Old NHTSA Crash Test Results - 1977 to 1997: 09/23/21

This blog is not affiliated with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in any way, shape, or form. Information is taken from the publicly viewable NHTSA Database. Crash tests posted on this blog were conducted between May 21, 1979 and August 17, 1989 at a speed of 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) into a solid wall with dummies restrained by the vehicle safety belt system. Tests were conducted on the model year vehicle listed in the post and may or may not be accurate for a differing model year. Injury measures are likely accurate to a plus or minus 2% range - for example, a 26% risk of injury is likely in the 24-28% range. The five star system used for 2010 and earlier crash tests is used.

Injury risk:

10% or less - 5 star rating

11% - 20% - 4 star rating

21% - 35% - 3 star rating

36% - 45% - 2 star rating

46% or more - 1 star rating

Thursday, September 23, 2021

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1981 JET Industries Ford Escort Electric

Driver HIC: 1,572

Driver Chest G: 37 G's

Passenger HIC: unknown

Passenger Chest G: 39 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 64% Driver, unknown Passenger

Test Date: Monday, October 19, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1981 Lectra 400

Driver HIC: 323

Driver Chest G: 56 G's

Passenger HIC: 1,142

Passenger Chest G: 54 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 18% Driver, 37% Passenger

Test Date: Friday, December 11, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 JET Industries Ford Courier Electric

Driver HIC: 1,373

Driver Chest G: 67 G's

Passenger HIC: 311

Passenger Chest G: 30 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 62% Driver, 4% Passenger

Test Date: Wednesday, January 7, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1981 Lectric Leopard

Driver HIC: 1,530

Driver Chest G: 52 G's

Passenger HIC: 830

Passenger Chest G: 76 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 64% Driver, 49% Passenger

Test Date: Friday, September 18, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1981 Unique Mobility Electrek

Driver HIC: 448

Driver Chest G: 34 G's

Passenger HIC: 273

Passenger Chest G: 30 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 6% Driver, 3% Passenger

Test Date: Wednesday, January 28, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 EVA Ford Fairmont Electric

Driver HIC: 1,054

Driver Chest G: 34 G's

Passenger HIC: 305

Passenger Chest G: 22 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 24% Driver, 3% Passenger

Test Date: Thursday, January 8, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 JET Electrica 007

Driver HIC: 324

Driver Chest G: 37 G's

Passenger HIC: 514

Passenger Chest G: 34 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 100%* Driver, 7% Passenger

Per the test report (linked here), page 25: "The driver's abdomen was severely crushed due to 6.5 inches of forward seat shift and 8.2 inches of rearward steering column displacement. The efforts of 5 technicians using tools were required to extricate the dummy from the vehicle. The lower steering wheel rim was less than 2 inches from the driver seatback. Although the driver's chest received only moderate impact acceleration, the abdominal crush clearly indicates that this was not a survivable crash for the driver."

The injury measures alone would have indicated a 6% risk of severe injury.

Test Date: Friday, November 14, 1980

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 Comuta-Car

Driver HIC: 1,668

Driver Chest G: 52 G's

Passenger HIC: 1,204

Passenger Chest G: 48 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 73% Driver, 37% Passenger

Test Date: Thursday, September 24, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 Chevy LUV

Driver HIC: 1,213

Driver Chest G: 56 G's

Passenger HIC: 917

Passenger Chest G: 43 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 43% Driver, 19% Passenger

Test Date: Wednesday, November 5, 1980

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 Nissan King Cab Pickup

Driver HIC: 1,052

Driver Chest G: 66 G's

Passenger HIC: 1,426

Passenger Chest G: 44 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 44% Driver, 54% Passenger

Test Date: Monday, December 8, 1980

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 Ford Bronco

Driver HIC: 943

Driver Chest G: 48 G's

Passenger HIC: 957

Passenger Chest G: 37 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 23% Driver, 18% Passenger

Test Date: Friday, October 17, 1980

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1980 VW Vanagon

Driver HIC: 1,313

Driver Chest G: 50 G's

Passenger HIC: 831

Passenger Chest G: 41 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 47% Driver, 15% Passenger

Test Date: Thursday, October 23, 1980

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1979 Lectric Leopard

Driver HIC: 1,272

Driver Chest G: 84 G's

Passenger HIC: 2,302

Passenger Chest G: 39 G's

Severe Injury Risk: 73% Driver, 96% Passenger

Test Date: Tuesday, January 27, 1981

30 MPH Crash Tests - 1977 Battronic Van

Driver HIC: 450

Driver Chest G: 52 G's

Passenger HIC: no occupant

Passenger Chest G: no occupant

Severe Injury Risk: 15%* Driver

*The dummy's head struck the steering wheel in an unusual manner, causing a low reading. Given the severe impact to a narrow part of the nose/mouth area, it is likely that severe facial injuries would have resulted from this crash.

Test Date: Tuesday, October 23, 1979