TESLA MODEL S CRASH TEST

2017 Tesla Model S initially had earned an acceptable rating in the small overlap test, which represents the type of crash that occurs when the front driver-side corner of a vehicle hits a tree or utility pole or collides with another vehicle. The main problem with the performance of the Model S was that the safety belt let the dummy’s torso move too far forward, allowing the dummy’s head to strike the steering wheel hard through the airbag.

Tesla made changes to the safety belt in vehicles built after January with the intent of reducing the dummy’s forward movement. However, when IIHS tested the modified Model S, the same problem occurred, and the rating didn’t change.

Although the two tested vehicles had identical structure, the second test resulted in greater intrusion into the driver’s space because the left front wheel movement wasn’t consistent. Maximum intrusion increased from less than 2 inches to 11 inches in the lower part and to 5 inches at the instrument panel in the second test. The first test resulted in a good rating for structural integrity, while the second test resulted in an acceptable structural rating. The two tests’ structural ratings were combined, resulting in acceptable structure and an acceptable rating overall for the Model S.

The greater deformation in the second test also resulted in damage to the left front corner of the battery case. The deformation was limited to an area that didn’t contain battery cells in the tested vehicle, so this damage didn’t affect the rating. Higher-performance variants of the Model S could have battery cells in this area, but, according to Tesla, they also have different structure. They haven’t been tested separately and aren’t covered by this rating.

The Model S is only available with headlights that earn a poor rating and hasn't been rated yet for front crash prevention. While automatic braking comes standard, the software for the feature was only recently activated.

► These results are valid only for models sold in the USA

✅ Source: IIHS

[gustavomercado]

We have to remind that this test is post tesla's improvements form the previous test

[OneDesignOne]

What happened to the 10/10 score of Tesla?

[donkeydicked]

Whoa !! That's scary ! Wouldn't want to be in one of them ... I guess they haven't got the real world results and years of experience like a real car company

[MonkyPocks]

I wonder how bad the footwell intrusion was. That wheel going up into the passenger compartment is not good.

[gsblendzz]

and why does it not apply to higher performance variants?? i have a performance i’m wondering how that does. i also have a model y performance

[gsblendzz]

i know that it is rated acceptable but i think this is the safest car in the world. rated by nhsta and euro ncap. i don’t know what IIHS is thinking

[baukejan]

I don't get it, why isn't there an airbag to catch the head? Its not like they didnt knew this test would come...

[trainiax]

A bit of context before too many comments claim "Tesla Fail": The small overlap test is an extremely demanding test in which many cars performed very poorly only a few years ago. "Acceptable" is the second-highest rating at the IIHS - it simply appears less impressive when most other new cars now achieve a "Good" rating in the same small-overlap test. The Model S did achieve a "Good" rating in all the other IIHS crash tests.

[gucciflipflopbleep]

He won’t be watching netflix after he crashes.

[L]

This car is so over priced for it's quality. I LOL at people who are comparing it to Mercedes, the interior quality doesn't even come close to Lexus. And now turns out that it's not really safe.
I LOL even louder at people who think Tesla is a super car. 1/4 mile doesn't determine the status. Try one corner between the 1/4 mile, any super car will smoke Tesla like a barbecue pork.

[cman]

These cars are actually built like tanks even though people see all these fatal Tesla crashes is just because the media goes after every single fatal tesla crash, while if a Mercedes Benz has a fatal crash there won’t be much light shead on it from the media. People make tesla out to be some in experienced crap car company that has a bunch of fires and fatal accidents

[tylerwickline]

that's why i only buy a model 3/model y because the model s doesn't get a top safety pick.

[rvne]

Save yourself the reliability issues, average safety, and shoddy build quality and buy yourself a Volvo. I'd consider a Tesla when they iron out all of the problems.

[zarthemad]

odd that they failed to show the subsequent battery fire.

[BenzinioB]

Usually I feel hurt seeing smashed car, even for safety purpose... but smashed Tesla... that is the best damn sight I can imagine :)

[WeKnowTheTruth]

what a fail. they claimed it would be safer and more advanced than a Camry but still fails. Gets a worse rating the a new jeep grand Cherokee but as good as a 2004 jeep?
Never buying a American car. Its pretty obvious why no other big company is switching to water or electricity since we dont very well understand it.
Who pays 100k for a advanced futurisitc car and it has bad ratings? smh.

[opl]

lol... small over lap test. Then there will be the super small over lap test. Eventually they'll just have a test where the car crashes into a steel beam shaped like a blade and will have to resist getting cut in half.

From what I can gather of these tests... if a crash is inevitable, do it head on. Much safer :P

[p]

There will always be a test which isn't perfect, in any car. Most important tests are NCAP (US and EURO) and the Model S has got 5/5 stars in each category. Anyway, best crashes are avoided ones and software updates/upgrades make Tesla cars better and better.

[placerdemaio]

There was a lot of things in this test that was fishy, like the category thing, and the timing, they show the tesla crash but never supposedly the winner why, the model x that the same base score perfect and unprecedented in industry history.