Vans Take Top Scores in Government Crash Ratings

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
January 6, 2004

NHTSA 1-04
Tuesday, January 6, 2004
Contact: Tim Hurd
Telephone: (202) 366-9550

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced results of its first model year 2004 New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) crash test results. 

"Crash test results help consumers make better decisions about the next cars they buy," U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said.  "Consumers should know how well their next cars are going to protect them and their families."

The Model Year 2004 Ford Freestar, Mercury Monterey, Nissan Quest, and the Toyota Sienna vans all earned top ratings of five stars for both the driver and right front passenger in the frontal impact crash test.   Results from all 2004 model year vans as well as other vehicle test results can be found at http://www.nhtsa.gov/exit.cfm?link=http://www.safercar.gov/.

New model year 2004 crash test ratings for frontal impact are provided for the Acura MDX 4x4 four-door utility, Cadillac DeVille four-door sedan, Chrysler 300M four-door sedan, Chrysler Concorde four-door sedan, Chrysler Concorde Ltd four-door sedan, Dodge Intrepid four-door sedan, Ford Freestar van, Ford Taurus four-door sedan, Jeep Liberty 4x4 four-door utility, Lexus RX330 4x4 four-door utility, Mercury Monterey van, Mercury Sable four-door sedan, Mitsubishi Endeavor 4x4 four-door utility, Nissan Maxima four-door sedan, Nissan Quest van, Pontiac Grand Prix four-door sedan, and the Toyota Sienna van.

New model year 2004 ratings for side impact are provided for the Honda Accord four-door sedan, Hyundai XG350 four-door sedan, Lexus RX330 4x4 four-door utility, Mitsubishi Endeavor 4x4 four-door utility, Nissan Maxima four-door sedan, and the Toyota Sienna van.

A fact sheet containing explanatory information and tables showing NCAP crash tests results for recently released model year 2004 vehicles can be obtained by calling the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, or by writing to NHTSA Consumer Information, Room 5320, 400 Seventh St., S.W., Washington, DC 20590.  Crash test information is also available at NHTSA's Web site (http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/) by clicking on "Crash Tests" under "Popular Information" in the index on the left side of the screen.  A list of Model Year 2004 vehicles to be tested this year and the ratings for Model Year 2004 vehicles which are carried over from previous testing can be found in NHTSA's Nov. 21, 2003 press release.  Click on "Press Releases" also under "Popular Information" on NHTSA's Web site.