Minivans, a preference often touted among parents for their family-friendly attributes, are facing heightened scrutiny regarding their second-row seating arrangements, a pivotal aspect of family safety. Nevertheless, the latest evaluations reveal a notable shortfall in this critical domain.
Recent assessments carried out by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have subjected four minivan models to rigorous testing, yielding unfavorable results across the board. None of these minivans, including the Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival, Toyota Sienna, and the Honda Odyssey, have managed to secure an acceptable or good rating in the updated moderate overlap front crash test. This updated test places a significant emphasis on back seat safety, shedding light on significant inadequacies.
In the most recent evaluations, the Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival, and Toyota Sienna garnered a marginal rating, while the Honda Odyssey fared even worse with a poor rating. One glaring deficiency shared among all these models, except the Sienna, is the absence of seat belt reminders for second-row seats, an issue that IIHS had previously raised concerns about earlier this year.
David Harkey, President of IIHS, underscored the criticality of back seat safety, particularly in vehicles like minivans that are favored for family transportation. He expressed his disappointment regarding the automotive industry’s delayed adoption of advanced safety technology for second-row occupants, despite their crucial role in transporting families.
This intensified focus on back seat safety stems from research indicating that, in newer vehicles, belted occupants in the second row face a higher risk of serious injuries than those seated in the front. This disparity doesn’t signify a decline in second-row safety but rather a substantial improvement in front-seat safety, thanks to enhanced airbags and advanced seat belts, which are often unavailable in the rear. Importantly, this rating does not apply to younger passengers who are securely fastened in safety seats, as the back seat remains their safest location.
The updated test protocol involves positioning a second dummy in the second row, situated behind the driver. The driver dummy emulates an average-sized adult man, while the rear dummy represents a smaller woman or younger passengers. New metrics have been introduced to evaluate injuries that are frequently observed in back seat passengers.
To attain a good rating, a vehicle must not pose an excessive risk of head, neck, chest, or thigh injuries to the second-row dummy. Furthermore, the dummy should maintain proper positioning during the crash, preventing undesirable “submarining” under the lap belt, which can lead to abdominal injuries. The head should remain at a safe distance from the front seatback, and the shoulder belt should remain properly secured on the shoulder to maximize its protective function. A pressure sensor on the rear dummy’s torso continuously monitors the shoulder belt’s positioning during the crash.
Consistent with the initial test, the vehicle’s occupant compartment structure must guarantee sufficient survival space for the driver, and measurements from the driver dummy should not indicate an elevated risk of injury.
While all four minivans offer commendable protection for front-seat occupants, they encounter multiple issues concerning the second row. Jessica Jermakian, IIHS vice president of vehicle research, expressed her apprehensions, noting that the restraint systems in these minivans expose second-row occupants to chest injuries due to excessive belt forces or poor belt positioning, which can potentially be life-threatening.
Among the four vehicles, only the Sienna, rated as marginal, is equipped with belt pretensioners and force limiters, designed to mitigate belt forces. However, during testing, the rear dummy submarined beneath the lap belt, and the shoulder belt migrated towards the dummy’s neck.
In the case of the Carnival and Pacifica, both rated as marginal, the seat belt exerted excessive force on the dummy’s chest. Additionally, the Pacifica’s side curtain airbag did not deploy as expected.
The Odyssey, with its poor rating, presented the most concerning findings. Forces on the rear dummy’s head and neck were notably higher, and the crash video demonstrated that the rear seat belt allowed the dummy’s head to dangerously approach the front seatback, escalating the risk of head injuries.
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