GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints

Perian · 09-19-2005, 07:58 AM

Link: http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050918/crash_tests.html?.v=2

Quote:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Head restraints in some minivans inadequately protect people against neck injuries in rear-end crashes, the insurance industry said Sunday. Several automakers took issue with the latest test results.

Earning poor overall ratings were seven models subjected to a simulated crash: versions of the 2004-2006 model years of the Dodge Grand Caravan and its corporate twin, the Chrysler Town & Country; a version of the 2005-2006 Toyota Sienna; and four General Motors Corp. minivans from the 2005-2006 model years -- the Chevrolet Uplander, Buick Terraza, Pontiac Montana SV6 and Saturn Relay.

The 2004-2006 Ford Freestar and Mercury Monterey received the highest rating, or good, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Article continues at link above.

FordMan · 09-19-2005, 08:08 AM

Well, thats one good thing about the Freestar and Monterey. But this is proof that safety isn't everyones #1 priority.

goblue1999 · 09-19-2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordMan

Well, thats one good thing about the Freestar and Monterey. But this is proof that safety isn't everyones #1 priority.

Thanks for the detailed analysis, doofus!

member12 · 09-19-2005, 09:04 AM

OK, this is a head restraint. Simply pull out the ones you have now, and place the ones from another car that scored higher in....

What would GM do without me....

Besides, those minivans were in need of a redesign anyway.

saturnsteve · 09-19-2005, 09:12 AM

Never fails, always something bad that has to be going on. The Relay has really picked up around here, this will hurt us for a while!

TiburonJT · 09-19-2005, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goblue1999

Thanks for the detailed analysis, doofus!

Truth hurts, huh

Snafu_SS · 09-19-2005, 09:38 AM

most move up...why not pull em up a few clicks till they fit your head position????

**T-Type** · 09-19-2005, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saturnsteve

Never fails, always something bad that has to be going on. The Relay has really picked up around here, this will hurt us for a while!

Just make sure you point out Toyota/Nissan and to a lesser extent Honda have the same problem.

van ratings

Kudos to Ford for being ahead on this one.

2000GTPBROTHER · 09-19-2005, 09:40 AM

I love the Associated Press version of it. The Subheadline is "Two Chryslers, 4 from GM rated poor". Couldn't fit Toyota into the headline?

But the best part is where the IIHS says that many woman van drivers are hurt in whiplash accidents, which they are more vulnerable to injuries. So they test the vans for the average sized man as part of the rating.

tgagneguam · 09-19-2005, 09:42 AM

GM's dispute should be a simple case: these tests were fallacious; after all, a Toyota faired poorly. Journalists will be hard-pressed to disagree.

evok · 09-19-2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FordMan

Well, thats one good thing about the Freestar and Monterey. But this is proof that safety isn't everyones #1 priority.

You have no clue about this industry.

Buick61 · 09-19-2005, 10:48 AM

That quote is misleading. It makes it seem like the Chrysler vans scored poorly. They got the second highest rating.

**paul8488** · 09-19-2005, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2000GTPBROTHER

I love the Associated Press version of it. The Subheadline is "Two Chryslers, 4 from GM rated poor". Couldn't fit Toyota into the headline?

I guess they figure you've already got something wrong with your noggin if you've purchased a Toyota!

chevynj · 09-19-2005, 11:14 AM

I see a part in the article that says that many got poor ratings because the headrest could not be positioned to properly support many motorists. I have been in a town and country and an uplander and had no problem adjusting the headrests! I am 6 feet tall and a little portly. I think this is more of a problem of not properly adjusting the whole seat, a crash test dummy doesn't worry about comfort, but perhaps if the seat postion was adjusted along with back andgle and such and then move the headrests, it would work better. I have had some cars where you can tilt the headrest forward, allows you to keep your head forward and have some support.

ByTheLake · 09-19-2005, 11:27 AM

Safety aside, I still haven't driven a GM vehicle with comfortable seats. Since 1999, I've driven cars from all GM divisions except Hummer and Saab, and the seats are just plain uncomfortable. Leather seats that feel like leather-covered concrete ... cloth seats with rock-hard foam padding.

Even the wife's 2004 Corvette's seats are complete trash.

Lord, please let me sit in my old '87 Toyota MR2 for just a few minutes ... THOSE were great seats.

09-19-2005, 08:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
FordMan 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,197	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Crash Test Results Well, thats one good thing about the Freestar and Monterey. But this is proof that safety isn't everyones #1 priority. __________________

09-19-2005, 09:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
member12 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Atlanta Drives: pickup truck Posts: 5,379	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints OK, this is a head restraint. Simply pull out the ones you have now, and place the ones from another car that scored higher in.... What would GM do without me.... Besides, those minivans were in need of a redesign anyway.

09-19-2005, 09:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
saturnsteve 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oklahoma City Drives: 2006 Ford Fusion 2005 GMC Envoy XL Posts: 2,088	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints Never fails, always something bad that has to be going on. The Relay has really picked up around here, this will hurt us for a while! __________________ Cars.com Field Sales Manager

09-19-2005, 09:38 AM	#7 (permalink)
Snafu_SS 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SOKY for now...NKY later Drives: 1995 Chevrolet C/1500 "chi" Posts: 1,059	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints most move up...why not pull em up a few clicks till they fit your head position???? __________________ Nothing more fun than some mud and four wheel drive...until you get stuck without a winch and only a shovel and your bare hands

09-19-2005, 09:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
2000GTPBROTHER 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 265	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints I love the Associated Press version of it. The Subheadline is "Two Chryslers, 4 from GM rated poor". Couldn't fit Toyota into the headline? But the best part is where the IIHS says that many woman van drivers are hurt in whiplash accidents, which they are more vulnerable to injuries. So they test the vans for the average sized man as part of the rating.

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09-19-2005, 09:42 AM	#10 (permalink)
tgagneguam 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 6,951	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints GM's dispute should be a simple case: these tests were fallacious; after all, a Toyota faired poorly. Journalists will be hard-pressed to disagree.

09-19-2005, 10:48 AM	#12 (permalink)
Buick61 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: DC Metro Area Drives: 58 Belvedere; 61 LeSabre; 96 Fleetwood; 07 SRX Posts: 8,495	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints That quote is misleading. It makes it seem like the Chrysler vans scored poorly. They got the second highest rating. __________________ Used to own: 1959 Cadillac Series 62, 1960 AMC Rambler Six, 1998 Chevrolet Malibu, 2000 Saturn LS2, 2005 Chrysler 300C, 2006 Pontiac G6 GTP

09-19-2005, 11:14 AM	#14 (permalink)
chevynj 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NJ Drives: 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS LT AWD Posts: 850	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints I see a part in the article that says that many got poor ratings because the headrest could not be positioned to properly support many motorists. I have been in a town and country and an uplander and had no problem adjusting the headrests! I am 6 feet tall and a little portly. I think this is more of a problem of not properly adjusting the whole seat, a crash test dummy doesn't worry about comfort, but perhaps if the seat postion was adjusted along with back andgle and such and then move the headrests, it would work better. I have had some cars where you can tilt the headrest forward, allows you to keep your head forward and have some support. __________________ One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man. —Elbert Hubbard

09-19-2005, 11:27 AM	#15 (permalink)
ByTheLake 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Traverse City, MI Drives: '04 Corvette, '08 CTS Posts: 2,701	Re: GM Disputes Minivan Tests of Head Restraints Safety aside, I still haven't driven a GM vehicle with comfortable seats. Since 1999, I've driven cars from all GM divisions except Hummer and Saab, and the seats are just plain uncomfortable. Leather seats that feel like leather-covered concrete ... cloth seats with rock-hard foam padding. Even the wife's 2004 Corvette's seats are complete trash. Lord, please let me sit in my old '87 Toyota MR2 for just a few minutes ... THOSE were great seats.

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