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Insurance Industry (IIHS) Crash Tests Fail Several Minivans

Washington DC Sepember 19, 2005; The AIADA newsletter reported that a test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) concluded that head restraints in some minivans do not protect people from neck injuries in rear-end crashes, but some automakers are refuting the test results.

According to The Associated Press, the following minivans scored low on the IIHS tests: versions of the 2004-06 model year Dodge Grand Caravan, the Chrysler Town & Country; a version of the 2005-06 Toyota Sienna; and four GM minivans from the 2005-06 model year -- the Chevrolet Uplander, Buick Terraza, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay. “

The minivans were tested on a crash simulation sled that replicates the forces in a stationary vehicle that is struck in the rear by a similar vehicle at 20 mph. Vehicles received a higher rating if the head restraint contacted a dummy’s head quickly and the forces on the neck and the acceleration of the torso were low.”

The institute also said that the minivans with marginal or low restraint scores were also given poor overall marks since they could not be positioned to protect many motorists. Allison Takahashi, spokeswoman for Toyota, said extensive internal testing of the head restraint system is conducted by the company, and "the protection provided by Toyota’s seating systems has always been among the best in the world."