Fiat 500 Gets a 3-Star Safety Rating From Feds

Lowest rating of any new model tested so far

12/09/2011 | By Truman Lewis

| ConsumerAffairs.com | Automotive

More bad news for the slow-selling Fiat 500: federal safety regulators have given it a three-star rating, the lowest of any new model tested so far.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the two-door four stars for frontal crash and rollover accidents but just two stars for side-impact crash safety.

The tests gave the car a combined overall safety rating of three stars, NHTSA reported. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had earlier named the car a "Top Safety Pick."

NHTSA's side-impact crash tests involve both an impact with a side barrier and a stationary pole in a 38.5 mph simulated intersection-type crash.

Though the vehicles tested had curtain airbags and torso/pelvis airbags, the rear-seat passenger position was rated at just two of five possible stars for safety in the side-barrier crash test, while the driver's seat position achieved a five-star safety rating in the same crash test.

In the side-pole crash, which simulates an impact at 20 mph with a narrow, fixed object, the driver's position achieved a three-star rating out of a possible five stars, NHSTA reported.

"Development of the Fiat 500, like all Chrysler Group LLC vehicles, makes safety and security a priority," Chrysler said in a prepared statement. "In fact, the Fiat 500 features more than 35 safety and security features including: driver and front-passenger advanced multi-stage air bags, driver's knee air bag, full-length side-curtain air bags and standard seat-mounted side pelvic-thorax air bags, all to offer enhanced occupant protection to all occupants in the event of a collision."

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James Alexander (Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:14:53 +0000): One reason small cars will never make it in America. If you don't have the protection of tank it's not acceptable.

Robert Sucharzewski (Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:29:00 +0000): too small not safe.

Eric Schneck (Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:25:51 +0000): No, just poorly designed. There are plenty of small cars that rank higher in safety. It seems that Fiat wanted to rush into the American small car market (via the purchase of Chrysler) with the 500 (designed/built elsewhere), and they may have underestimated the safety ratings we place on vehicles ..

Scott Harrison (Mon, 12 Dec 2011 01:06:19 +0000): SUVs and trucks pose a danger to small cars in the US.

Dan Robinson (Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:19:12 +0000): A small car is not as safe as a big car. Why? Because it's a small car, dummy! If you are concerned about safety over price, buy a used Abrams Tank. Side crash tests against a telephone pole turn out badly for the telephone pole. If you are a 25-year-old bundle of hormones with no money (The ones who really need safety because they drive like idiots), buy the Fiat... and some life insurance.