Determining which car brands are involved in the most accidents is an important question for consumers looking to purchase a new vehicle. The safety record and accident rates of different auto manufacturers can influence which cars drivers choose to buy for themselves and their families. In this article, we will examine data and statistics to identify the car brands that tend to get in the most accidents on average.
Examining accident data and statistics
To determine which car brands have the highest accident rates, we need to look at data collected and analyzed by various organizations and government agencies. This includes sources like:
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
- Consumer Reports
- Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI)
- Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
These groups gather information from sources like police crash reports, insurance claims, and driver surveys. They compile this data to produce statistics on accident frequency, severity, death rates, and more for different makes and models.
Factors like driver demographics, geographic region, road conditions, vehicle age, and miles driven can all impact accident rates as well. So when comparing brands, it’s important to control for these variables and look at large data sets that represent national or multi-year trends. Focusing on fatal crashes or police-reported accidents can provide useful insights into relative safety.
Brands with the most accidents overall
Several major studies and reports have been done in recent years trying to rank car brands and models by their real-world accident rates. Here are some of the brands that tend to have the highest accident rates based on the data:
| Brand | Details on accident rate data |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | Mitsubishi vehicles had the highest rate of driver deaths per million registered vehicle years in a 2020 IIHS study. |
| Hyundai | Hyundai cars had the 2nd highest accident rate in a 2021 Consumer Reports analysis of insurance claims. |
| Kia | Kia ranked 3rd worst for accident rates in the Consumer Reports study. |
| Ford | Ford vehicles were involved in the most police-reported fatal crashes according to 2020 FARS data from NHTSA. |
These brands performed poorly compared to others across multiple large studies of real-world crashes and insurance claims. This indicates they tend to experience more accidents on average compared to many other major auto manufacturers.
Factors that contribute to higher accident rates
There are many potential factors that could contribute to some brands having worse safety records and higher accident rates than others:
- Driver demographics – Some brands may be more popular with younger/inexperienced drivers
- Vehicle types – Brands that sell more small cars or SUVs could have higher risk
- Safety features – Lack of advanced accident avoidance tech on some models
- Mechanical issues – Some brands may have worse reliability records
- Geographic distribution – Brand popularity in regions with higher accident rates
These and other variables related to driver behavior, vehicle design, road environments, and more can all play a role in accident trends. Isolating the impact of these factors can be difficult when comparing brands.
Accident rates by vehicle type and class
Accident rates also tend to vary significantly between different vehicle classes and body styles. Here are some key trends:
| Vehicle Type | Accident Rate Details |
|---|---|
| Sports cars | Have the highest fatal crash rates according to IIHS, likely due to high speeds. |
| Mini vans | Have the lowest fatal crash rates in IIHS studies. |
| SUVs | SUVs are involved in a higher share of fatal multi-vehicle crashes according to HLDI data. |
| Pickup trucks | Pickups have a higher incidence rate for damage claims according to HLDI. |
These vehicle-specific trends are important to factor in, as brands that sell more sports cars or trucks may show higher accident rates.
The role of driver behavior and demographics
While vehicle design and equipment differences account for some variation in accident rates, driver-related factors play a very significant role as well. Some key driver demographics and behaviors correlated with higher crash risk include:
- Younger drivers – Highest crash rates are for drivers under age 20
- Older drivers – Crash rates start increasing again over age 70
- Alcohol use – Over 30% of fatal crashes involve an impaired driver
- Speeding – Exceeding speed limits or driving too fast for conditions
- Distraction – Cell phone use, texting, or otherwise distracted driving
Because different car brands have different driver demographics, this can strongly influence their overall accident rates. For example, brands favored by younger buyers may show higher risk.
The impact of vehicle size, weight, and design
While driver-related factors account for the majority of accidents, vehicle size and design still have an influence on safety outcomes. Some key considerations:
- Vehicle weight – Heavier vehicles fare better in multi-vehicle crashes
- Vehicle size – Larger vehicles like SUVs have higher rollover risk
- Crashworthiness – Vehicle structure and design impact injury mitigation
- Safety features – Systems like auto emergency braking can prevent crashes
Brands that primarily produce smaller, lighter cars will be at a disadvantage in crashes versus brands with heavier trucks and SUVs. However, larger vehicles have risks like increased rollover rates and poorer handling.
The effect of vehicle condition, maintenance, and age
Older vehicles that are poorly maintained are more likely to be involved in accidents. Relevant factors include:
- Vehicle age – Crash rates start increasing after vehicles are over 10 years old
- Worn tires – Can cause loss of control and braking issues
- Brake problems – Extends stopping distance and increases rear-end crash risk
- Headlight problems – Reduces visibility of vehicle and roadway obstacles
Some brands may perform better than others based on the average age and condition of their vehicles driven by consumers. However, this relationship is difficult to quantify.
The impact of advanced safety technologies
In recent years, vehicle safety systems have become much more advanced. Some technologies that can help prevent accidents include:
- Automatic emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Lane departure warning/prevention
- Rear cross traffic alert
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind spot monitoring
Brands that are quicker to make these latest safety systems standard equipment across their model lineups could potentially achieve lower real-world accident rates as a result.
Conclusion
In reviewing the available data, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Kia, and Ford tend to have the highest accident rates across major studies of insurance claims, police reports, and fatal crashes. Contributing factors can include driver demographics, vehicle types, safety features, design, condition, and more. While drivers play a very significant role in accidents, ongoing improvements in vehicle safety technologies are expected to help reduce crash rates over time. Consumers should weigh this safety data along with other factors as they choose which car brand to purchase for their needs.