Large Vehicles Fails Crash Tests

In an effort to provide auto buyers with safe cars, safety institutes are providing auto buyers with recommendations which are the results of crash tests. While car manufacturers are concerned about the safety of their consumers, there are still vehicles which are not as safe as some.

Recently, it was found out that head restraints of several SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans are not able to provide adequate protection. The finding is that on rear collisions, head restraints of some large vehicles provide poor or marginal protection. Head restraints are supposed to protect passengers from neck injury in the unfortunate event of a rear collision.

Although there are several SUVs which have been given good ratings on rear collision crash protection tests, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that among vehicles which have performed poorly on their crash tests includes automobiles made by BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Nissan, and Toyota.

According to the IIHS, the crash tests were done with the vehicle with speeds of 20 miles per hour. Even at this speed, certain vehicles are not able to protect their passengers. According to the IIHS, the fact that large vehicles are not able to adequately protect its passengers leads to 2 million insurance claims which are estimated to cost the insurance industry about $8.5 billion every year.

In response to this, car manufacturers pointed out that their own safety tests are good indicators whether their head restraints can provide adequate protection.

According to the IIHS, the vehicles which performed poorly in their crash tests are the following: the BMW X3 with its BMW X3 parts and the X5 model; Buick Rainier, Chevrolet car, GMC Envoy and Isuzu Ascender; Cadillac SRX; Chrysler Pacifica; Dodge Nitro; Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer; Mitsubishi Endeavor; Hummer H3; Hyundai Tucson; Jeep Liberty; Kia Sportage; Lexus GX470 and RX; Nissan Xterra; Saab 9-7X; Suzuki XL7; Toyota 4Runner and the Highlander.