It’s no secret that some cars are safer than others – just flip through a copy of Consumer Reports (or look up the Pinto). But you may be surprised to learn just how dangerous certain models can be. Is your car one of them? In this article, Philadelphia car accident lawyer Brent Wieand will look at which vehicles have the highest fatality rates according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. If you’re in the process of shopping for a car, you might want to read this article before you sign your name on the sales agreement.
Insurance Study Ranks the 19 Deadliest Cars from 2011 and Earlier
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) isn’t a government agency. It’s a non-profit organization with roots dating back to 1959, when it was created by insurers to research injuries and property damage caused by automotive accidents. More than half a century later, the IIHS continues to study crashes, research road design, and rate passenger vehicles.
An IIHS fatal crash study published in January 2015 ranked cars by the highest and lowest rates of driver deaths, focusing on 2011 and earlier equivalent models. If you don’t want any spoilers, stop reading here and scroll down to the next section. Otherwise, here’s a quick summary of the IIHS’ findings:
- Chevrolet performed poorly, occupying six out of the 19 slots on the list (including one in the top five). Nissan followed, taking up three slots (including one of the top three).
- Some models appeared on the list more than once, namely the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, and Honda Civic.
- Interestingly, some vehicles performed worse as 4-doors than 2-doors, while others did just the opposite. For instance, the 4-door Honda Civic ranked better than its 2-door counterpart, while the 4-door Hyundai Accent was more dangerous than the 2-door version.
- While many types of vehicles were represented on the list – including coupes, station wagons, hatchbacks, and sedans – 13 out of 19 were classified as “small” or “mini.” Only two each were classified as “midsize,” “large,” or “very large.”
- Some cars showed surprising discrepancies between different types of accidents. For example, the Chevy Aveo station wagon is an incredibly safe car if you only consider rollovers and single-vehicle crashes – but it was also one of the worst rankers in terms of multi-vehicle crashes.
Hyundai, Nissan, Kia Take Top 3 Spots for Highest Driver Fatality Rates
We’ve started our list at the bottom, working our way toward the #1 worst ranking vehicle.
19. Honda Civic (4-door)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 8
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 21
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 28
Driver Deaths – 49
18. Dodge Nitro 2WD
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 40
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 50
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 7
Driver Deaths – 51
17. Mazda 6
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 3
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 17
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 34
Driver Deaths – 54
16. Jeep Patriot 2WD
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 3
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 9
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 44
Driver Deaths – 57
15. Mercury Grand Marquis
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 0
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 25
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 33
Driver Deaths – 57 (tied with #16)
14. Chevrolet Aveo (Station Wagon)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 0
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 0
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 58
Driver Deaths – 58
13. Chevrolet Suburban 1500 2WD
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 9
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 28
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 31
Driver Deaths – 60
12. Chevrolet HHR
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 9
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 25
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 34
Driver Deaths – 61
11. Nissan Cube
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 6
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 29
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 38
Driver Deaths – 66
10. Ford Focus
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 5
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 13
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 55
Driver Deaths – 70
9. Nissan Versa (Hatchback)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 20
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 33
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 37
Driver Deaths – 71
8. Honda Civic (2-door)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 10
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 29
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 46
Driver Deaths – 76
7. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew 4WD
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 17
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 36
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 40
Driver Deaths – 79
6. Chevrolet Camaro (Coupe)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 25
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 60
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 19
Driver Deaths – 80
5. Hyundai Accent (2-door)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 20
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 48
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 43
Driver Deaths – 86
4. Chevrolet Aveo (4-door)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 10
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 31
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 65
Driver Deaths – 99
3. Hyundai Accent (4-door)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 16
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 53
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 65
Driver Deaths – 120
2. Nissan Versa (Sedan)
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 51
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 87
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 44
Driver Deaths – 130
1. Kia Rio
Single-Vehicle Rollovers – 15
Single-Vehicle Crashes – 54
Multiple-Vehicle Crashes – 96
Driver Deaths – 149
There you have it: the Kia Rio performed worst of all, with triple the driver deaths of the 4-door Honda Civic, and 41 more multi-vehicle crashes than any other car on the list. However, in the Rio’s defense, it also had 36 fewer rollovers and 33 fewer single-vehicle crashes than the worst ranker in both of those categories: the Nissa Versa sedan.
If you were hurt in a car accident in Philadelphia or the surrounding area, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, medical bills, property damage, and other expenses. To start exploring your legal options in a free and completely confidential legal consultation, call personal injury attorney Brent Wieand at (888) 789-3161 today. Brent also handles truck accidents and motorcycle accidents in Philadelphia.
***Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes. It is not legal advice and should not be used as legal advice.***
