Tesla is responsible for more fatal accidents than any other automaker – the reason why may surprise you

Cars are becoming more technologically advanced, refined and heavier. That’s the industry trend as the shift toward electrification continues despite declining demand for electric vehicles.

What can be confirmed, however, is that the prospect of a Top Safety Pick is not guaranteed to prevent a fatality, as a new report reveals.

iSeeCars collected data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) of vehicles built with model years 2018-2022. Car crashes that killed at least one occupant were counted to identify the most dangerous vehicles on America’s roads.

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The data identifies 23 models with elevated mortality rates

As a result, 23 models were announced as having a much higher fatality rate than the overall average. This is measured in cars per billion vehicle kilometers.

Without further ado, the ten most dangerous vehicles are the Hyundai Venue (13.9 cars per billion vehicle kilometers), Chevrolet Corvette (13.6), Mitsubishi Mirage (13.6), Porsche 911 (13.2), Honda CR-V Hybrid (13.2), Tesla Model Y (10.6), Mitsubishi Mirage (10.1), Buick Encore GX (9.8), Kia Forte (8.1) and Buick Envision (8.0).

Other models mentioned include the Kia Soul, Toyota Corolla Hybrid, Chevrolet Camaro, Nissan Versa, Kia K5, Kia Seltos, Ford Bronco, Ford Bronco Sport, Dodge Charger, Toyota Prius, Tesla Model S, Infiniti Q50 and Toyota Venza. All names mentioned have a mortality rate of at least double the overall average of 2.8 cars per billion vehicle kilometers.

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The higher death rates are not the cars’ fault

But those numbers don’t tell the full story. When comparing the size of the vehicles involved in the accidents, compact and subcompact vehicles are the most dangerous, with 3.6 cars per billion vehicle kilometers. However, when you break it down by manufacturer, Tesla shoots to first place with 5.6 cars per billion vehicle miles.

So what’s going on here? The Tesla Model Y is a Top Safety Pick Plus for 2024, but this darling of a best-seller EV cracks the top 10 with the opposite effect. iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer has a theory.

“New cars are safer than ever before,” Brauer said. “Thanks to advanced chassis design, driver assistance technology and a range of airbags surrounding the driver, today’s car models provide excellent occupant protection. But these safety features are being offset by distracted driving and higher speeds, which have led to rising accident and death rates in recent years.”

This claim is supported by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which reports a higher number of crashes and fatalities in the past five years than the previous twelve years. The average statistic of 2.8 cars per billion kilometers is higher than before.

Final thoughts

It comes down to the driver’s habits and behavior. Anyone who sees the vehicle they own listed should not worry, as it will not automatically stop you from making what you felt was the right purchase at the time.

The list of the most dangerous vehicles is not tied to one car manufacturer, one vehicle size or a single purchasing decision. It’s just how you use it and how you choose to share the road with your fellow drivers.

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