2016 Ford F-150 Named IIHS Top Safety Pick
The 2016 Ford F-150 is the only half-ton pickup truck in the class to get the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest rating of good in each of the scored crash categories, earning the best-selling half-ton pickup the institute's Top Safety Pick designation when it's equipped with Ford's optional basic-rated forward collision warning system. IIHS tested model-year 2016 two-wheel-drive versions of Ford's F-150 SuperCab (the 2015 SuperCrew was tested last year and received a top score), two Chevrolet Silverado 1500s, two GMC Sierra 1500s, two Ram 1500s and two Toyota Tundras. And for the first time, the IIHS tested both extended cab and crew cab models of each.
To recap, IIHS is an insurance-industry-sponsored third-party testing agency that independently purchases its test vehicles and evaluates them in several crash categories; those tests result in ratings of good, acceptable, marginal and poor. The ratings are based on the types of injuries test dummies sustain during simulated crashes.
Of the eight other half-ton pickups IIHS tested, three earned an overall rating of acceptable — the Silverado, Sierra and Tundra double cabs. The remaining five pickups earned a marginal overall rating - the Silverado, Sierra, Ram and Tundra crew cabs along with the Ram quad cab. The Ram 1500 crew and quad cabs also received poor scores for structure, and lower leg and foot areas, making them the lowest-scoring vehicles in the segment.
The test that's the biggest challenge for pickup truck makers is the small-overlap front crash test, which replicates what happens when a vehicle's front corner clips a tree, pole or other vehicle. This test results in the most cab intrusion and acts as a predictor of injury for passengers in a similar accident. IIHS puts a test dummy in the driver's seat to provide a real-life view of how a person could be potentially injured or protected (see photos below).
IIHS informed all pickup makers it would be conducting the small-overlap front crash test almost three years ago, but this is the first opportunity IIHS has had for comprehensive testing.
It's also the first time IIHS has tested multiple cab configurations for the half-ton segment; this change in procedure is largely due to IIHS discovering that the 2015 F-150 SuperCab did not have the same structural counter-measure pieces as the 2015 F-150 SuperCrew, which earned the highest score of good in small-overlap crash testing. It was discovered the F-150 SuperCrew's crash-test scores weren't applicable to the F-150 SuperCab.
According to Automotive News, IIHS' procedure change prompted Ford and Ram to use the same relatively simple solution — extra support beams in front and behind the front wheel wells — to try to maximize scores for their pickups in the small-overlap front crash test. But that doesn't explain how the F-150 and Ram 1500 received such different scores for model-year 2016.
Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president of product development and chief technical officer, said he's not surprised by the results because the Ford F-150 team set out to make the best and safest half-ton pickup it could. That resulted in 31 different safety innovations, including completely new cab structures. Some of these special technologies include unique extruded aluminum roof cross-members, lightweight nylon hinge reinforcements, additional rocker panel stiffening and specially designed wheel blockers to move impact forces around the passenger cabin, all of which now exist on the F-150 regular, extended and crew cab models.
The 2016 Ford F-150 also is one of three half-ton pickups to receive the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's highest rating of five stars in overall scoring as well as in other crash tests in all cab configurations. The other two are the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500. We'll have more on this important safety subject and we reach out to the different pickup truck makers who did not score well.
IIHS images
2016 Ford F-150 SuperCab
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Extended Cab
2016 Ram 1500 Quad Cab
2016 Toyota Tundra Double Cab
Comments
Ouch! you would not survive in that ram
No surprises here and congratulations to FORD.
Look at that roof and rocker panel buckle on that Ram...OMG!
I guess a beer can offers much more safety then a poorly designed truck.
Guts and gory should be RAMS motto.
GM full size twins receive NHTSA 5 star crash ratings, their highest rating. Great job GM.
That is the advantage of military grade aluminum vs the scrap steel that is used in the GM and Ram!!!!! I expect GM and Ram will be asking Ford for help and access to their patented and proprietary process and techniques for assembling a vehicle out of military grade aluminum.
Great job for Ford as the 2016 supercab is the top safety pick of 2016!!!!
Yes congrats to GM as well. It is true if you want a great truck and if you want to use the truck for real work ....two brands come to mind Ford and GM.
Their history of being leaders in the truck market clearly shows customers know great trucks!
Where are all the GM and Ram guys that are constantly badmouthing aluminum now? At least if one of those fanboys crashes into my Ford, I will walk away... Can't say their legs will be doing much.
Even the roof separated on the ram.... This is bad and a real safety concern for occupants of a ram truck. Since this is the Insurances agency sponsored test they set insurance rates for trucks due to these test. The portion of insurance on on the truck itself for any damage a truck is a small portion on a truck and medical is another portion this is why the insurance hasn't gone up on the military grade aluminum truck due to its advanced safety features and crash test ratings. Insurance is going to go up on those trucks that aren't Top Rated picks of the insurance institute such as the ram. Insurance companies have massive payouts in medical on trucks that are not top rated safety by the Insurance Institute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlUm9xusXRo
Here is a link that even has a scary picture if you are a ram occupant
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/news/desktopnews/tough-test-for-pickups-ford-f-150-nabs-lone-good-rating-for-small-overlap-protection
Doesn't looks good for very old RAM design. I have to be sure, that if in any accident, I will ram that other car right to the middle, where cast iron HEMI is sitting. No overlap for me. Hopefully, they will do better, when the new redesign model comes next year.
Thank you for posting this info. Very helpful for me. I will never buy the ford anyway. I would rather die in the RAM.
According to Automotive News, IIHS' procedure change prompted Ford and Ram to use the same relatively simple solution — extra support beams in front and behind the front wheel wells — to try to maximize scores for their pickups in the small-overlap front crash test. But that doesn't explain how the F-150 and Ram 1500 received such different scores for model-year 2016.
Well duh this isn't hard to explain why the solution doesn't work for ram. Cause the trucks body panels on the ram aren't made of military grade aluminum.....
And die you will
You too.
@Scott
Panels has nothing to do with that. Those extra beams attached to the main frame do all the trick, diverting forces, preventing wheels to push inside the cabin.
Damn F--king Fords #1 with a max of 7 Good Safety Green lights.
The rest of the losers with 4 or less.
@ram
why didn't it work on the ram as they copied the ford design on those? Hmm difference is one truck has military grade aluminum and the other doesn't.
RAM doesn't have those extra bars. Does it.
"specially designed wheel blockers to move impact forces around the passenger cabin, all of which now exist on the F-150 regular, extended and crew cab models."
RAM doesn't have those . That's why.
BY RAM....Doesn't looks good for very old RAM design. I have to be sure, that if in any accident, I will ram that other car right to the middle, where cast iron HEMI is sitting. No overlap for me. Hopefully, they will do better, when the new redesign model comes next year.
Thank you for posting this info. Very helpful for me. I will never buy the ford anyway. I would rather die in the RAM.
LOL..yeah your Cast Iron Hemi is going to save you in a crash and you'd rather die in a Ram then buy a Ford... Folks we have a Darwin award winner here.
I told you they failed roof crush impact tests and now this...chances are good you will get your wish to die in that Ram.
Crash tests mean nothing to me cause I will never have a head-on crash at 50 mph cause i'm not that stupid to crash a truck like that!
What about the BRAKES on the F-150?
DID ANYBODY TEST THE BRAKES?
If the brakes worked excellent then you would never have a crash in the first place!
RIGHT?
let me tell you I test drive a new F-150 and the brakes SUK!
Posted by: Lou_DC
Crash tests mean nothing to me cause I will never have a head-on crash at 50 mph cause i'm not that stupid to crash a truck like that!
What about the BRAKES on the F-150?
DID ANYBODY TEST THE BRAKES?
If the brakes worked excellent then you would never have a crash in the first place!
RIGHT?
let me tell you I test drive a new F-150 and the brakes SUK!
You may never crash like that but unfortunately if you get your Ram out of the service dept and actually drive it on public roads others may crash into you.
The F150 brakes actually stop better then the Ram... did you have your high heels on when you tested the F150?
FORD is #1 again. All the other fangirls are left in its dust!!
It is good to see Ford having the safest pickup. Is this across the whole range of F-150s?
I do know Ford's global Ranger has been the safest global pickup for a number of years. It has even been rated above many Euro prestige cars and had the safest pedestrian safety rating globally.
So, the next step should be to give star ratings for pickups rather than the data displayed in a tabular format. Wouldn't this be a consumer friendly idea?
By the way. The use of aluminium does not make for a safer pickup
Anyone who considers this so is niave.
That is the advantage of military grade aluminum vs the scrap steel that is used in the GM and Ram!!!!! I expect GM and Ram will be asking Ford for help and access to their patented and proprietary process and techniques for assembling a vehicle out of military grade aluminum.
Great job for Ford as the 2016 supercab is the top safety pick of 2016!!!!
Posted by: Scott | Apr 11, 2016 11:49:34 PM
Yeah the fake military grade aluminum body didn't do the work. The steel crash bars on the frame did all the work. Seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxiTZcIyUE on the 2015 Ext cab F150 that folds up just as bad as the Ram with out the steel crash bars.
So if you ask me the all steel body GM trucks did pretty damn go with out the steel crash bars on the frame like the beer can Ford needs to pass.
I remember years ago when Ford's slogan was "Quality is Job-1". Apparently safety is now Job-1 too. I expected to see pretty good ratings, but WOW, they smoked the others with their engineering.
All his comes down to is Ford war luck enough to be able to make design changes when the IIHS testing changed.
Good job ford, you put the wheel blockers on the supercab. Bad job GM for not doing something similar, the Ford is lighter and with the wheel blockers safer.
The Ram is old and has been unsafe in the crash tests since it came out.
the roof strength on the Ford is also better, especially in the crew cab comparos and close on the Supercab versus double cab GM.
Id consider a 5.0 XLT if they got the bugs worked out of it with an 8 speed, not sure the 10 speed would be to my liking.
The head of GM is a woman, and the head of the pickup division I believe is also a woman, asleep at the wheel, should know how important crash protection is but lazy...
Good for Ford! Thank goodness with all the brake problems they are having!
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-ford-f150-brakes-20160304-story.html
http://autoweek.com/article/car-news/nhtsa-investigating-brake-problems-2013-14-ford-f-150
http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1102720_2013-2014-ford-f-150-investigated-for-brake-failure
Now thats military grade for those of you who asked what that means. This is no surprise who is number 1
Really Nitro? The so call fake military grade part of the truck (aluminum body) isn't any better then the Ram, Unless you are calling the steel crash bars military grade now LMBO!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxiTZcIyUE
Mr Knowitall,
I do consider your comment highly inaccurate.
Ford had done nothing of what you stated or Ford would of not released the aluminium "work" truck last year with "missing" braces.
Ford knew of the impending regulatory changes and engineered a vehicle accordingly, even a Chinese vehicle manufacturer would of done the same as Ford.
All one has to do is look at global pickups and see what's occurring in the US now with pickup safety happened years ago.
Is this a case of US standards catching up to global standards?
The all steel global Ranger could possibly still be one of the world's safest vehicles and not this aluminium F-150.
We will not know. If I were you I would change my handle to accurately reflect my knowledge.
I guess GM and Ram have some work to do to catch up to Ford.
the Fiat failed badly
GM was better then the Ford before the crash bars were installed and Ram was pretty much equal with the Ford. Ford was the one behind skipping out on safety in the ext and reg cabs. Check out the measurements for yourself, Click on small over lap and the technical measurements for each truck.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/ford/f-150-extended-cab-pickup/2015
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/dodge/ram-1500-extended-cab-pickup
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/chevrolet/silverado-1500-extended-cab-pickup
Every single truck (Except Ford) rated poor at lower leg and foot.
Then on the chart something about the restraints and kinematics cause the Ram to be marginal in that category. What specifically?
There is there is not enough detail in the article to explain the structure going from Acceptable to poor down the line.
What is it about the structure specifically?
And the ratings on dummy injury don't seem to justify the structure differences.
@Johnny Doe, yes thats correct number 1 f series, and best in class crash testing due to military grade aluminum, once Gm catches up in 3-5 years(then ram 5-7 years), you will see what it means to go military grade, I will check back with you then and ask how you like it
canesice Good question!
The 2016 ext cab Ford is 1 and 1 for left and right Knee displacement (mm) and
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) is 1% right side.
The ext cab Chevy is 0 left and 1 right for Knee displacement (mm) and 0% for Knee-thigh-hip injury risk.
wouldn't that make it the safer truck?
Nitro The Ford just caught up to GM's 2014 design. In 3 years GM will raise the bar again, see you then. Hopefully Ford won't have to rush out a quick fix like we've seen here.
the Fiat failed badly
Posted by: Gomjabber | Apr 12, 2016 7:40:35 AM
FIAT didn't fail. It has 5 stars. RAM from USA failed badly this time. Let's see , what Fiat engineers can do when next major upgrade is introduced for 2017. I hope , they will do better, than USA engineers.
I don't want to buy Mercedes or KIA. I like RAM.
Spin it anyway you want GM and Fiat, Ford is the safest.
5 star rating. You will walk away in a ford. You may survive in the
others but won't "walk" away. Haha
RAM doesn't have those extra bars. Does it.
Posted by: RAM | Apr 12, 2016 1:48:35 AM
According to automotive news they do. Ram added them last year after ford's 2015 test. Problem is Ram's steel they use is like paper. Not military grade aluminum like ford uses.
@Norcal
It all depends if shrapnel from the air bag primer doesn't cut your neck .
Ford has one victim already. Honda 9. Nobody else yet.
According to automotive news they do. Ram added them last year after ford's 2015 test. Problem is Ram's steel they use is like paper. Not military grade aluminum like ford uses.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 12, 2016 8:45:47 AM
You mean fake military grade aluminum that's like paper.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxiTZcIyUE
Seems awful rigged!
Just like government data, rigged!
I would not be surprised if Ford paid for this one!
See. Soda can is better than sardine can!
These tracks should preform well as they are the light duty versions. Imagine how a 3500 would preform that has the same cab structure but an additional 2,0000- 3,000 lbs of weight not to mention a fully loaded one plowing into a stationary object. I guess to be fair this test shows what would happen hitting a pole or tree but not really another vehicle that will crumple and absorb at least half the impact.
It's great to see a company like Ford care about the safety of its customers. F150 the safest truck on the market by far. Good for you Ford acing the crash tests.
I find it funny how the non Ford guys talk crap about the aluminum body. Us ford guys are going to have the last laugh when GM and RAM go with aluminum bodies with the next few years. The body of a vehicle has nothing to do do with these crash results. It's the strength of the frame and the engineering that goes into these frames along with crumple zones. The body is nothing but a shell.
@johnnydoe, aka gmsrgreat, you go and do it again, offer something without an explanation, so you are saying GM designed the military grade spec and Ford put it to market? then ford sold all the f series vehicles, and has been number 1 for 39 years, so based on your theory which came first the chicken or the egg, or in this case sounds like ford has been the one first for a loing time......just sayin
According to automotive news they do. Ram added them last year after ford's 2015 test. Problem is Ram's steel they use is like paper. Not military grade aluminum like ford uses.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 12, 2016 8:45:47 AM
It says they will in second half of 2015 something similar like ford, but I don't think they did it before this test took the place in September for the RAM and I couldn't find any info that tested RAM has them, so it looks like they don't. Like I said, aluminium body has nothing to do with that. You know that.
@johnnydoe, aka gmsrgreat, you go and do it again, offer something without an explanation, so you are saying GM designed the military grade spec and Ford put it to market? then ford sold all the f series vehicles, and has been number 1 for 39 years, so based on your theory which came first the chicken or the egg, or in this case sounds like ford has been the one first for a loing time......just sayin
Posted by: Nitro | Apr 12, 2016 9:28:59 AM
Dude what are you even talking about here? Seriously lay off the drugs. What do you want a explanation of?
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