NHTSA - Smart gets high rating, but NHTSA raises safety concern

[jwight]

Originally Posted by MinnySmart

Did they test the car with the doors locked or unlocked? I'd bet unlocked... and the doors automatically lock when driven... I wonder if that would have helped simply by disconecting the unlatching mechanism (or however that works)?

The Standard applies independently of the doors being locked or unlocked the way I read it; if the door is fully latched, it must meet the requirements of the standard. Apparently in this test the smart door latch didn't comply.

[kwagar]

All in all still a very good rating for a car many thought would be patently unsafe!

[the_dude]

it just doesn't seem right that, given the high marks for safety, this was autoblog's headline...

"NHTSA cites safety concern after crash testing smart fortwo"

i mean, an 1,800 pound, 8.8 ft. car getting 4 & 5 stars is really being overlooked in light of a door opening. i'm pretty sure anybody that's driven one will tell you that the warning light for not putting a seat belt on is more than enough of a reminder to always wear it. here's a link to autoblog's article:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/03/n...-smart-fortwo/

[smartune]

Reviewing the videos it doesn't look like the drivers door opened...at all.

[Smart_ABQ]

So the door came unlatched. It doesn't look like it opened AND their ratings graphic has 5 stars for that test. For some reason they had to put that qualifier on there. The 3 star rollover is not surprising given the profile of the vehicle yet they say nothing about that. Wierd.

[SmartAzz]

The somewhat alarming headline is at odds with the results...

*sigh* again no rear impact testing. Why this is so often skipped is beyond me, these accident happen all of the time (I was injured in one) and it only makes sense to test for it.

[4-2NV]

4 star frontal expected. I wonder why 3 star passenger frontal? Steering wheel shock absorbtion?

Rollover not a surprise, or at least falling over on its side. Roof design should handle that though.

5 star side impact a pleasant surprise, given there is only plastic and a 1" square bar protecting and the airbag.

Fasten your seat belt!

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by 4-2NV

5 star side impact a pleasant surprise, given there is only plastic and a 1" square bar protecting and the airbag.

Fasten your seat belt!

It looks like the impact hit one or both wheels, that would really remove a lot of the force from the passenger compartment.

Looks like smart can start touting its 4 star USA crash rating!

[limey]

It will be interesting to see how, or if, smart reacts to these results. Given the public's misguided impression that the car is inherently unsafe I would not be surprised if they make some modifications and submit the car to be retested on order to get any questionmarks removed

[smorris]

smart has to be careful how they tout these results, less someone looks at all of them rather than just the 4-5 stars. Being the only car ever tested to get less than 4 stars in the rollover test is a dubious distinction!