox
  • Box for underfloor storage
  • Tonneau cover
  • Dashboard silencer
  • Hardwood floor
  • Floor carpet
  • Door trim
  • Headliner
  • Door weatherstrip
  • Door opening trim
  • Scuff plate ornament
  • Tibia pad
  • Injection-molded baffle
  • Steering wheel
  • Paddle shifter
  • Temperature gauge
  • Fuel gauge
  • Clutch pedal
  • Brake pedal
  • Gas pedal
  • Parking or emergency brake
  • Cup or beverage holder
  • Glove compartment
  • Turn Signal indicator
  • Speedometer
  • Airbag
  • Gear selector
  • Vehicle audio system
  • Assist Grip

Car Interior Parts Name And Short Descriptions

Assist Grip

This is a handheld component mounted beside the does. Passengers hold it when entering or exiting the vehicle and when the car is jolting.

Injection-molded baffle

These are foam materials filling inside spaces like pillars. It halts noise from getting into the vehicle’s interiors and offers a quiet space.

Scuff Plate Ornaments

This is a plastic material that covers the steeled-step area. Various manufacturers have different scuff plate ornament designs. In some vehicles, it illuminates the vehicle’s name.

Door Weatherstrips

This is a safety component that automakers install on both sides of windows that prevents raindrops from entering inside the vehicle when the window is rolled down or up. It stops the door pane from vibrating when traveling.

Door Opening Trim

This component is found around the door areas. Its main purpose is to absorb shock and improve the appearance and sealing of the interior.

Door Trim

This interior vehicle component links to the door. It improves the vehicle’s interior aesthetic feeling. It is an essential component that makes the interior comfortable by providing multiple functions.

Hardwood Floor

This is traditional carpeting in a car created using hardwood. It evokes the home appearance in our cars.

Tibia Pad

The manufacturer placed the tibia pad between the floor mat and the vehicle floor. The polystyrene resin product absorbs the impacts on the legs of the driver and passengers. Some tibia pads in high-performance cars have noise-absorbing properties.

Floor Carpets

Like the foot mats in our homes, the floor carpets collect the dirt on our shoes for easier disposal. This prevents an unhygienic environment that may lead to a foul smell.

With good floor carpets, you can prevent the accumulation of water and dirt in the vehicle interiors.

Floor carpets or mats are one of the custom car interior parts that can add a touch of beauty to the vehicle. This is one of the major car interior replacement components that most folks search in the market for custom beautification.

Headliner

A headliner, also known as car roof lining, is the cover on the car ceiling. In some newer vehicles, headliners have been modularised and feature many functions.

Dashboard Silencer

As the name suggests, a dashboard silencer is a noise-absorbing component that prevents vibrations. It is also a heat insulator. It is between the dashboard and the steel plate on the vehicle frame.

Toolbox

This differs from the normal mechanic toolbox that you can find in a garage. It is a molded plastic compartment in the luggage area that has a small space. In most vehicles, it contains the jack and wheel lug spanner.

Tonneau Cover

A tonneau cover will save you some bucks from theft, damaged/lost cargo, and poor gas mileage. It also protects the truck bed and prevents severe system damages that will need expensive repairs.

Rear Shelf

The rear shelf is the tray that sits between the rear window and the back seats. In most vehicles, automakers mount audio speakers on the rear shelf.

Sun Visor

As the name implies, this serves as a sun visor. However, some sun visors in newer vehicles have noise-absorbing properties. This helps to minimize or prevent outside noise from getting inside the car’s interior.

Seat Fabrics

Most seat fabrics in cars are nylons or polyester. Nylons are pretty inexpensive and look like fabrics. If you have kids or pets, you won’t have to dig a hole in your pocket to keep the nylon seat fabrics new at all times.

Luggage Trim

Luggage trim is an inexpensive cover for the luggage area. Designs vary from vehicle to vehicle. Some also add a magnificent look to the luggage area.

Gear Selector

The gear selector is known as a stick shift in manual transmissions. It is what the driver uses to engage the gears. In manual transmissions, the driver had to shift the gear lever into each gear.

Whereas, in automatic transmissions, the tranny unit and the PCM changes the gear range depending on how the driver accelerates or decelerates.

The gear lever connects to the transmission directly in manual cars. But automatic transmissions have a connecting rod that connects the gear selector to the transmission unit.

Poor window or door lock controls

A power window is an automatic control lock that powers all the windows. It is used to lock and unlock the doors. And it is on the driver’s door. This feature is available on newer cars.

Temperature Gauge

The temperature gauge works in harmony with your vehicle temp sensor to measure the temperature of the engine coolant and projects it on the dashboard. This prevents the engine from overheating.

Rear-view Mirror

The rearview mirror is a part of a car inside the cabin that is mounted on the windshield. It allows the driver to see behind him.

The rear mirrors have accompanying side mirrors that allow the driver to see the coming vehicles. Bicycles, motorcycles, and some trucks use only side mirrors.

Emergency or Parking Brakes

This is a brake lever mounted on the center console. Drivers use it to stop cars instantly during a collision.

It connects to the rear wheels via a brake cable. Motorists mostly use it when parking a vehicle. It prevents the car from moving forward or backward.

Air Vents

Newer cars have air conditioning systems. The function of this system is to send cool air into the cabin during hot weather conditions according to the driver’s requirement.

The HVAC system either continuously recirculates the air inside the cabin to cool it, or sends cooled ambient air into the cabin. Whichever way the AC system works, it sends the cooled air into the cabin through the air vents or air ducts.

Audio system

When naming parts of a car and describing their functions, you don’t have to exclude the audio system. It is one of the most important car parts of a car. It provides information and entertainment. The driver can play songs when cruising on the highway.

In the 1950s, vehicles had only AM radios. However, as the automotive industry evolves, manufacturers convert AM radio into record players, CD players, DVD players, 8-track cassette players, cassette players, and Blu-ray players.

Modern car audio systems now feature navigational systems and smartphone controllers, such as Android and CarPlay Auto.

Glove or Storage Box

The glove box is a plastic compartment built on the passenger side dashboard. The manufacturers built it to enable the driver to store various things like photocopied car papers, owner’s booklet, and many other things.

This compartment is likely built for storing driving gloves. Therefore, it is called a glove box. It is located on the front passenger seat above the footwell.

Beverage or Cupholder

The beverage or cup holder serves as the table in restaurants when traveling. It is highly sustainable, durable, and easy to operate. It is used to store important things like food and beverages when driving.

Many trucks, ships, buses, cars, trains, and airplanes have cup holders. They are also available in some passenger buses.

Fuel Gauge

The fuel gauge is an essential fuel system component that measures the level of gas in the fuel tank and displays it on the instrument cluster.

The fuel gauge is a vital component for every driver. It keeps the driver updated so that he won’t run out of gas when driving.

Speedometer

The speedometer, also known as a speed meter, is an important component that projects the speed at which a vehicle travels on the dashboard. It is mounted on the vehicle dashboard.

The speed meter has several names on other vehicles and several means of detecting speed. It is called a pit log in boats and an airspeed indicator in airplanes.

Brake Pedal

Manufacturers place the brake pedal on the floor of the driver’s seat next to the gas pedal. It connects to the brakes in the wheels, and it’s used in controlling the brakes.

A driver will have to depress the brake pedal to slow down or stop a moving vehicle. Like the gas pedal, the driver applies the brake pedal with his right foot.

Gas Pedal

The gas pedal, also known as the accelerator pedal, is located close to the brake pedal beneath the dashboard on the driver’s side.  It is used to feed gas to the engine to increase the speed of a car.

As the car is moving, slowly depress the gas pedal to increase the speed. Always maintain the speed you can control.

Clutch Pedal

This component is only seen in manual transmission cars. It is installed next to the brake pedal. As the driver depresses the clutch pedal, it disconnects the engine from the transmission, ending engine power transfer to the transmission.

As you remove your foot from it, it permits the power transfer to continue. A driver has to depress it when changing gears on manual transmissions.

Airbags

The airbag is one of the most important safety features in car interiors. It comprises bags that can inflate and deflate in case of collisions. The airbags have impact sensors, inflatable modules, airbag cushions, and flexible fabrics.

The main purpose of the airbag is to prevent the passenger and the driver from flipping out of the car in case of a collision. It also minimizes the injury the passengers or driver may sustain.

Steering Wheel

A steering wheel is a wheel on the driver’s seat that is used to control the movement of a vehicle. The steering wheel is also called the driving wheel or handheld wheel.

A steering wheel connects to the rack and pinion, which has a direct connection with the front wheels. It is used to steer the wheels. The driver controls the steering wheel manually.

A steering wheel can either be a mechanical power steering system or an electric power steering system.

The steering wheel contains a horn contact unit that makes a loud audible noise when pressed to notify other vehicles and pedestrians of an oncoming vehicle. It also has other features like volume buttons, cruise control buttons, and paddle shifters.

Paddle Shifters

Paddle shifters allow the driver to change gears while holding the steering wheels without having to shift the gear lever. They are the switches behind the steering wheels that make gear shifting safer and quicker. They are common in racing and high-performance cars.

FAQs.

Q: What are all the interior parts of a car called?

Interior parts of a car have their individual names that separate one from the other. However, they’re called interior parts of a car when classifying them based on their locations in the car – interior and exterior.

Q: What is an interior panel in a car?

The Interior car panel is a covering for the door from the inside. They are much more than this – they cover electrical wiring and motors for door and window locks.

Some interior panels have noise-absorbing compounds. They reduce the outside noise from getting inside the vehicle.

Q: Can you replace the interior of a car?

If you have the cash, expertise, and time, you can upgrade all parts of your car interior. There are several ways to customize the dashboard, seats, carpets, and steering wheels.

Browse car interior parts for sale or car interior parts near me to get the best idea on what to upgrade.

Q: What is the interior top part of the car called?

The top part of the car interior is called the headliner. It covers the metal ceiling of a car with nice color design fabrics.

The headliner hides electrical wiring on the ceiling, and electrical hardware components, and prevents heat from entering the cabin. It also reduces noise from getting into the vehicle.

Q: How much does it cost to change a car interior?

It all depends on what car interior you wish to change. If you decide to get a reupholster kit, it’ll cost around $800.

This is just for the kit alone. It’ll cost an extra $500 to $750 to have an expert fix it. Custom upholstery will cost around $2,500 to change your car’s interior look.

Final Words

So, there are many car interior parts in a vehicle. Each of them serves its specific purpose and differing function; the most common include safety, design, or protective purposes.

It’s important to note that this is not an interior car parts list A-Z. It contains the basic ones. So don’t be surprised if we have not mentioned your favorite in this piece.

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