Car Safety: Which Cars Are The Lowest Rated?

So often we rave about the makes and models that deliver top-grade safety. The vehicles that earn 5-star crash reports and remain industry leaders in safety awards each year. Very seldom do we make note of the ones that raise red flags. The cars that fall short of a modern buyers’ expectations. It’s time to take a look at which cars are the lowest rated based on reliability, safety, and consumer opinion. In addition, find out why drivers should proceed with caution when considering these vehicles.

Which cars are the lowest rated on the automotive market?

Some models have overlooked safety issues that fly under the radar. Some are simply prone to more fatalities when an accident occurs. For these reasons, it’s crucial for drivers to do a bit of research before jumping the gun. We’ve compiled a list which cars are the lowest rated. That way buyers will have more information going into their next car buying decision.

Between poor headlight standards and high crash risks, the following models rank lower on our list of top models to choose from. In comparison to other noteworthy models on the automotive market, these vehicles have a few holdups worth investigating.

• Chevy Silverado
• Ford Fiesta
• Dodge Challenger
• Hyundai Accent
• Fiat 500
• Honda Fit
• Mitsubishi Mirage

Buyers don’t always know about these shortcomings until a year to two into ownership. Unfortunately, without some research beforehand, you could walk into a dealership and think you’re making a great but instead sign up for an unreliable ride. This list serves as a guiding point for drivers having trouble narrowing down their top car choices.

While you don’t necessarily have to stray away from these select models, there are individual setbacks to consider. Satisfactory safety ratings don’t always mean you’re driving a safe vehicle. NHTSA crash reports are one of the best ways to see how well a specific car fares overtime.

Final thoughts

It’s always good idea to assess what is and isn’t working within the automotive industry. While state-of-the-art safety features are helping newer models to earn acceptable or good safety ratings, that doesn’t mean the car holds up on the road. Consumer experience significantly helps fellow buyers get better insight into what owning a vehicle is really like.

Compact models notoriously rank the lowest in safety ratings due to their small stature. Moreover, they do a worse job of protecting passengers should an accident take place. Which means, a driver is more susceptible to injury when things go wrong.

Sports models, like the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette, fall in the same dangerous category. When speed and performance take precedence, vehicles have a harder time of accounting for safety.

Lastly, you have the unexpected dangers of the automotive market. The vehicles high in popularity yet still get a reputation for being unsafe. For example, the Ford F-150, which has had 10,845 fatal crashes overall.

Considering reliability, safety, and consumer opinion, you’ll see why some makes and models earn better ratings than others. That said, there are some cars that have not reached their full potential. Luckily, with car safety continually evolving, hopefully even the most unsafe vehicles will earn a better reputation in the years to come.