Which Are America’s Most Accident-Prone Cars?

Driving is one of the most routine activities in daily life, yet it remains one of the riskiest. Each year, thousands of accidents occur across the United States, resulting in serious injuries and fatalities.

Based on iSeeCars data, some of America’s most accident-prone cars include the Hyundai Venue, Chevrolet Corvette, and Mitsubishi Mirage, with fatal accident rates significantly higher than the average. 

While driver behavior, road conditions, and external factors all contribute to crash risks, the type of car you drive may also play a role.

 

 

Which Car Models Are Involved in the Most Accidents?

Based on various studies, some car models, like the Hyundai Venue, Chevy Corvette, and Mitsubishi Mirage, consistently show high fatal accident rates, while others, like the Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado, are involved in a large number of fatal crashes due to their popularity. 

Mattiacci Law has examined crash data to determine which car makes and models are most often involved in accidents. Understanding these statistics can help consumers make safer purchasing decisions and provide valuable insights for accident-related legal claims.

 

Factors Contributing to Car Accidents

Several factors contribute to vehicle crashes, including:

• Driver Behavior: Factors like speeding, distracted driving, and impaired driving can contribute to accidents, regardless of the vehicle type. 
• Road Conditions: Weather conditions, road infrastructure, and traffic density can also play a role in accident rates. 
• Vehicle Characteristics: Certain car models may have higher accident rates due to their performance, design, or popularity.
• Safety Features: Vehicles with advanced safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, may be less likely to be involved in accidents. 

 

Models Involved in a Large Number of Fatal Crashes (Due to Popularity):

• Ford F-Series: As the best-selling vehicle in the US, the Ford F-Series is involved in a high number of fatal crashes.
• Chevrolet Silverado: As a popular pickup truck, the Silverado also has a high number of fatal crashes.
• Honda Accord: This popular sedan is also frequently involved in fatal crashes.
• Toyota Camry: As the top-selling sedan in the US, the Camry is involved in a high number of fatal crashes.
• Ram Pickup (all models): Ram pickups are also frequently involved in fatal crashes.
• Honda Civic: This popular compact car is also frequently involved in fatal crashes.
• Toyota Corolla: This popular compact car is also frequently involved in fatal crashes.
• Ford Explorer: This popular SUV is also frequently involved in fatal crashes.
• Nissan Altima: This popular sedan is also frequently involved in fatal crashes.
• GMC Sierra: This popular pickup truck is also frequently involved in fatal crashes. 

 

Which Vehicles Are Involved in the Most Accidents?

Analyzing crash statistics from 2016 to 2022 reveals specific car models that are more accident-prone than others. While many crashes result from human error, some vehicles have features or popularity that make them more likely to be involved in accidents.

1. Ford Fusion

• Crash Rate per Sold Vehicles: 16.39%
• Total Crashes (2016-2020): 1,931
• 2021 U.S. Sales: 11,781

The Ford Fusion, discontinued in 2020, remains a frequently cited model in crash reports. Issues such as transmission failures, engine stalling, and power loss may contribute to its high accident rate.

2. Nissan Maxima

• Crash Rate per Sold Vehicles: 7.00%
• Total Crashes (2016-2020): 1,147
• 2021 U.S. Sales: 16,386

The Nissan Maxima is another model with a high accident rate. Known for performance but also facing discontinuation, issues such as transmission failures may be linked to its crash involvement.

3. Ford Mustang

• Crash Rate per Sold Vehicles: 3.67%
• Total Crashes (2016-2020): 1,925
• 2021 U.S. Sales: 52,384

The Ford Mustang is a top choice for sports car enthusiasts, but its powerful performance and rear-wheel drive design may make it more prone to accidents, particularly in inexperienced hands.

 

What Are the 3 Most Accident-Prone Cars in the U.S.?

The Honda Accord consistently ranks as the most accident-prone vehicle in the U.S., appearing as the top crash-involved model in nearly 20 states. The Nissan Altima and Chevrolet Silverado also appear frequently in state crash data.

1. Honda Accord

• Crashes per 100,000 Sold Cars: 2,627.84
• States Leading in Crashes: 18 states

2. Nissan Altima

• Crashes per 100,000 Sold Cars: 1,877.12
• States Leading in Crashes: Multiple states

3. Chevrolet Silverado

• Crashes per 100,000 Sold Cars: 1,529.92
• States Leading in Crashes: 14 states

 

What Are the Most Accident-Prone Cars by State?

To find the most accident-prone cars by state, you can analyze crash data and car sales figures to identify which models have the highest accident rates per 100,000 vehicles sold. 

Here’s a breakdown of how to approach this and some key findings:

• Crash Data: Gather data on the number of crashes involving specific car models within each state. 
• Car Sales Data: Obtain data on the number of vehicles sold for each model in each state. 
• Calculate Accident Rates: Divide the number of crashes by the number of vehicles sold and multiply by 100,000 to get the accident rate per 100,000 vehicles sold. 

By comparing crash reports and vehicle sales data, the following models stand out:

State	Accident-Prone Car	Number of Crashes	Sales in 2021	Crashes per 100,000 Sold Cars
Alabama	Nissan Altima	135	103,776	130.09
Alaska	Honda Accord	6	202,676	2.96
Arizona	Honda Accord	103	202,676	50.82
Arkansas	Nissan Altima	60	103,776	57.82
California	Honda Accord	934	202,676	460.83
Colorado	Honda Accord	74	202,676	36.51
Connecticut	Honda Accord	60	202,676	29.60
Delaware	Honda Accord	21	202,676	10.36
District of Columbia	Honda Accord	7	202,676	3.45
Florida	Honda Accord	430	202,676	212.16

 

*Some vehicles are disproportionately involved in accidents, depending on the state.

 

 

Models with High Fatal Accident Rates:

• Hyundai Venue: Studies indicate a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Chevy Corvette: This performance car model also has a high fatal accident rate, possibly due to driver behavior and vehicle handling.
• Mitsubishi Mirage: This small car model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Porsche 911: This performance car model also has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to driver behavior and vehicle handling.
• Honda CR-V Hybrid: This popular SUV model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Tesla Model Y: This electric SUV model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Mitsubishi Mirage G4: This small car model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Buick Encore: This small SUV model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Kia Forte: This compact car model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features.
• Buick Envision: This small SUV model has a high fatal accident rate, potentially due to its size and safety features. 

 

Which Car Brands Have the Worst Drivers?

According to some sources, Tesla, Ram, and Subaru have some of the worst drivers, but driver behavior varies from person to person, regardless of car brand. 

Recent studies indicate that some car brands are linked to higher driving incident rates, including accidents, DUIs, speeding, and citations. According to LendingTree, the top three brands with the worst drivers in 2024 were:

1. Tesla

• Incidents per 1,000 Drivers: 36.94
• Top Offenses: Speeding, accidents, and DUIs

Tesla drivers recorded the highest number of incidents per 1,000 drivers. The Model 3 and other Tesla vehicles are known for their rapid acceleration, which may contribute to increased accident risks.

2. Ram

• Incidents per 1,000 Drivers: 33.92
• Worst in 16 states

Ram trucks had the worst drivers in nearly one-third of all U.S. states. New Jersey, in particular, had the highest incident rate among Ram drivers.

3. Subaru

• Incidents per 1,000 Drivers: 32.85
• Top Incidents: Speeding and collisions

Subaru remains a top accident-prone brand, with high involvement in both collisions and moving violations.

Other sources say that luxury car owners, including BMW owners, are considered to be the worst drivers by other car owners. 

• Audi: Audi drivers are considered to be among the worst drivers based on perception and driving records. 
• BMW: BMW drivers are considered to be among the worst drivers based on perception and driving records. 
• Buick Envista: Buick Envista drivers have the highest share of DUIs. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mercury, Pontiac, and Cadillac had the lowest incident rates, making them some of the safest brands on the road.

 

Safest Car Models with the Fewest Highway Accidents

While some vehicles are more accident-prone, others consistently demonstrate lower crash rates, thanks to their reliability, safety features, and the cautious driving habits of their owners. The following vehicles have been identified as those involved in the least number of highway accidents per 100,000 vehicles:

Rank	Car Model	Accident Rate (per 100,000 vehicles)
1	Volvo XC90	2.0
2	Tesla Model 3	2.1
3	Audi Q7	2.3
4	Subaru Outback	2.4
5	Honda CR-V	2.5
6	Lexus RX	2.6
7	Toyota Highlander	2.7
8	Acura MDX	2.8
9	Mazda CX-5	2.9
10	BMW X5	3.0
11	Toyota Camry	3.1
12	Honda Odyssey	3.2
13	Ford Edge	3.3
14	Toyota RAV4	3.4
15	Volkswagen Passat	3.5
16	Subaru Forester	3.6
17	Chevrolet Traverse	3.7
18	Mercedes-Benz GLE	3.8
19	Kia Sorento	3.9
20	Hyundai Santa Fe	4.0
25	Honda Accord	4.5

 

These models showcase a strong combination of safety, reliability, and driver caution, making them some of the least accident-prone vehicles on the road.

 

What This Means for Drivers

Knowing which vehicles have higher crash rates can be useful for both safety-conscious consumers and individuals involved in accidents. If you are injured in a car accident involving one of these vehicles, legal assistance can help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.

 

How Mattiacci Law Can Help

At Mattiacci Law, we specialize in handling car accident claims, ensuring that injured individuals get the legal support they need. Our services include:

• Accident Investigations: Examining vehicle crash data to support your case.
• Insurance Negotiations: Ensuring fair compensation for injuries and damages.
• Legal Representation: Fighting for victims in car accident claims.

If you have been involved in an accident, contact Mattiacci Law at (215) 914-6919 for a free consultation today. Our experienced team is ready to help you understand your legal options and seek the justice you deserve.

Related Articles:

• Who Is at Fault in a Left-Turn Collision Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
• How Much Is the Average Car Accident Settlement in Pennsylvania?
• What Should I Do Immediately After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania?
• How Long Does It Take to Get a Police Report After a Car Accident?
• How to Win Your Philadelphia Car Accident Case

Resources:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): Provides comprehensive data on vehicle safety standards, crash statistics, and recall information.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS): Offers vehicle safety ratings, research on crashworthiness, and insights into crash avoidance technologies.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Transportation Safety: Features research and statistics on transportation-related injuries and prevention strategies.
• SaferCar.gov: Managed by NHTSA, this site provides up-to-date information on vehicle recalls, safety ratings, and tips for safe driving.