Safety should be one of the most highly valued factors when looking to buy a car. We spend so much time driving (about 293 hours each year for Americans!), but most of us look for aesthetic and price before safety. We’ve compiled a list of awards and ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Ratings (IIHS) to get a glimpse into how unsafe some major car brands can be. In no particular order, here are 7 of the most dangerous car brands:
#7. GMC
Amount that achieved a 5-star NHTSA rating: 32.7%
Amount that received an IIHS award: 10.5%
#6. Ford
Amount that achieved a 5-star NHTSA rating: 12%
Amount that received an IIHS award: 21%
#5. Nissan
Amount that achieved a 5-star NHTSA rating: 10%
Amount that received an IIHS award: 25%
#4. Dodge Ram
Amount that achieved a 5-star NHTSA rating: 17%
Amount that received an IIHS award: 7.1%
#3. BMW
Amount that achieved a 5-star NHTSA rating: 20.7%
Amount that received an IIHS award: 3.4%
#2. Mercedes-Benz
Amount that achieved a 5-star NHTSA rating: 5%
Amount that received an IIHS award: 8%
#1. MINI
Amount that received an IIHS award: 10%
If your car brand makes this list, don’t panic and turn it immediately. Look up the specific vehicle’s safety features first. Most of these brands did receive some models that achieved a 5-star rating or IIHS award, but it is worth looking into which ones did. Be wary when choosing your next car and make sure you keep a good look-out for any safety recalls or maintenance requests. Recently, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of airbags had the biggest recall in history. Takata airbags have killed at least 17 people worldwide due to being faulty and spraying shards into a car’s cabin. If you’d like to learn more about that recall and if your car is affected, please click here.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact a car accident lawyer Washington DC trusts, Cohen & Cohen. We’ve had over $100 million awarded to clients, with 7,500 personal injury cases handled. Please contact us for a free consultation here, or give us a call at (202) 955-4529.
