Troubling safety news about two popular large pickups.
Insurance industry crash tests released today give the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram pickups poor marks.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in tests of the vehicles their cabs were smashed in and their air bags were late to deploy.
It was the institute's first crash tests of large pickups.
The F-150 was said to be clearly the worst performer among the four tested.
It's the most popular vehicle in North America.
Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG said their
vehicles are safe and noted they got high marks in
government tests.
They said they do not design the trucks
to pass the institute's tests, but to protect occupants in
highway crashes.
The institute gave its best rating to the Toyota Tundra. The Tundra's structure was strong and the cab remained intact.
The Chevrolet Silverado was the fourth truck tested by the institute. It got a marginal rating.
The institute tested the trucks by running them into a barrier at 40 miles per hour.
(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APTV 06-04-01 0955MDT
