Toyota RAV4 Fares Poorly in IIHS Small Overlap Crash Test

Even with extra time to prepare, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 didn't do well in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s small overlap frontal crash test. In a press release, the IIHS says they initially delayed crash testing the RAV4 to allow Toyota to enhance the vehicle’s safety structure.
According to the IIHS, the changes made were not sufficient, and the RAV4 earned a score of Poor in the new safety test. The agency reports that “the driver's space was seriously compromised by intruding structure, and the dummy's left foot was trapped by crushed and buckled sheet metal in the footwell.” Additionally, “the dummy's head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved more than 7 inches to the right, resulting in little airbag cushioning for the chest.” Finally, the agency reports that excessive movement allowed by the safety belt resulted in the dummy’s head hitting the dashboard.
The small overlap frontal crash test is IIHS’ newest safety test. It is designed to evaluate a vehicle’s ability to protect its occupants in a collision where the front corner of the vehicle hits an object like a pole or another car.
 
Failure to earn a score of Good in the small overlap frontal crash test means the 2013 RAV4 does not earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus status. Still, the RAV4 is designated a Top Safety Pick for its scores of Good in all of the other IIHS safety tests.
The New York Times corresponded with Toyota via email, and they report that the automaker says it is “looking at a range of solutions to achieve greater crash performance in this area.”
The only two compact SUVs that have been earned the Top Safety Pick Plus designation so far are the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and redesigned 2014 Subaru Forester.

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Only Two Compact SUVs Earn IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus Designation

The 2014 Subaru Forester earned the highest score in the IIHS' small overlap frontal crash test. Image courtesy IIHS.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluated compact SUVs in its latest round of crash testing, and only two of the 13 models tested were named Top Safety Pick Plus vehicles. The IIHS put the vehicles through a moderate front overlap crash test, a side crash test, a rear crash test and a roof strength test, as well as its new small overlap frontal crash test, which is designed to see how well a vehicle performs in front-impact crash tests where the front corner of the vehicle hits an object. The crash test simulates the vehicle hitting a tree or pole, by sending them at 40 mph toward a 5-foot-tall solid barrier.
The 2014 Subaru Forester earned the top rating of Good in the small overlap crash test, and the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport earned the second best rating of Acceptable. The other 11 models earned either a score of Marginal or Poor in the small overlap test.
“This is not the first time that the Forester has stood out in a new IIHS crash test,” the IIHS says in a statement. “When the Institute first rated small SUVs for side protection in 2003, the Subaru model performed the best and was one of only two to earn good ratings.”
The 2013 Nissan Rogue and Jeep Patriot performed the worst in the small overlap frontal crash test. “… the front pillar of the Nissan Rogue's door frame was pushed far inside the occupant compartment and after the crash was almost touching the driver seat,” the IIHS says. “The Jeep Patriot was among the worst for restraints and kinematics. The dummy's head slid off the frontal airbag as the steering wheel moved 8 inches up and nearly 6 inches to the right. The side curtain airbag didn't deploy, and the safety belt allowed the dummy's head and torso to move too far forward.”
To date, the IIHS has tested affordable and upscale midsize cars, as well as this latest round of compact SUVs. A vehicle is named a Top Safety Pick Plus if it earns the top score of Good in moderate overlap front, side, rear and rollover tests, and earns either a Good or Acceptable score in the small overlap frontal test. A total of 20 vehicles have earned the highest Top Safety Pick Plus award so far.

The 2013 Nissan Rogue was one of the worst performers in the small overlap frontal crash test. Image courtesy IIHS.

Among the recent compact SUV test group, IIHS Top Safety Pick awards were given to the BMW X1, Buick Encore, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5 and Volkswagen Tiguan. To earn a Top Safety Pick award, vehicles must earn the top score of Good in moderate overlap front, side, rollover and rear tests. The Toyota RAV4 is also a Top Safety Pick, but did not go through the small overlap frontal test yet. “Toyota asked for the delay so it could make changes to the RAV4 to improve performance in the test,” the IIHS says.

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BMW, General Motors and Toyota Issue Recalls

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

BMW is recalling 42,080 3-Series models for a potential issue with the front airbag on the passenger side. The recall affects 2002-03 3-Series convertibles, coupes, sedans and wagons, as well as M3 coupes and convertibles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the airbag “may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the airbag.” In the event of a collision, metal fragments from the inflator could strike vehicle occupants, increasing the risk of serious injury.
BMW will notify owners of affected 3-Series vehicles in May, though replacement parts aren’t expected to be available until July. When parts are available, BMW will follow up with owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag at no charge. If you think your 3-Series is affected, you can contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

Photo courtesy of General Motors

A faulty hybrid charging system has prompted General Motors to recall a total of 42,904 vehicles. NHTSA says that the Generator Control Module (GCM) in 2012-13 Buick LaCrosse, Regal and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco sedans may malfunction, which “could cause a gradual loss of battery charge and the illumination of the malfunction indicator light.” If the condition is ignored, the vehicle could stall, fail to start or a fire could occur in the vehicle’s trunk.
GM will contact owners of affected vehicles, who can have the GCM tested and replaced (if necessary) by dealers at no charge. If you have questions about the recall, you can contact GM at 1-800-521-7300 and mention recall campaign number 13136.

Photo courtesy of Toyota

Auxiliary driving lights that don’t comply with government safety standards have prompted Toyota to recall 11,489 FJ Cruiser SUVs from 2007-13 model years. NHTSA says that when the driving lights are used in conjunction with the headlights, the FJ Cruiser surpasses “the maximum light output allowed for an upper beam headlamp.” As a consequence, the driving lights may cause too much glare for approaching traffic, which could increase the chance of a collision.
Toyota will start contacting FJ Cruiser owners in late May, and dealers will rectify the issue by replacing the 55-watt driving lamp bulbs with 35-watt bulbs at no charge. If you own an FJ Cruiser, you can contact Toyota directly at 1-800-331-4331

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2013 Toyota RAV4 Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

U.S. News and World Report

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the redesigned 2013 Toyota RAV4 a Top Safety Pick Tuesday. The 2013 RAV4 joins the ranks of other affordable compact SUVs that have won the award, including the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru Forester.
The redesigned RAV4 earned the institute’s top score of Good in moderate overlap front, side impact and rear crash tests, as well as roof strength tests. Motor Trend points out that since the 2013 RAV4 “was not tested in the new small overlap front test, the car isn’t eligible for the Top Safety Pick + designation.” So far, the only SUV to earn a Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS is the Volvo XC60.
The new RAV4 earns better safety ratings from the IIHS than the 2012 model. The IIHS reports that the 2013 RAV4 “withstood a force equal to 5 times the SUV's weight.” The 2012 RAV4 earned an Acceptable rating in roof strength tests, withstanding 3.46 times its weight in roof strength tests.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the redesigned 2013 RAV4 an overall score of four out of five stars, which is comprised of a four-star rating in rollover and front crash tests, and a five-star rating in side crash tests.

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Infiniti M Named IIHS Top Safety Pick

2013 Infiniti M. Photo courtesy of Infiniti.

The 2013 Infiniti M sedan, which includes the M37 and M56 models, has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This means that it received a score of “good” in side, rollover, rear and moderate front overlap tests.
In a press release, Infiniti says that in addition to being a Top Safety Pick, the Infiniti M is available with a number of crash avoidance technologies, including lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot warning and intervention, brake assist and forward collision warning. These optional features are not related to the M’s Top Safety Pick designation, nor to its five-star safety rating by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The IIHS website details that the Top Safety Pick rating applies only to the M37 and M56, and does not include the M56x and M-Hybrid models.

2013 Infiniti M. Photo courtesy of Infiniti.

Left Lane News points out “that the Infiniti M didn't receive the IIHS' highest “Top Safety Pick+” designation.” In order to earn the Top Safety Pick+ accolade, a car must also undergo a small front overlap test, receive ratings of “good” in four of the five tests conducted and no less than an “acceptable” rating in the fifth test. This is due to the M not being put through the test, rather than the car not passing the test.
Other luxury large cars that are Top Safety Picks include the Cadillac CTS and XTS sedans, BMW 5-Series, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Lexus GS, Hyundai Equus and Genesis, Volvo S80 and Lincoln MKS.
For 2014, the Infiniti M will be renamed the Infiniti Q70 as part of Infiniti’s new naming strategy. The 2013 Infiniti M starts at $48,700.

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Lawmakers, Advocates Push to Make Back Up Cameras Standard

If some lawmakers and safety advocates have their way, your next new car may have a standard rearview camera.
The Detroit News reports that Peter King, a Republican representative from New York and Jan Schakowsky, a Democratic representative from Illinois, are pushing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to finalize regulations to make backup cameras standard on new cars.

photo courtesy of Honda

In 2007, congress passed a law requiring that NHTSA set rear visibility requirements by Feb. 28, 2011, but the requirements have been repeatedly delayed by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The Detroit News reports that adding cameras as standard equipment will cost the auto industry between $1.9 billion and $2.7 billion each year, according to data from 2010. Adding the cameras would raise the price of a new car between $159 to $203 if the car doesn't have a display screen, and $58 to $88 if the car does.
Safety advocates argue that the costs don't matter when lives are at stake. Kids and Cars, a safety advocacy group, says that between 1991 and 2011, 1,051 children under the age of 16 were killed in back over incidents. NHTSA estimates that 183 people are killed and 6,700 to 7,419 are injured each year in back over accidents.
Karen Pauly, an Iowa woman who backed over and killed her 19 month old son, now lobbies for standard rearview cameras in cars. She told the Des Moines, Iowa NBC affiliate that she asks lawmakers to "picture their son, daughter, grandchild or whoever in their life when they listen to me talk about the things that I saw that day when I saw him lying there.”
Cars.com says that some automakers, in response to consumer demand for rearview cameras, already have them as standard equipment on many of their models. They cite Honda, Hyundai and Kia as examples of carmakers with standard rearview cameras across most of their model lines. The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers says that 70 percent of new cars have rearview cameras as available equipment.
If the regulations hadn't been delayed, 10 percent of new cars would have had rearview cameras by September 2012, 40 percent by a year later, and 100 percent by September 2014. Now it looks like the regulations will take effect by the 2015 model year at the earliest.
In our own Best Cars for Families awards, the availability of a rearview camera is a key component in determining the winners in each class. If you're searching for a family car, a rearview camera should be on the top of your list of features to look for.

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New Volvo Safety Feature Steers Clear of Cyclists

If you live in a major city, you know that trying to avoid hitting pedestrians and bicyclists is tricky because in crowded city streets, they can be difficult to see, especially for distracted drivers, and will sometimes step or veer out in front of your car.
Volvo will soon offer a new safety feature that builds on its current Pedestrian Detection system. Volvo announced its new Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection system at the Geneva Motor Show, and said in a statement it will be able to detect cyclists “swerving out in front of the car” and automatically apply the brakes to avoid hitting the cyclist. “The advanced sensor system scans the area ahead. If a cyclist heading in the same direction as the car suddenly swerves out in front of the car as it approaches from behind and a collision is imminent, there is an instant warning and full braking power is applied.”
CNBC’s Phil LeBeau says there are more people using bicycles for transportation and an increasing amount of bad blood between motorists and bicyclists. “I've seen people acting like morons when driving by cyclists and I've seen cyclists behaving like idiots when it comes to sharing the road,” LeBeau says.

Volvo’s new Cyclist Detection system will join the automaker's lineup of innovative safety features. “Like Volvo's groundbreaking Pedestrian Detection system that came online in 2010 (as well as the automaker's current Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Avoidance systems), this latest variation consists of a grille-mounted radar unit, a forward-facing high-resolution camera positioned ahead of the inside rearview mirror and a central controller that uses a constant data stream from both to monitor and evaluate the surrounding traffic,” Kelley Blue Book reports.
The Cyclist Detection system will initially be available in European Volvo models in the next few months, “with availability in the U.S. likely to follow,” Forbes reports.

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