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NHTSA’s Model Year 2004 Rollover Test Results Use New Testing System; Available on Web Site

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today posted model year 2004 rollover resistance scores that for the first time use the agency's enhanced rating system, which now includes results from a dynamic track test.

The rollover scores are available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or consumers can go to the results directly at: www.safercar.gov/ .

While none of the vehicles achieved the agency's highest five-star rating, several earned four-star designations, including the Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x4, Chevrolet Silverado extended cab (4x4 and 4x2), Ford Focus wagon, Subaru Outback wagon, Toyota Echo and Volvo XC90 4x4.

A five-star rating means the likelihood of rollover during a single vehicle crash is less than 10 percent; four-star, between 10 and 20 percent; three-star, between 20 and 30 percent; two-star, between 30 and 40 percent; and one-star, greater than 40 percent.

Other rated vehicles were the Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x2, Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x2, Jeep Liberty 4x4 and 4x2, Toyota 4Runner 4x4 and 4x2 and Toyota Tacoma extended cab 4x4. Tests for several other vehicles are under review and will be released at a later date. These are the Ford Explorer 4x4 and 4x2, Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x4, and Toyota Tacoma extended cab 4x2.

The dynamic test uses the so-called "fishhook" maneuver – a series of abrupt turns at varying speeds. A computerized steering system is used in each test vehicle to maintain objectivity.

NHTSA in the past based its rollover ratings on a vehicle's static stability factor, which is an engineering calculation based on the track width and the height of the center of gravity. Beginning with the 2004 model year, the rollover risk predictions are based on the static stability factor scores and the vehicle's performance in a dynamic track test.

 

Rollover Resistance Test Scores
(Includes Corporate Twins of Vehicles Tested)

Make and Model	Size Class	Curb Weight (lbs.)	Rollover Star Rating
Buick Ranier 4x2 (1)	SUV	4355	3
Buick Ranier 4x4 (2)	SUV	4541	4
Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x2	SUV	4355	3
Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x4	SUV	4541	4
Chevrolet Silverado 4x2 xcab	PU	4600	4
Chevrolet Silverado 4x4 xcab	PU	4930	4
Ford Explorer 4 dr. 4x2	SUV		under review
Ford Explorer 4 dr. 4x4	SUV		under review
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x2	SUV	4137	2*
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 4x4	SUV		under review
Ford Focus Wagon	PC	2754	4
GMC Envoy 4x2 (1)	SUV	4355	3
GMC Envoy 4x4 (2)	SUV	4541	4
GMC Sierra 4x2 pu/ec (3)	PU	4600	4
GMC Sierra 4x4 pu/ec (4)	PU	4930	4
Jeep Liberty 4x2	SUV	3781	3
Jeep Liberty 4x4	SUV	3952	3
Mercury Mountaineer 4 dr. 4x2 (5)	SUV		under review
Mercury Mountaineer 4 dr. 4x4 (6)	SUV		under review
Olds Bravada 4x2 (1)	SUV	4355	3
Olds Bravada 4x4 (2)	SUV	4541	4
Subaru Outback wagon	PC	3504	4
Toyota Echo	PC	2160	4
Toyota 4Runner 4x4	SUV	4248	3
Toyota 4Runner 4x2	SUV	4001	3
Toyota Tacoma 4x2 xcab	PU		under review
Toyota Tacoma 4x4 xcab	PU	3673	3*
Volvo XC90 4x4	SUV	4642	4

*During test, the vehicle tipped up on two wheels.
PU = Pickup
SUV = Sport Utility Vehicle

(1) Corporate twin of Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x2
(2) Corporate twin of Chevrolet Trailblazer 4x4
(3) Corporate twin of Chevrolet Silverado xcab 4x2
(4) Corporate twin of Chevrolet Silverado xcab 4x4
(5) Corporate twin of Ford Explorer 4 dr. 4x2
(6) Corporate twin of Ford Explorer 4 dr. 4x4

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