Toyota Not on Safest Cars List, Volvo Glitch Discovered

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just released its 2010 Top Safety picks and Toyota fails to make the grade. Not a single model from the world’s largest auto manufacturer,as determined by sales, or its subsidiaries, made the list. In 2009, Toyota, Lexus and Scion had 11 winners, but failed to come up with one in 2010.

The midsize Toyota Camry almost made the list, but didn’t score high enough in the rear crash evaluation. The car received marginal ratings in whiplash protection due to its seats and head restraints. A good rating in whiplash protection would have earned it a Top Safety Pick.

In years past, the seats and head restraints kept Chrysler out of the winner’s circle, but in 2010 the Chrysler Sebring, Jeep Patriot and Dodge Avenger and Journey all earned good ratings and consequently made the safest vehicles list. In addition General Motors upgraded the Chevrolet Malibu seats to also make the list.

BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Saab are the four other manufacturers whose vehicles have been on the Top Safety List in years past, but didn’t make it his year. The Honda Accord received the award in 2008 and 2009, but failed in 2010 because of the new roof strength requirements; the Ford Fusion also dropped off the list for the same reason.

The Volvo XC60 earned Top Safety Pick honors, but the IIHS identified a glitch with the vehicle, which Volvo has addressed and will be corrected in all models manufactured after November 2009. In the side crash test, the seat belt became unfastened when a piece of plastic trim on the driver’s seat pushed against the seat belt’s release button. The IIHS advises consumers who already own a Volvo XC60 to see their Volvo dealer for repairs. The Top Safety Pick only applies to modified XC60 models.

Subaru won five awards in 2010 and is the only vehicle to receive safest car honors in all four vehicle classes in which it competes.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is supported by auto insurers as an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from crashes on the nation’s highways. Vehicles are evaluated in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests. Nineteen cars and eight SUVs received Top Safety Pick Awards in 2010.

Written by Sharalyn Hartwell
HULIQ.com