Jan. 9, 2001--
The government rated rollover risks for passenger vehicles for the first time Tuesday, giving its worst grade to two General Motors sport utility vehicles. The highest rating went to the Honda Accord.
According to the report, the Chevy Blazer and GMC Jimmy/Envoy four-door SUVs scored worst on its tests -- getting just one out of five stars.
The four-door Honda Accord was the only vehicle to get a five-star rating.
Auto industry representatives were quick to criticize the new system, describing it as simplistic. And consumer advocates, too, said actual driving tests should be used, not just vehicle measurements.
The rating system does not predict the likelihood of a crash. Rather, it estimates the risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash, usually when the vehicle runs off the road and is tripped by a curb, ditch or soft soil.
| Stars | Rollover Risk |
5 Stars |
less than 10% |
| 4 Stars |
10% - 20% |
| 3 Stars |
20% - 30% |
| 2 Stars |
30% - 40% |
| 1 Star |
greater than 40% |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rated 42 model-year 2001 vehicles: 19 SUVs, 11 light trucks, nine passenger cars and three vans.
Find the full results at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
