Fiat 500
2012-13 models built after July 2011
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2013 Fiat 500 |
MODERATE OVERLAP FRONT TEST
OVERALL EVALUATION:
| Structure/safety cage | Injury measures | Restraints/dummy kinematics | |||
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| Head/neck | Chest | Leg/foot, left | Leg/foot, right | ||
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Important: Frontal crash test ratings can be compared only among vehicles of similar weight.
Good
Acceptable
Marginal
Poor
Test details:
The Fiat 500 was introduced in the 2012 model year. Two tests of a 2012 Fiat 500 were conducted. In the first test, forces recorded on the dummy's head were high when it hit the steering wheel through the airbag, indicating that head injuries would be possible. Postcrash investigation revealed that a steel cross tube in the seat structure was pulled out at one end and contributed to the seat pitching forward during the crash and the dummy's head moving too far forward into the airbag. In response, Chrysler/Fiat modified the seat structure to improve occupant protection in frontal crashes beginning with cars manufactured after July 2011 (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).
In the second test of a car built after the seat modifications were in place, forces on the dummy's head were reduced, but the driver door unlatched. Because the front end structure of the car was not affected by the seat modifications or the door opening, structure ratings are based on both tests.
Postcrash investigation indicates that the door opening occurred because the dummy's arm broke the interior door handle, and the access hole for a bolt at the dummy's elbow engaged and activated the door latch. The door opening in the second test is an artifact of the dummy arm construction. Therefore, it is unlikely that in an actual crash the door latch would be activated.
Restraints/dummy kinematics — Dummy movement appeared to be well controlled even though the driver door opened. The driver side curtain and side torso airbags deployed during the crash. During rebound, the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag.
Injury measures — Measures taken from the neck and chest indicate low risk of injuries to these body regions in a crash of this severity. Forces on the head when the dummy hit the steering wheel through the frontal airbag indicate that head injuries would be possible. Forces on the right foot indicate that foot injuries would also be possible.
Left to right:
- Action shot taken during the second of two frontal offset crash tests.
- In both tests, the dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well (second test shown).
- In both tests, forces recorded on the dummy's head were high when it hit the steering wheel through the airbag. In the second test (shown), forces on the head were reduced somewhat.
- The dummy's arm broke the interior door handle, and an access hole for a bolt at the elbow (circled) engaged and activated the door latch.
Additional features:
- Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
- Driver knee airbag: a separate airbag in the lower instrument panel designed to minimize knee injuries in frontal crashes
- Electronic stability control
- Antilock brakes
- Programmable daytime running lights
Tested vehicle specifications:
- 2012 Fiat 500 Sport 2-door
- Class: Minicar
- Weight: 2,504 lbs.
- Side airbags: front and rear head curtain airbags and front seat-mounted torso airbags
- Wheelbase: 91 in.
- Length: 140 in.
- Width: 64 in.
- Engine: 1.4 L 4-cylinder
- EPA ratings: 27 mpg city | 34 mpg highway
