Toyota Has 3 Of the Most Dangerous Cars and One Pickup In New Study

Which cars, SUVs, and trucks are the most dangerous?

A recent comprehensive study by iSeeCars reveals that Toyota has three cars and one pickup on the most dangerous vehicles on the road list. This study is a crucial resource for understanding fatality rates in collisions. 

iSeeCars.com comprehensively analyzed fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of model year 2018-2022 cars. The study focused on car crashes that resulted in at least one occupant fatality, aiming to identify the most dangerous vehicles on U.S. roads today.

"New cars are safer than they've ever been," said Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst. "Between advanced chassis design, driver assist technology, and an array of airbags surrounding the driver, today's car models provide excellent occupant protection. But these safety features are being countered by distracted driving and higher rates of speed, leading to rising accident and death rates in recent years."

Here are the top ten deadliest cars on American roads, along with their fatal accident rates (cars per billion vehicle miles) compared to the overall average. This comparison will give you an understanding of the relative safety of these vehicles. But more importantly, it revelals more about the drivers. 

1. Hyundai Venue 13.9 - 4.9x
2. Chevy Corvette 13.6 - 4.8x 
3. Mitsubishi Mirage 13.6 - 4.8x
4. Porsche 911 13.2 - 4.6x
5. Honda CR-V Hybrid 13.2 - 4.6x
6. Tesla Model Y 10.6 - 3.7x
7. Mitsubishi Mirage G4 10.1 - 3.6x 
8. Buick Encore 9.8 - 3.4x
9. Kia Forte 8.1 - 2.9x
10. Buick Envision 8.0 - 2.8x

Toyota has three models that are among the 23 most dangerous cars: the Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Prius, and Venza. I've included the fatal accident rate (cars per billion vehicle miles) compared to the overall average. 

• #12 - Toyota Corolla Hybrid 7.3 - 2.6x
• #20 - Toyota Prius 5.9 - 2.1x
• #23 - Toyota Venza 5.6 - 2.0x

"Most of these vehicles received excellent safety ratings, performing well in crash tests at the IIHS and NHTSA, so it's not a vehicle design issue," said Brauer. "The models on this list likely reflect a combination of driver behavior and driving conditions, leading to increased crashes and fatalities."

In the iSeeCars SUV study, the Toyota Venza is the 9th deadliest on the SUV list, with the most frequent occupant fatalities. 

Which are the most dangerous pickup trucks?

The trucks with the most frequent occupant fatalities -from the iSeeCars study include the popular Toyota Tacoma.

1. Nissan Frontier 5.0 - 2.2x
2. Ford Ranger 4.0 - 1.7x
3. Chevrolet Colorado 2.9 - 1.3x
4. Toyota Tacoma 2.8 - 1.2x
5. Jeep Gladiator 2.7 - 1.2x 

iSeeCars says like SUVs, trucks have a natural size, weight, and passenger height advantage when it comes to passenger safety. "When ranked by fatal accident rate, it's not surprising to see full-size trucks generally outperforming midsize models."

Larger vehicles generally provide better protection in a crash due to their size, weight, and height advantage.

"Most midsize trucks perform worse than the segment average, while most full-size trucks perform better," said Brauer. This suggests that, even in the truck category, the 'larger vehicle wins' trend seems to hold true."

Which are the most dangerous car brands?

When it comes to overall safety, Toyota is not on the list of the most dangerous car brands. This reveals not all Toyota models and more importanly its drivers are dangerous.  

1. Tesla 
2. Kia
3. Buick
4. Dodge
5. Hyundai 

What does this mean for Toyota customers?

As Karl Brauer, iSeeCars Executive Analyst, points out, "A vehicle's size, weight, and height are important factors in passenger safety. However, the most significant contributor to occupant safety is avoiding a crash, and the key to crash avoidance is driver behavior." 

"A focused, alert driver, traveling at a legal or prudent speed, without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is the most likely to arrive safely, regardless of the vehicle they're driving."

As with all car brands and models, Toyota customers should take responsibility for their safety on the road.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Toyota