Deadliest Vehicles for Drivers

As a driver, chances are you’re aware of vehicle safety ratings as determined by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These ratings, often touted in auto ads, provide shoppers with data to help determine which cars are safer choices. This IIHS study is a bit different — it reveals cars in which there are greater chances of dying behind the wheel. The following data represents 2011 models; however, stats from as far back as model-year 2008 are included if the vehicles weren’t substantially redesigned before 2011.

Some good news: Overall, the odds of a driver dying in a crash in a late-model car have fallen by more than one-third in the last three years, thanks in a large part to advances in vehicle design and safety technology. To make this list, a vehicle must have had at least 100,000 registered vehicle years of exposure during 2009-12, or at least 20 driver deaths. Fatality counts are taken from the federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Registration data comes from R.L. Polk & Co. These ratings are based on American vehicle safety standards.

Let's take a look at them 

HONDA CIVIC (4-DOOR)

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 49
Multiple vehicle crashes: 28
Single vehicle crashes: 21
Single vehicle rollovers: 8

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side – Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
3 Stars

DODGE NITRO 2WD

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 51
Multiple vehicle crashes: 7
Single vehicle crashes: 50
Single vehicle rollovers: 40

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side – Moderate
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Average

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

MAZDA MAZDA6

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 54
Multiple vehicle crashes: 34
Single vehicle crashes: 17
Single vehicle rollovers: 3

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side – Good
Roof strength: Average
Head restraints & seats: Moderate

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

JEEP PATRIOT 2WD

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 57
Multiple vehicle crashes: 44
Single vehicle crashes: 9
Single vehicle rollovers: 3

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side – Moderate
Side w/optional side airbags: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 57
Multiple vehicle crashes: 33
Single vehicle crashes: 25
Single vehicle rollovers: 0

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Moderate
Roof strength: NA
Head restraints & seats: Moderate

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

CHEVROLET AVEO 5-DOOR

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 58
Multiple vehicle crashes: 58
Single vehicle crashes: 0
Single vehicle rollovers: 0

IIHS Safety Ratings
Not Tested

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 2WD

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 60
Multiple vehicle crashes: 31
Single vehicle crashes: 28
Single vehicle rollovers: 9

IIHS Safety Ratings
Not tested

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

CHEVROLET HHR

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 61
Multiple vehicle crashes: 34
Single vehicle crashes: 25
Single vehicle rollovers: 9

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Average
Roof strength: NA
Head restraints & seats: Moderate

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

NISSAN CUBE

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 66
Multiple vehicle crashes: 38
Single vehicle crashes: 29
Single vehicle rollovers: 6

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Good
Roof strength: Good
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

FORD FOCUS (4-DOOR)

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 70
Multiple vehicle crashes: 55
Single vehicle crashes: 13
Single vehicle rollovers: 5

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Average
Roof strength: NA
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

NISSAN VERSA HATCHBACK

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 71
Multiple vehicle crashes: 37
Single vehicle crashes: 33
Single vehicle rollovers: 20

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Average
Roof strength: Average
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
2 Stars

HONDA CIVIC (2-DOOR)

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 76
Multiple vehicle crashes: 46
Single vehicle crashes: 29
Single vehicle rollovers: 10

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Average
Roof strength: NA
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 CREW CAB 4WD

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 79
Multiple vehicle crashes: 40
Single vehicle crashes: 36
Single vehicle rollovers: 17

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Average
Roof strength: Moderate
Head restraints & seats: Average

NHTSA Rating
4 Stars

CHEVROLET CAMARO

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 80
Multiple vehicle crashes: 19
Single vehicle crashes: 60
Single vehicle rollovers: 25

IIHS Safety Ratings
Not tested

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

HYUNDAI ACCENT (2-DOOR)

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 86
Multiple vehicle crashes: 43
Single vehicle crashes: 48
Single vehicle rollovers: 20

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Average
Side: Poor
Roof strength: Average
Head restraints & seats: Average

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

CHEVROLET AVEO (4-DOOR)

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 99
Multiple vehicle crashes: 65
Single vehicle crashes: 31
Single vehicle rollovers: 10

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Average
Side: Marginal
Roof strength: Marginal
Head restraints & seats: Marginal

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

HYUNDAI ACCENT (4-DOOR)

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 120
Multiple vehicle crashes: 65
Single vehicle crashes: 53
Single vehicle rollovers: 16

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Average
Side: Poor
Roof strength: Average
Head restraints & seats: Average

NHTSA Rating
Not tested

NISSAN VERSA SEDAN

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 130
Multiple vehicle crashes: 44
Single vehicle crashes: 87
Single vehicle rollovers: 51

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Good
Side: Average
Roof strength: Average
Head restraints & seats: Good

NHTSA Rating
2 Stars

KIA RIO

Driver deaths per million registered vehicles: 149
Multiple vehicle crashes: 96
Single vehicle crashes: 54
Single vehicle rollovers: 15

IIHS Safety Ratings
Moderate overlap front: Average
Side: Poor
Roof strength: Average
Head restraints & seats: Average

NHTSA Rating
Not tested