Some versions of the popular Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer SUVs are among the worst on the road for rollover risk, according to the latest rankings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Explorer Sport Trac two-wheel drive posted the single worst rating for rollover risk among all 2004 vehicles analyzed -- including cars, vans and SUVs. DaimlerChrysler's Pacifica four-wheel drive was the top rated SUV, with a 13 percent rollover risk.
The Explorer Sport Trac four-wheel drive, the Explorer four-door, two-wheel drive, and the Mountaineer four-door, two-wheel drive were in the bottom six of the SUV class, which as a group posted the lowest scores.
NHTSA has for years used a five-star safety rating system, assailed by safety experts as incomplete and misleading. With today's release, NHTSA began assigning a percentage risk for rollover to the star ratings.
The ratings are determined by a mathematical calculation based on a vehicle's measurements and on a road test that includes extremely sharp "fish-hook" turns.
Cars and minivans generally did well in the tests, with most outperforming SUVs. Pickups were mostly in the SUV class, with worse ratings than most vans and cars.
The safest vehicle overall was the Mazda RX-8 four-door. It has an 8 percent chance of rolling over. By comparison, the two-wheel drive Explorer Sport Trac has a nearly 35 percent chance of rolling over in an emergency maneuver, the government said.
2004 Model Year Rollover Testing
Passenger Cars
Make | Model | Class | Rollover | % Chance of | Tip/ No Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mazda | RX-8 4-DR | PC | 5 | 8.0 | No Tip |
Acura | TL 4-DR | PC | 4 | 10.3 | No Tip |
Mazda | 3 4-DR | PC | 4 | 10.5 | No Tip |
Volkswagen | New Beetle Convertible | PC | 4 | 10.5 | No Tip |
Hyundai | Tiburon 2-DR | PC | 4 | 10.7 | No Tip |
Nissan | Maxima 3.5SE 4-DR | PC | 4 | 10.7 | No Tip |
Hyundai | Accent 4-DR | PC | 4 | 10.9 | No Tip |
Pontiac | Grand Prix GT 4-DR | PC | 4 | 10.9 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Malibu LS 4-DR | PC | 4 | 11.1 | No Tip |
Hyundai | XG350L 4-DR | PC | 4 | 11.1 | No Tip |
KIA | Amanti 4-DR | PC | 4 | 11.1 | No Tip |
Suzuki | Forenza 4-DR | PC | 4 | 11.6 | No Tip |
Toyota | Solara SLE 2-DR | PC | 4 | 11.6 | No Tip |
Acura | TSX 4-DR | PC | 4 | 11.8 | No Tip |
Hyundai | Elantra 4-DR | PC | 4 | 12.1 | No Tip |
Toyota | Prius 5-DR | PC | 4 | 13.0 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Aveo 4-DR | PC | 4 | 13.3 | No Tip |
Ford | Focus Wagon | PC | 4 | 14.0 | No Tip |
Toyota | Echo | PC | 4 | 14.7 | No Tip |
Subaru | Outback wagon | PC | 4 | 15.5 | No Tip |
Pickup Trucks
Make | Model | Class | Rollover | % Chance of | Tip/ No Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chevrolet | Silverado 4x2 extended cab | PU | 4 | 15.9 | No Tip |
GMC | Sierra 4x2 extended cab (1) | PU | 4 | 15.9 | No Tip |
Ford | F-150 4x2 extended cab | PU | 4 | 17.4 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Silverado 4x4 extended cab | PU | 4 | 18.5 | No Tip |
GMC | Sierra 4x4 extended cab (2) | PU | 4 | 18.5 | No Tip |
Ford | F-150 4x4 extended cab | PU | 4 | 19.8 | No Tip |
Toyota | Tacoma 4x2 extended cab | PU | 4 | 19.8 | Tip |
Toyota | Tacoma 4x4 extended cab | PU | 3 | 28.3 | Tip |
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV)
Make | Model | Class | Rollover | % Chance of | Tip/ No Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chrysler | Pacifica 4x4 | SUV | 4 | 13.0 | No Tip |
Chrysler | Pacifica 4x2 | SUV | 4 | 14.0 | No Tip |
Nissan | Murano 4x4 | SUV | 4 | 15.1 | No Tip |
Honda | Pilot 4x4 | SUV | 4 | 15.9 | No Tip |
Nissan | Murano 4x2 | SUV | 4 | 15.9 | No Tip |
Volvo | XC90 4x4 | SUV | 4 | 17.9 | No Tip |
Buick | Ranier 4x4 (3) | SUV | 4 | 19.1 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Trailblazer 4x4 | SUV | 4 | 19.1 | No Tip |
Dodge | Durango 4x4 | SUV | 4 | 19.1 | No Tip |
GMC | Envoy 4x4 (3) | SUV | 4 | 19.1 | No Tip |
Olds | Bravada 4x4 (3) | SUV | 4 | 19.1 | No Tip |
Buick | Ranier 4x2 (4) | SUV | 3 | 20.4 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Trailblazer 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 20.4 | No Tip |
GMC | Envoy 4x2 (4) | SUV | 3 | 20.4 | No Tip |
Olds | Bravada 4x2 (4) | SUV | 3 | 20.4 | No Tip |
Toyota | 4Runner 4x4 | SUV | 3 | 20.4 | No Tip |
Ford | Escape 4x4 | SUV | 3 | 20.9 | Tip |
Mazda | Tribute 4x4 (5) | SUV | 3 | 20.9 | Tip |
Mercury | Mariner 4x4 (5) | SUV | 3 | 20.9 | Tip |
Dodge | Durango 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 21.2 | No Tip |
Jeep | Liberty 4x4 | SUV | 3 | 21.9 | No Tip |
Toyota | 4Runner 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 21.9 | No Tip |
Ford | Explorer 4-DR 4x4 | SUV | 3 | 22.8 | No Tip |
Mercury | Mountaineer 4-DR 4x4 (6) | SUV | 3 | 22.8 | No Tip |
Ford | Escape 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 23.7 | Tip |
Mazda | Tribute 4x2 (7) | SUV | 3 | 23.7 | Tip |
Mercury | Mariner 4x2 (7) | SUV | 3 | 23.7 | Tip |
Jeep | Liberty 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 24.6 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Tahoe 4x4 | SUV | 3 | 26.3 | Tip |
GMC | Yukon 4x4 (8) | SUV | 3 | 26.3 | Tip |
Ford | Explorer Sport Trac 4x4 | SUV | 3 | 27.9 | No Tip |
Chevrolet | Tahoe 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 28.3 | Tip |
Ford | Explorer 4-DR 4x2 | SUV | 3 | 28.3 | Tip |
GMC | Yukon 4x2 (9) | SUV | 3 | 28.3 | Tip |
Mercury | Mountaineer 4-DR 4x2 (10) | SUV | 3 | 28.3 | Tip |
Ford | Explorer Sport Trac 4x2 | SUV | 2 | 34.8 | Tip |
Vans
Make | Model | Class | Rollover | % Chance of | Tip/ No Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nissan | Quest | VAN | 4 | 12.1 | No Tip |
Ford | Freestar | VAN | 4 | 14.7 | No Tip |
Mercury | Monterey (11) | VAN | 4 | 14.7 | No Tip |
Toyota | Sienna | VAN | 4 | 15.9 | No Tip |
- Corporate Twin of Chevrolet Silverado 4x2
- Corporate Twin of Chevrolet Silverado 4x4
- Corporate Twin of Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x4
- Corporate Twin of Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x2
- Corporate Twin of Ford Escape 4x4
- Corporate Twin of Ford Explorer 4x4
- Corporate Twin of Ford Escape 4x2
- Corporate Twin of Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
- Corporate Twin of Chevrolet Tahoe 4x2
- Corporate Twin of Ford Explorer 4x2
- Corporate Twin of Ford Freestar
