Toyota takes on IIHS Top Safety Picks

Just days after its public shouting match with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over sudden acceleration claims, Toyota is now arguing with the nation’s top private safety organization, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

On Wednesday, the IIHS released its list of Top Safety Picks for 2010. This year the Institute added a new roof strength test to its requirements for cars to receive the rating. That demanding criteria dramatically shortened the 2010 list.

In its press release announcing the results, IIHS called out Toyota for having no vehicles that qualified.

In response, yesterday Toyota called IIHS’s new methodology “extreme and misleading.” In a statement, Toyota Vice President of Public Affairs Irv Miller said, “There are 38 Toyota, Lexus, and Scion models, and only three were tested for roof strength by IIHS: Camry, RAV4, and Yaris.” He said all Toyota products meet government standards for roof crush. The new IIHS test for roof strength is much tougher than the government standard, which NHTSA looking to make more stringent.

Later yesterday, Russ Rader, an IIHS spokesman, essentially told Toyota to put up or shut up. He is quoted in the New York Times stating that all automakers were invited to nominate vehicles to be tested (and reimburse IIHS for the test.) “We don’t think there are automakers who would miss the opportunity to have their vehicles tested if they thought they met the criteria. We can only assume the [manufacturer’s other] vehicles would not do well for roof strength.”

While Toyota still has among the most reliable and fuel-efficient car lineups Consumer Reports has tested, the bloom may be coming off the company’s rose. While its cars generally do well in most safety measures, this pattern of blasting the messenger isn’t helping its public image, an image that is increasingly under attack.

Over time, the IIHS is expected to test more vehicles for roof strength. The test is performed by pressing a metal plate against one side of the roof at a constant speed. To earn a Good rating, a vehicle must withstand a force that is four times the vehicle’s weight before compressing five inches. This tough new test adds another dimension to the Top Safety Picks.

For information on how vehicles perform in government and IIHS crash tests, see the safety tabs in the model overview pages, available to online subscribers.

Watch more than 300 crash tests videos to see how vehicles perform in frontal offset and side-impact tests.

—Eric Evarts

Tires Q&A: Can I replace one or two tires at a time on my car?

Consumers Union held their annual open-house tour on Saturday, October 17 at the company headquarters in Yonkers, New York. Visitors got a chance to tour various stations to hear how Consumer Reports tests different products. It’s always a nice opportunity to talk about how we test tires at this event and as in past years there were a lot of interested visitors looking for more information on tires, particularly on how to buy.

Question: By far, the most common question asked this year was: “Is it OK to purchase just two tires at time?”

Answer: A simple question, indeed, and the simple answer is yes you can in most cases--but there are many considerations.

Most importantly, CR recommends rotating tires routinely following the guidelines spelled out in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, typically every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. The owner’s manual will have a rotation pattern to follow as well. Following the routine rotations will optimize a tire’s tread life and will wear all four tires evenly. Bottom line: when it comes time to replacing the worn-out tires, buy four new ones.

Many drivers may not rotate tires at all or not on a routine schedule. Owners of front-wheel drive vehicles will likely be replacing the front tires two to three times more often than the rear tires --since the front tires are doing most of the work by driving the wheels, doing most of the braking, and steering the car. The rear tires have a much easier life, being generally lightly loaded and free-rolling. In this common scenario, where only two tires are worn out and need replacing, CR recommends at least purchasing new tires of like brand and model as those already on the car, despite the best practice of purchasing a full set of four new tires. Mixing tire brands or even different models may cause handling instability. And when replacing only two, we recommend installing the new tires in the rear and placing the (older but still decent) rear tires in the front. This may help prevent a spinout or oversteer condition on slick roads. Both these recommendations apply to rear-wheel drive vehicles as well.

Finally, if you own an all-wheel drive vehicle, the first step before buying a new tire or pair of tires (short of installing four new ones) is to read the vehicle’s owner’s manual. Many makes of all-wheel drive vehicles will stipulate that all four tires must be of the same size, brand, model, and state of wear. Any deviation could result in an all-wheel drive system failure due to the stress placed on it from rotating dissimilar overall diameter tires.

Now wasn’t that simple?

To see full details on all tire models we tested, check out our Ratings and recommendations (available to subscribers). In addition to our updated Ratings, all site visitors can access our free buying advice for tips on getting started, types of tires we test, features that are important in making a tire purchase, and general tire care. Also, be sure to check out our TireTalk forum to interact with our tire engineers and other drivers.

—Gene Petersen 

Recall: 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler

Chrysler is recalling over 161,000 Jeep Wranglers equipped with automatic transmissions manufactured between June 2006 and July 2007. The vehicles were not equipped with a transmission fluid temperature warning system, and a fire could result if the fluid boils over and comes in contact with the engine or exhaust component.

Dealers will inspect the 2007-2008 models and enable a “hot oil” warning light on the dashboard and an audible chime indicating when transmission fluid temperature is elevated.

Typically, for the transmission fluid to reach a high temperature in an SUV, the vehicle would need to be used for a heavy-duty purpose, such as serious off-roading or pulling a heavy load. Both scenarios are easy to imagine with a Wrangler, as it excels in its off-road ability. Owners should also be aware of the tow capacity for their Wrangler, which is between 2,000 and 3,500 lbs. depending on the trim line. Those owners who do push their Wranglers hard might also consider an aftermarket transmission cooler.

For more information, owners can contact Chrysler at 1-800-835-1403.

See our Jeep Wrangler review.

—Liza Barth

Despite risks, teens report texting while driving

Distracted driving has been a hot topic this year with more statewide bans, a government summit addressing the issues and looking at solutions, and even a graphic anti-texting video showing the risks. But the messages may not be hitting home with teen drivers. A new study shows that a quarter of American teens have texted while driving—dangerous behavior for a group that statistically, already carries significant risks when behind the wheel.  

The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project conducted a survey of 800 teens aged 12-17 years and asked about their behaviors with cell phone use in cars. Additionally, they conducted focus groups with teens in collaboration with University of Michigan. The study found 34 percent of teens with cell phones say they have texted while driving, which translates into 26 percent of all American teens. Fifty-two percent of teens ages 16-17 in the study admit to talking on the cell phone while driving, which translates into 43 percent of all U.S. teens aged 16-17.

The statistics on teen drivers is worrisome; motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2008, 16 percent of drivers in fatal crashes under the age of 20 were related to distracted driving. That age group had the greatest proportion of fatalities due to distracted driving. Overall, in 2008, 5,870 people died and an estimated 515,000 were injured in crashes where distracted driving was reported by police.

Cell phones have become an integral part of society, especially in teenagers. The study found 75 percent of American teenagers own a cell phone and 66 percent of them send and receive text messages. The teens who were part of the focus group stated a number of reasons why they text and drive, including to determine the whereabouts of their friends and parents, to get directions, and to flirt. They also report trying a number of techniques to text safely, including only texting while stopped or holding up the phone at eye level, so their head isn’t down. (Any distraction poses a risk, but activities that take your eyes off the road for a sustained period are dangerous, and the situation is made worse when a hand, or hands, or not on the steering wheel.) The study also noted that 48 percent of teens aged 12-17 say they have been in a car with a texting driver and a number of them reported the risky behavior was from their parents. Some teens found it disconcerting, but others thought their parents were good drivers and could handle their phones safely. (See “Video: Taylor Swift SNL spoof mocks bad parent drivers.”) 

The distracted driving issue is a real danger, and the solutions are not so easily and quickly implemented. The responsibility may need to fall on parents first to set their own rules and guidelines for cell phone use by their teen drivers. However, that also goes along with adjusting their own distracted driving behavior, so they aren’t sending a mixed message that talking or texting behind the wheel is safe for some and not for others.

—Liza Barth

For more information on distracted driving see our related reports:
Hands-free cell phone laws: Are they effective?
Distracted driving summit: The highlights
Choosing words wisely in the distracted driving discussion
Distracted Driving Summit: The hands-free debate
Defining the problem: Casting a wide net over driver distraction
Automakers agree to ban
Anti-texting video to scare drivers straight
Using wireless communication devices while driving
Cell phone use and driving laws
Dangers of cell phones while driving
Should cell phone use by drivers be illegal?

New rollover protection criteria lead to fewer IIHS Top Safety Picks for 2010

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released a much shorter list of Top Safety Picks for 2010 than in previous years, just 27 models, compared with 94 models in 2009. The Institute has tightened the criteria it uses to name Top Safety Picks for 2010 with the addition of rollover protection, leaving out many vehicles that previously made the list. 

To receive a Top Safety Pick designation for 2010, cars have to receive a Good rating in the IIHS’s new roof crush tests, as well as meet all the earlier criteria: Good scores in front and side crash tests, a Good head restraint design for rear impacts, and the inclusion of Electronic Stability Control. In its crash tests, the IIHS rates cars on a scale of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor.

The added requirement of a Good rating in the roof strength test eliminated several top-selling models that were on last year’s list, including the Ford Fusion and the Honda Accord. “Honda and Ford would have to make only minor changes to achieve good ratings for roof strength, as the Accord and Fusion just missed the mark,” says IIHS president Adrian Lund.

The Toyota Camry also missed the mark because its head restraints were rated Marginal. Toyota had no cars on the list of Top Safety Picks this year. Other past winners with no vehicles on the list this year included BMW, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Saab. The Institute praised Subaru as the only automaker to win the award in every category it entered, with five vehicles earning the Top Safety Pick designation. Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Volvo each earned four. No convertibles were included on this year’s list. Two new small cars, the Nissan Cube and the Kia Soul, join the list.

The Volvo XC60, which was introduced this year, had an early safety problem in the side impact test, and only models built after Nov. 1, 2009 qualify for the award. However, IIHS points out that consumers with XC60s built before than can see their Volvo dealer for an update.

2010 IIHS Top Safety Picks

Large cars
Buick LaCrosse
Ford Taurus
Lincoln MKS
Volvo S80

Midsize cars
Audi A3
Chevrolet Malibu built after Oct. 2009
Chrysler Sebring 4-door with optional ESC
Dodge Avenger with optional ESC
Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Volkswagen Passat sedan
Volvo C30

Small cars
Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC, except Si
Kia Soul
Nissan Cube
Subaru Impreza, except WRX
Volkswagen Golf 4-door

Midsize SUVs
Dodge Journey
Subaru Tribeca
Volvo XC60
Volvo XC90

Small SUVs
Honda Element
Jeep Patriot with optional side air bags
Subaru Forester
Volkswagen Tiguan

Although fewer models earn the award this year, it is still possible to find models in all categories with good overall safety scores. However, in some categories, few if any models meet both IIHS’s requirements for a Top Safety Pick and Consumer Reports standards for recommendation. To be recommended by Consumer Reports, a vehicle must perform well in our testing, have at least average reliability, and perform adequately in safety tests by both the government and the IIHS, if tested.

The small SUV category illustrates how fewer models now standout as the safest and best models. Last year 10 small SUVs earned Top Safety Pick designations. This year only four did: the Honda Element, Jeep Patriot, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan. Many other small SUVs received sub-par ratings in the IIHS’s new roof-strength test. Of those, only the Forester and the Tiguan meet the criteria to be recommended by Consumer Reports.

Overall, vehicle safety has made significant improvements through the years, as automakers have added stronger front and side structures, head-protecting air bags, and electronic stability control on many more models. (For proof, see “IIHS crash tests 2009 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1959 Bel Air.”) Increasingly stringent safety tests have been a driving force in motivating the auto industry to make progressive improvements, and this revised methodology to selecting Top Safety Picks will likely lead to even safer vehicles. 

There are many considerations when choosing a new vehicle, and this change to how the IIHS spotlights what it considers to be the safest models should help car buyers who prioritize safety.

—Eric Evarts 

For more information on the government tests, see our related reports:
Crash test 101
Rollover 101
Roof-crush standards

Toyota may shorten gas pedals in acceleration recall

Toyota will reportedly offer to shorten gas pedals in up to four million of its vehicles, following the company’s largest recall in history for unintended acceleration. This latest solution, following a recall last month asking owners to remove the floor mats in their vehicles, was reported by the Kyodo News and further covered by Reuters.
 
In a Consumer Reports interview, Toyota Communications Manager for Safety and Quality Brian Lyons called the reports “unsubstantiated.” He said, “We are still developing vehicle-based remedies and still in open discussions with NHTSA, but we’re not ready to announce anything.”

After the floor mat recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) insisted that Toyota do more to address the design flaws in the vehicle that were contributing to the problem. Such criticisms included designs that NHTSA says make it difficult for drivers to stop the car in the event of unintended acceleration.
 
In the 1980s, Audi found itself scrutinized for a series of unintended acceleration incidents. Its recall solution was to move the gas and brake pedals farther apart and to install the first brake-shift-interlock, a device that prevents the transmission from being shifted out of park unless the brake pedal is depressed.
 
Toyota has blamed floor mats getting stuck and jamming the accelerator pedals to the floor in some accidents. (Read “Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity.”) If this is a primary cause for the reported sudden acceleration complaints, raising the gas pedal higher off the floor (up toward the driver’s toes) may help alleviate that problem. However, NHTSA said that the investigation into the cause(s) isn’t over.

—Eric Evarts

Related:
Gas-pedal inspection shows most do not pivot
More than floor mats: NHTSA report gives more details on Lexus crash
Putting a car in Neutral might save your life
Putting stuck floor mat survival strategies to the test
Floor mat survey reveals problem with all-weather mats
Toyota and Lexus floor mat recall is official
Toyota advises 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota owners to remove floor mats
Misaligned floor mat may have caused calamity

Beware: Animals pose increased threat to cars in the fall

We see them in the corner of our eye, peering out from the side of the road and in an instant these furry creatures make their dash across the highway and the end result can be deadly. Each year between one and two million collisions occur between cars and large animals—mostly deer, which result in about 200 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and over four billion dollars in vehicle damage and medical payments. And the numbers are steadily increasing.

According to The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDS), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), November is the peak time for deer accidents and this month has three times higher insurance claims than any other month due to deer mating and migration season.

The increase in deer population and the decrease of their natural habitat due to urban sprawl are contributing factors to the increase in crashes and deaths.

Animal-vehicle collisions present a danger to motorists, property, and wildlife, but there are precautions you can take to help avoid having a deer or other animal meet up with your car.

• Slow down. Watch for deer especially around dawn and dusk when they are most active.
• Be aware. Look out for deer-crossing signs and wooded areas where deer or other animals would likely travel.
• Be alert. If you see an animal on the side of the road, slow down, and put on your high-beam lights for greater visibility.
• Brake, don’t swerve. Swerving to avoid an animal can put you at risk for hitting another vehicle or losing control of your own car. It can also confuse the animal as to which way to go. Just slow down and brake.
• Assume they have friends. Deer travel in groups, so if you see one run across the road, expect others to follow.
• Buckle up. A seat belt is your best defense for minimizing your risk in a crash. The IIHS study found that 60 percent of the people killed in animal-vehicle collisions weren’t wearing seat belts.

If you hit an animal, move your car off the road and call police or animal control. Do not attempt to touch an injured animal. Call your insurance company when you get home. Animal collisions are usually covered in your policy.

—Liza Barth

For more on vehicle safety, see our safety guide.

Video: Taylor Swift SNL spoof mocks bad parent drivers

Teens deservedly get a lot of flack for distracted driving, especially talking on the cell phone and texting, but they aren’t the only ones who engage in bad driving behavior. In a recent Saturday Night Live episode, teen musician Taylor Swift (yes, the same Taylor Swift who swept the Country Music Association Awards Wednesday night) did a very funny sketch on the show about bad parent drivers. In the skit, Taylor plays a 15-year-old who campaigns against her parent’s bad driving habits with such topics as “Driving While Arguing with the GPS” and “Driving While Trying to Get Something Out of Your Purse,” plus a number of other real life, relatable parent/teen discussions. Check out the clip of the show.


We all know about the dangers of distracted driving and it not only affects teenagers, but all drivers. This is a real danger, even though the skit is thoroughly funny and entertaining, the subject is no joke. 

Distracted driving is a national issue that has jumped onto the government stage at the recent Distracted Driving Summit and more states are instituting driving while texting bans. With the addition of Rhode Island this week, there are now 19 states that have enacted bans and another five states will have their laws in place in the coming weeks. Parents are stretched to the limit now more than ever and often multitask in the car to get everything done. However, it is especially important to teach kids good driving habits, remembering that they learn by example.

While the SNL skit brings back flashbacks of the awkward and embarrassing teen years, it also highlights, some driving offenses many of us are guilty of on a daily basis. Let’s all have a chuckle, then rededicate ourselves to not making the same mistakes.

—Liza Barth

For more information on distracted driving see our related reports:
Hands-free cell phone laws: Are they effective?
Distracted driving summit: The highlights

Choosing words wisely in the distracted driving discussion
Distracted Driving Summit: The hands-free debate
Defining the problem: Casting a wide net over driver distraction
Automakers agree to ban
Anti-texting video to scare drivers straight
Using wireless communication devices while driving
Cell phone use and driving laws
Dangers of cell phones while driving
Should cell phone use by drivers be illegal?

NHTSA launches investigation of Jeep Grand Cherokee fires

After reports that the Jeep Grand Cherokees may be three to four times as likely to catch fire in a rear-impact collision than other midsized SUVs, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has agreed to open an investigation.

Based on NHTSA data, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) determined that the Grand Cherokee has a higher fatality rate than the Ford Pinto, which became infamous in the 1970s for bursting into flames in rear impacts.

The plastic gas tank in the Grand Cherokee is mounted behind the rear axle and hangs down below the rear bumper, making it vulnerable in accidents.

In 2005, Jeep redesigned the Grand Cherokee and moved the gas tank in front of the rear axle. This design reduced the likelihood of fires in these later Grand Cherokees, according to the CAS petition.

NHTSA investigations often lead to recalls, although they can take years.

Meanwhile, if you own a Grand Cherokee, the Center for Auto Safety says an optional skid-plate over the gas tank (available on Grand Cherokees with the off-road package) will provide some protection. 

 —Eric Evarts

Making car power windows safer

Each year children die needlessly in and around vehicles. The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, signed into law in 2008, is aimed at helping to reduce the statistics and making vehicles safer for children. The Act requires the Department of Transportation to research a number of vehicle safety issues related to children, including power window safety. Recently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced a proposed rulemaking on adding technology known as auto-reversing systems (ARS) that would help avoid power window injuries by stopping a window if an obstruction is detected. NHTSA proposed not to mandate ARS on all windows and is seeking comment. Consumers Union (the non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports) sent in comments in response to NHTSA strongly urging the government to require ARS technology on all light-passenger vehicle windows. (Read the comments from Consumers Union.)
 
The safety issue with power windows was addressed in part in 2006 when NHTSA decided to ban power window rocker and toggle switches from U.S.-manufactured vehicles. Car makers must now equip passenger vehicles with safer lever switches (which must be pulled up to close the window) by Oct. 1, 2010. A number of consumer organizations, including Consumers Union, Kids and Cars, and the Center for Automotive Safety petitioned NHTSA to enact this regulation, but at the time, the agency omitted including the auto reversing technology. NHTSA has determined that the issue will be largely addressed by requiring the safer switch types and that most fatalities are a result of someone (mostly children) inadvertently hitting the switch.
 
NHTSA’s research finds that 1,943 people are injured each year and six deaths occur from power windows closing on passengers. They estimate that the cost would be approximately $6 per window to add the feature. The technology is standard on most European vehicles, but it is on less than half the models from Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors.
 
Even though NHTSA is not recommending the new technology on all cars, they are proposing to require automatic reversal systems on windows that already have a one-touch or “express up” mechanism to close without continuous pulling up of the window switch by the operator. However, because most rear windows are not one-touch or “express up,” Consumers Union believes the requirement for ARS should extend beyond these types of power windows. We have observed vehicles for which the auto-reverse function does not work if the switch is being held continuously.
 
We hope that this life and injury-saving technology will be mandated in the future. In the meantime, adults need to be extra vigilant when using power windows to make sure rear passengers and children are not in harms way. And let this be a reminder not to leave children unattended in a vehicle, especially one that is running or has accessory power on.
 
For a list of 2009 vehicles that are equipped with ARS see safercar.gov. (Download pdf.)

Read: "Which power-window switches are safer?"

For more on child safety, see our kids and car safety guide.

—Liza Barth