10 Most-Dangerous — and Deadly — Automobiles on the Road Today

Auto buyers can’t purchase a new Dodge Neon today, and there’s a reason — actually, hundreds of reasons. Auburn Hills-based Chrysler Fiat discontinued the compact car, whose second and final generation was manufactured from 2002-2005. More than 160 drivers of the small, four-door Neons were killed per million registered vehicles annually during those years. It was one of the highest driver death rates of any car at that time.

Despite what seem to be daily recalls, today’s vehicles are safer than most of the light vehicles on the road today, according to a study by 24/7 Wall St. Most light vehicles on the road were manufactured around 2003 and 2004.

But the Dodge Neon from model years 2002-2005 is in a class by itself.

It’s still the most-dangerous car in America, according to 24/7 Wall St., which reviewed crashworthiness evaluation results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit research group funded by auto insurers. To be included in the analysis, “a model must have received a poor or ‘marginal’ rating in either the frontal crash impact or side crash impact safety tests — frontal and side impact collisions are the most fatal,” Wall St. 24/7 reported.

Also, the site said, a vehicle “must also have received a ‘poor’ rating on either the roof strength test, which simulates a vehicle rollover, or the head restraint and seat test, which simulates a rear-end collision.”

Only vehicles Americans are still likely to be driving today — from model years 2005 and later — were considered. Larger cars tended to be safer. The shorter the distance between the driver and the front end of the car, the higher the likelihood of injury to the driver and front-seat passengers. Click here to read the methodology.

In 2014, there were 55 deaths in subcompact vehicles per 1 million registrations, according to the analysis. Conversely, there were 19 driver fatalities in very large cars per million registered.

The Neon received a poor score for its side crash impact and headrest safety. A 2005 IIHS report said that “if safety is a priority, the Neon is a small car to be avoided.”

Here’s how other automobiles stacked up in the 10 most-dangerous list:

2. 1996-2005 GMC Safari minivan: The GMC Safari, which was also marketed as the Chevrolet Astro, is one of only two minivans on the list. The second-generation Safari was introduced with the 1996 model year and was discontinued after the 2005 model year. The minivan got poor ratings for its frontal crash impact and headrest safety and performed poorly in crash tests, but it had one of the lowest driver death rates of any popular vehicle from 2002-2005. “As the Safari is a van, and not a sports car, this may have been influenced by driver habits and use,” 24/7 Wall St. said.

3. 2001-2006 Sierra 1500, GMC extended cab pickup: Introduced with the 1999 model year, the second-generation GMC Sierra 1500 was manufactured through the 2006 edition of the pickup. It received a poor rating for its headrests and a marginal rating for its frontal crash impact safety. “While the second generation Sierra 1500 is one of the least safe cars in the country, GMC has made substantial improvements to the model over time,” the site said. And the 2016 Sierra 1500 extended-cab pickup received the highest possible score in moderate frontal and side crash impact tests and for its roof strength and headrests.

4. 2006-2011 Accent, Hyundai sedan: The third-generation Accent, manufactured from 2006-2011, was one of the best-selling subcompact cars throughout its production run but received relatively low safety scores from the IIHS. The reason? A high likelihood of pelvis injury for both the driver and the passenger in the event of a side collision. Head restraints and seats received the lowest rating possible. Upgraded safety features were included in the 2012 model year, but the Accent still received a poor rating for small-impact frontal crash safety. However, all other safety aspects received a good or acceptable rating.

5. 2001-2005 Optima, Kia sedan: The Optima was the company’s hottest selling car in 2015, and also rates as a top IIHS safety pick. However, the first Optimas produced — 2001-2005 model years — scored poor ratings for side crash impact safety, and drivers were at increased risk for torso and pelvic regions. In the second-generation Optima introduced in the 2006 model year, improvements were made to the rear door structure, which increased safety in side-impact crashes. This version received an “acceptable” rating in side impact crash safety.

6. 2006-2009 Rio, Kia Sedan: Like many subcompact cars, safety may have been sacrificed for affordability in the second generation Rio introduced in 2006, which received the lowest possible rating from the IIHS for its side crash impact safety. The first few second-generation Rios, produced for six years, received poor ratings for their headrests; 2010 and 2011 models received acceptable ratings. Third-generation Rios, which began with the 2012 model year, received the highest scores possible on most safety features.

7. 2000-2006 MPV, Mazda minivan: The second generation Mazda MPV was introduced in the 2000 model year and was manufactured until it got a redesign with the 2007 model year. It, along with the Safari/Astro minivans, are the only minivans on the most-dangerous list. The MPV fell short in its side impact and headrest safety tests. In side collisions, drivers and front-seat passengers had a high likelihood of rib fractures for the driver and pelvic injuries, respectively. Production in North America was discontinued in 2007 and was replaced by the safer Mazda CX-9 midsize SUV.

8. 2000-2006 Sentra, Nissan sedan: The Nissan Sentra was redesigned as a compact car in 2000 in its fifth-generation iteration. It received a poor rating for side impact crash safety. In a simulated broadside collision, the oncoming car made contact with the driver dummy’s head, and the passenger dummy’s head smashed into the car window, indicating a high likelihood of head injury. Multiple safety improvements were made in the 2007 model year, and the car received the highest possible ratings on three out of the four IIHS safety tests.

9. 1999-2005 Grand Am, Pontiac sedan: The fifth-generation Pontiac Grand Am was introduced in the 1999 model year, when it received a poor rating. Tests showed a high likelihood of a head injury to the driver in a head-on collision, and in fact, there were 160 driver deaths per 1 million vehicles registered between 2002-2005, the third most of any mid-sized two-door car on the U.S. market at the time, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Production of the Grand Am ceased in 2005, four years before General Motors eliminated its Pontiac line.

10. 2002-2005 L-Series, Saturn sedan: Introduced in 2000 to compete with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the L-Series scored poor safety ratings, mechanical problems and tepid sales, and it was discontinued a few years after its release. The L-Series received a poor ratings for its side impact crash safety and headrests. More than 250,000 L-Series models were recalled by General Motors in 2003 because of an engine defect that could cause a fire.

Photo by Chris Horner via Flickr Commons