Breaking : The study reveals that Tesla tops the list of highest fatal accident rates among car brands-urgent360

Tesla vehicles have recorded the highest fatal accident rate among all car brands in the United States, as revealed by a recent iSeeCars study based on data from the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

 

The analysis examined crashes of vehicles from model years 2018–2022, focusing on incidents from 2017 to 2022 that resulted in occupant fatalities. Tesla’s fatal crash rate was reported at 5.6 fatalities per billion miles driven, leading all brands. Kia followed closely with a rate of 5.5, while Buick came in third with a rate of 4.8. For comparison, the average fatal crash rate across all car brands in the U.S. stands at 2.8 per billion miles driven.

 

The study also offered insights into individual models. The Tesla Model S showed a fatal crash rate of 5.8 per billion miles, more than double the national average. The Tesla Model Y, the world’s best-selling vehicle, registered a fatal crash rate of 10.6 per billion miles—nearly four times the average—ranking it as the sixth worst vehicle overall. The Hyundai Venue topped the list with a fatal crash rate of 13.9.

 

However, the study authors clarify that these findings do not imply inherent safety issues or design flaws in Tesla vehicles. Tesla models are known for their advanced safety features, with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently awarding the 2024 Model Y a Top Safety Pick+ designation. Many other models on the list have also received strong safety ratings from both IIHS and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

 

So, why are Teslas and other seemingly safe vehicles associated with high fatal crash rates? According to iSeeCars executive analyst Karl Brauer, “The models on this list likely reflect a combination of driver behavior and driving conditions, leading to increased crashes and fatalities. A focused, alert driver, traveling at a legal or prudent speed, without being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is the most likely to arrive safely, regardless of the vehicle they’re driving.”