Abstract: An automotive vehicle occupant compartment is bounded by an energy absorbing vehicle door including an outer panel, an inner panel joined to the outer panel and defining a space therebetween, a guard beam mounted longitudinally in the space, a trim panel mounted on an occupant compartment side of the inner panel and having a plurality of energy absorbing bolsters attached generally laterally adjacent the guard beam, and a load distribuler mounted in the space laterally between the guard beam and the energy absorbing bolsters for distributing a load imparted to the guard beam evenly across the energy absorbing bolsters so as to preserve the energy absorption bolsters in a substantially undeformed state prior to occupant contact with the door during a side impact type collision.