2005 NHTSA SUV Safety Ratings

[desertpilot]

For 2005 the Pilot tested had side airbags and the ratings are the same as in previous years, which is excellent to very good. The ratings also includes Saturn retesting scores.


Test Ratings Summary for the '05 Pilot:

• Frontal Star Rating - Driver: 5 stars
• Frontal Star Rating - Passenger: 5 stars
• Side Star Rating - Front Seat: 5 stars
• Side Star Rating - Rear Seat: 5 stars
• Rollover Resistance Rating: 4 stars

NHTSA website link

[GreenMachine]

They tested 2005 models already? I guess they are really trying to improve how timely they get the results out, if in fact these are the real scores.

As far as the side air-bags, all years came with them, except that the 2005 is rumored to have the curtain air bags in addition to the sides.

I think when they said side air bags, they really meant the ones mounted in the front seats.

We'll know how well side impacts are when the IIHS does their extreme test.

[desertpilot]

Originally posted by GreenMachine
...SNIP...

As far as the side air-bags, all years came with them, except that the 2005 is rumored to have the curtain air bags in addition to the sides.

...SNIP...

You're correct about the side air bag description of the NHTSA safety ratings list, it should say "side curtain" air bags, if rumors are accurate.

[RipRocK]

As always, thanks for the link, desertpilot!

What's hard to believe is that some of the bigger and heftier SUV's, particularly those that cost quite a bit more than the Pilot, still doing relatively poorly.

Look at Cadillac and the Chevy cars, particularly the Escalade EXT. And wow, the Toyota 4Runner didn't fare as well as the Highlander or the Pilot. And Touareg is such a solid looking vehicle...looks sure can be deceiving...

Interesting to compare the notes with the 2004 results too. Some cars sure improved. Anyway, that's an interesting list of results.

[krygny]

Rather than crash the same car every year, they carry over the test results from previous years for cars that are unchanged. That's why much of that table is complete even before the 2005s hit the streets.

[desertpilot]

Source: NHTSA
Date: Aug. 24, 2004


The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of the model year 2005 vehicles that will be rated for safety. These ratings will provide consumers important safety information and will assist them in their vehicle purchasing decisions.

In addition to these vehicles being rated by the agency, many vehicles are incorporated on NHTSA’s list as carry-over models -- vehicles whose structural and safety features have remained unaltered from the previous year. Also, many vehicles are corporate twins of the vehicles to be rated -- those with the same structure and the same airbag/belt interaction.

For model year 2005, NHTSA has selected 74 vehicles to be evaluated in the frontal and side crash test program and 43 in the rollover program. A total of 31 passenger cars, 23 sport utility vehicles, 10 vans, and 10 pickups will be subjected to frontal and side crash safety tests. Forty vehicles will be rated for frontal impact and 34 for side impact safety. These new ratings, coupled with existing ratings for carry-over vehicles and corporate twins, will provide frontal and side impact safety information for approximately 84 percent and 69 percent, respectively, of the U.S. passenger vehicle fleet for model year 2005.

Many of the 43 models being rated in the rollover program also will be rated in frontal or side impact tests. In total, 21 passenger cars, 13 sport utility vehicles, five vans, and four pickups will be rated for rollover. Additionally, 11 of the sport utility vehicles and four of the pickups will be tested in both the 4x4 and the 4x2 mode. The integration of the rollover results with the carry-over data will offer safety information for approximately 73 percent of the model year 2005 U.S. passenger vehicle fleet.

Safety ratings for previous model years, as well as additional information on the government safety ratings program, can be obtained by visiting the web site at http://www.safercar.gov or by calling NHTSA’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline, (800) 424-9393.


Required Testing for 2005 Honda models:

Accord Hybrid - Rollover test
CR-V - Rollover test
Element - Side test
Odyssey - Frontal, Side and Rollover tests


Required Testing for 2005 Acura models:

MDX - Frontal and Rollover

All other models are carry-over vehicles and does not require testing.


NHTSA List of vehicles to be rated

[desertpilot]

Originally posted by RipRocK
As always, thanks for the link, desertpilot!

What's hard to believe is that some of the bigger and heftier SUV's, particularly those that cost quite a bit more than the Pilot, still doing relatively poorly.
...SNIP...
Interesting to compare the notes with the 2004 results too. Some cars sure improved. Anyway, that's an interesting list of results.

The 2005 SUV test results was released by NHTSA on Monday, Aug. 23rd and the testing requirement list was released yesterday, Aug. 24th. It's correct what krygny said that most are carry-over models because there are no significant changes to the vehicle structurally.

The purpose of the testing is mainly to urge the manufacturers to improve the structural strength of their vehicles to improve safety. According to recent reports, 2003 had fewer fatalities compared to previous years but death and injuries from SUV rollovers have risen.

Most of the large and some medium SUVs are body on frame truck construction which are generally weaker than unitized body of crossover type SUVs. Most of the fatalities in rollovers was caused by roof failure. There are articles on the net that if this trend continues, the government might release new safety standards for the auto industry.

[GreenMachine]

Rather than crash the same car every year, they carry over the test results from previous years for cars that are unchanged.

If that's true, I guess the 2005 PILOT will not get the rumored frame change similar to the all-new Odyssey.