jc64
04-08-2005, 11:35 AM
2 '05 GM pickups fare worst in crash tests
GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado rank at bottom for safety; Dodge Dakota, Toyota Tacoma are tops.
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By Ken Thomas
Associated Press
April 7, 2005
WASHINGTON -- Two General Motors Corp. pickup trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, fared the worst in a new batch of government crash tests of 2005 pickups, the government reported Wednesday.
In rollover tests, the Ford Ranger and the Mazda B-Series fared worst among a list of pickups with four-wheel drive. The trucks received two out of five stars and had a 30.6 percent chance of rollover, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NHTSA gave both the two-door and four-door versions of the Silverado and Sierra three out of five stars for passenger-side frontal crash tests. The vehicles, which merited four stars for driver-side frontal crash tests, are considered corporate twins and share the same test results.
Three stars equals a 21 percent to 35 percent chance of serious injury in a similar real-world crash. Four stars equals an 11 percent to 20 percent chance of serious injury. NHTSA conducts the front-impact test at 35 mph.
Two 2005 pickups -- the two-door versions of the Dodge Dakota and Toyota Tacoma -- received five stars for all seat positions in frontal and side crash tests. Two-door and four-door versions of the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500 received top scores in frontal crash tests.
Alan Adler, a General Motors Corp. spokesman, noted the Silverado and Sierra received four stars in rollover ratings and are equipped with safety items such as antilock brakes and daytime running lamps, a feature that has been credited with slicing through fog and glare to reduce accidents involving pedestrians.
He said the ratings were consistent with previous scores for the trucks and added that the pickups would be redesigned in the next few years.
"When you look at total safety, this is a very, very safe vehicle," Adler said.
Ford spokeswoman Cheryl Eberwein said the Ranger "received a rating that is comparable to other similar vehicles in this class" and asserted the tests did not reflect the truck's performance on the road. She said results were based on an October 2004 test.
Jeremy Barnes, a Mazda spokesman, said the company did not believe the rankings and ratings showed the vehicle's real-world performance. The B-Series also was tested in October 2004.
"Each and every vehicle that we sell to the public, without fail, meets or exceeds the federal safety standard," Barnes said.
The two-door Ranger and B- Series received top scores in driver's-side impact tests, along with the two-door Dodge Dakota, the four-door Nissan Frontier and the two-door versions of the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra.
GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado rank at bottom for safety; Dodge Dakota, Toyota Tacoma are tops.
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By Ken Thomas
Associated Press
April 7, 2005
WASHINGTON -- Two General Motors Corp. pickup trucks, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, fared the worst in a new batch of government crash tests of 2005 pickups, the government reported Wednesday.
In rollover tests, the Ford Ranger and the Mazda B-Series fared worst among a list of pickups with four-wheel drive. The trucks received two out of five stars and had a 30.6 percent chance of rollover, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NHTSA gave both the two-door and four-door versions of the Silverado and Sierra three out of five stars for passenger-side frontal crash tests. The vehicles, which merited four stars for driver-side frontal crash tests, are considered corporate twins and share the same test results.
Three stars equals a 21 percent to 35 percent chance of serious injury in a similar real-world crash. Four stars equals an 11 percent to 20 percent chance of serious injury. NHTSA conducts the front-impact test at 35 mph.
Two 2005 pickups -- the two-door versions of the Dodge Dakota and Toyota Tacoma -- received five stars for all seat positions in frontal and side crash tests. Two-door and four-door versions of the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram 1500 received top scores in frontal crash tests.
Alan Adler, a General Motors Corp. spokesman, noted the Silverado and Sierra received four stars in rollover ratings and are equipped with safety items such as antilock brakes and daytime running lamps, a feature that has been credited with slicing through fog and glare to reduce accidents involving pedestrians.
He said the ratings were consistent with previous scores for the trucks and added that the pickups would be redesigned in the next few years.
"When you look at total safety, this is a very, very safe vehicle," Adler said.
Ford spokeswoman Cheryl Eberwein said the Ranger "received a rating that is comparable to other similar vehicles in this class" and asserted the tests did not reflect the truck's performance on the road. She said results were based on an October 2004 test.
Jeremy Barnes, a Mazda spokesman, said the company did not believe the rankings and ratings showed the vehicle's real-world performance. The B-Series also was tested in October 2004.
"Each and every vehicle that we sell to the public, without fail, meets or exceeds the federal safety standard," Barnes said.
The two-door Ranger and B- Series received top scores in driver's-side impact tests, along with the two-door Dodge Dakota, the four-door Nissan Frontier and the two-door versions of the Toyota Tacoma and Toyota Tundra.