Most Dangerous Cars In The US (2024)

Explore which cars have the highest fatality rates for drivers and others in the United States, and learn how this impacts vehicle safety and your car-buying choices.

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ConsumerShield

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Most Dangerous Cars In The US (2024)

The Deadliest Car in America for Drivers

Statistics show concerning trends about cars with the highest driver death rates per million registered vehicle years. The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 tops the list with a death rate of 205, followed by its hatchback version at 183. The Dodge Challenger 2WD and Hyundai Accent also have high rates, at 154 and 152 respectively. Most unsafe cars numbers mainly involve minicars and large cars, which tend to have higher death rates because of their design and the way they are often driven.

Highest rates of driver deaths in 2018-2021

Vehicle name
Vehicle type
Death Rate
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
Minicar
205
Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback
Minicar
183
Dodge Challenger 2WD
Large car
154
Hyundai Accent
Minicar
152
Chevrolet Spark
Minicar
151
Kia Rio sedan
Minicar
122
Dodge Charger HEMI 2WD
Large car
118
Chevrolet Camaro convertible
Large sports car
113
Nissan Altima
Midsize car
113
Kia Forte
Small car
111
Chevrolet Camaro coupe
Large sports car
110
Chevrolet Sonic
Small car
107
Hyundai Elantra sedan
Small car
103
Chrysler 300 4WD
Large car
100
Ford Mustang convertible
Midsize sports car
97
Chevrolet Malibu
Midsize car
91
Dodge Charger 2WD
Large car
91
Chevrolet Trax 2WD
Small SUV
89
Ford EcoSport 2WD
Small SUV
84
Chevrolet Impala
Large car
80

*The death rate is per million registered vehicles and includes 2020 and equivalent earlier models.

Consumer and Policy Implications on Most Unsafe Cars

The information about the most dangerous cars can guide consumers to choose safer vehicles and encourage policymakers to enforce stricter safety rules. Consumers should think about how useful and powerful big and fast cars are, but also look at their safety ratings. Policymakers can use this data to make new safety rules for cars that keep everyone safer, both inside and outside the vehicle.

Worst Vehicle to Hit While Driving

The impact on other drivers tells a different story, heavily influenced by the vehicle type involved in collisions. Very large pickups such as the Ram 3500 Crew Cab long bed 4WD, with a death rate of 189, and the Ford F-350 Crew Cab 4WD at 147, top this list. The substantial size and weight of these vehicles make them more deadly in accidents. It poses significant risks to occupants of smaller vehicles and makes it the worst vehicle to hit while driving.

Highest rates of other-driver deaths in 2018-2021

Vehicle name
Vehicle type
Death Rate
Ram 3500 Crew Cab long bed 4WD
Very large pickup
189
Dodge Charger HEMI 2WD
Large car
164
Ford F-350 Crew Cab 4WD
Very large pickup
147
Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4WD
Very large pickup
145
Kia Optima
Midsize car
134
Kia Rio sedan
Minicar
133
Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD
Very large pickup
122
Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4WD
Very large pickup
120
Dodge Charger 2WD
Large car
105
Ram 1500 Crew Cab short bed 2WD
Large pickup
104

*The death rate is per million registered vehicles and includes 2020 and equivalent earlier models.

Enhancing Road Safety

Improving road safety is crucial, and one way to do this is by making cars safer through better technology and stronger builds. Car makers can lessen the dangers of the riskiest vehicles this way. Also, promoting safe driving habits and increasing public knowledge about car safety can help lower the number of serious accidents.

Conclusion

Knowing the deadliest car in America helps people make smarter choices when buying vehicles and deciding how to drive. Being aware and taking action can greatly improve road safety and reduce deaths linked to certain car models. Both drivers and those who make laws have important roles in making driving safer by focusing on safety in how cars are designed and regulated.

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Research Team

ConsumerShield

Meet ConsumerShield Research Team, dedicated to identifying risks in consumer products and championing consumer rights through rigorous research

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