Skip to main content

Tesla Model S breaks testing machine, is now the safest car ever crash-tested by NHTSA

nhtsa clarifies tesla model s crash test results
Tesla Model S crash test aftermath. The car scored the highest of any vehicle tested by the NHTSA Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Tesla Model S has impressed me at virtually every turn. Despite its good looks and impressive performance, I was not expecting the Model S to be one of the safest cars on the road. I figured it’d do well, sure, but I never expected it to become the safest car ever tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), scoring a 5 out of 5 in every single test.

This is significant. During crash testing, only one percent of all cars achieve a 5-star rating. Even if a car scores substantially higher than its competitors, as the Model S did, the NHTSA does not award a score higher than 5 stars. When the NHTSA reveals its final scoring to the automaker, however, a score higher than 5 is actually possible. The Model S scored a 5.4 – out of 5.

Recommended Videos

I think the Tesla press release said it best: “Of all vehicles tested, including every major make and model approved for sale in the United States, the Model S set a new record for the lowest likelihood of injury to occupants.”

In front-end collisions, the Model S out-shined its competition thanks to its large impact zone. Unlike internal combustion-powered cars, the front end of the Model S is a secondary trunk, as its motor is mounted in the rear. This allows for far more crash force absorption and distribution.

In the side pole intrusion test, the Model S was the only car to receive a “good” rating. In this test, compared to the highly rated Volvo S60, the Model S “preserved 63.5 percent of driver residual space versus 7.8 percent for the Volvo.”

The Model S also did exceptionally well in rear collisions, as Tesla installs a double bumper.

Most impressive of all, I think, was the rollover test. The NHTSA could not get the Model S to roll over. The testing team had to devise a way just to get the vehicle to roll over. When it did, the Model S scored 50 percent better than the next highest scored vehicles. Then, when the NHTSA tried to test the roof crush protection, the Model S broke the machine. The roof crushing machine gave out at 4 Gs.

Tesla was also quick to note that none of its lithium-ion battery packs has ever caught fire – ever.

So there you have it. In the past, if you wanted to keep your family safe above all, you’d buy a Volvo or an Acura. Now, it looks like the Model S takes the safety cake.

Topics
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
Volkswagen ID.4 vs Tesla Model Y
volkswagen id4 vs tesla model y 2021 id 4 blue charging

The electric car world is seriously heating up, with a number of high-end electric crossovers now available, albeit still at a higher price than comparable gas-powered cars. The Tesla Model Y is one of the first of these, offering the Tesla design, a high-tech software experience, and more. But another one of the older of these models is the Volkswagen ID.4, which was first released in 2021 and also offers among the better electric car experiences out there.

Can the ID.4 compete with one of the best-selling electric cars out there? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The first thing to compare between these two cars is design, and they take a slightly different approach.

Read more
Tesla launches more affordable Model S and Model X, but there’s a catch
A 2021 Tesla Model S.

Tesla has launched more affordable versions of its Model S sedan and Model X SUV in the U.S. and Canada, though they come with shorter driving ranges. Deliveries of the new vehicles will begin next month.

The new Model S "standard range" vehicles cost $78,490 and offer a range of up to 320 miles (515 kilometers), which is considerably shorter than the pricier regular dual-motor and tri-motor Plaid versions that feature a range of 405 miles and 396 miles, respectively, Reuters reported.

Read more
Tesla to fix window software on 1M of its U.S. cars
A 2021 Tesla Model S.

Tesla is sending out an over-the-air update to a million of its vehicles in the U.S. to fix faulty window software that could leave occupants with pinched fingers.

According to a document issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla engineers discovered that the affected vehicles may not meet certain automatic window reversal system requirements. It said that in some cases, the window may exert more force before automatically retracting when sensing an obstruction such as a person’s fingers. The condition “may increase the risk of a pinching injury to the occupant,” the NHTSA’s document says.

Read more