Chevrolet Uplander

results also apply to: 2006-07 Buick Terraza built after February 2006 and before January 2007 | 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6 built after February 2006 | 2006-07 Saturn RELAY built after February 2006 and before January 2007

Test details:

The Chevrolet Uplander, Pontiac Montana SV6, Buick Terraza, and Saturn RELAY were introduced in the 2005 model year as replacements for the Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Montana, and Oldsmobile Silhouette. Side airbags were optional for front seat occupants. The Pontiac Montana SV6 was discontinued after the 2006 model year.

Beginning with 2006 models, side airbags became optional for both the front and second row seating positions. Also beginning with 2006 models manufactured after November 2005, the vehicle floor was reinforced to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes (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). Further changes were made for models manufactured after February 2006 to strengthen the standard second row bucket seats for side impact crashes.

Two tests of the Uplander were conducted, the first with optional side airbags for the driver and rear passenger, and the second without. Both vehicles were manufactured after all design changes for 2006 had been made. These vehicles are rated separately, except that the structural ratings for both vehicles are based on both tests.

In both tests, there were problems with the seats occupied by the rear passenger dummies. During the first test, all four of the attachment points for the optional captain's chair (with side airbag) released, allowing the seat to become completely dislodged. In the second test with the standard bucket seat (and no side airbag), one attachment point released and a second one broke, allowing partial separation of the seat from the floor. While these seat separations did not appear to exacerbate any injury measures recorded by the rear dummies, such separations should not occur. For this reason, the overall rating for the Uplander and similar models with side airbags was downgraded to Marginal (it would have been Acceptable otherwise).

Injury measures:

Driver — Measures taken from the dummy indicate that serious neck injuries would be possible in a crash of this severity. The risk of significant injuries to other body regions is low.

Rear passenger — Measures taken from the dummy indicate a low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity.

Head protection:

Driver — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side airbag that deployed from the seat.

Rear passenger — The dummy's head was protected from being hit by any hard structures, including the intruding barrier, by a side airbag that deployed from the seat.