On May 31, 2007, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released results of convertibles’ crash tests. The test was conducted because of the increasing popularity of the vehicles.

“We wanted to test convertibles because sales are increasing,” said Institute president Adrian Lund.

The test found serious problems in frontal car accidents. In the Pontiac G6’s frontal crash test, the driver’s seat came loose and moved forward four inches on the left side, causing the crash dummy’s head to slide around the left side of the airbag and hit the instrument panel. Lund said they rarely see a dummy’s head hit the instrument panel, but rated the G6 as acceptable overall for frontal protection.

The first frontal crash test of the Ford Mustang convertible found the driver’s door partially opening late in the crash, which could lead to partial or complete ejection of occupants. Ford engineers determined that if the window is down during the crash, it pushes on the door latch and opens the door. Engineers added structure to prevent the window from contacting the latch, and in the second crash test the Mustang door remained closed.

In the Mustang convertible crash tests, the crash dummy bottomed out the airbag and the head was struck by the windshield pillar. However, the 2007 Ford Mustang convertible was given a crash safety rating of acceptable.

In terms of side impact protection, the BMW 3-series, Audi A4, and Pontiac G6 convertibles earned the second-lowest ratings. The Pontiac G6 is equipped with optional side airbags. In the side crash test, the crash dummy’s head struck the windowsill. If a person taller than the crash dummy were driving in the same situation, his head might be struck by the hood of an oncoming SUV or pickup.

The BMW 3-series convertible has standard side airbags, but injury measures after the crash indicate the possibility of rib fractures and internal organ injuries in the event of a real crash.

“None of the 10 convertibles provides side airbag protection for people riding in back seats,” Lund said.

The rear crash protection was mostly poor, with only the Volvo and Saab equipped with seat/head restraint designs that provide adequate protection against whiplash injury in a car accident.

Source: “1st time Institute tests convertibles: Saab & Volvo models are top performers; 3 are marginal in side impact test,” Insurance Institute for Highway Safety news release, May 31, 2007.