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About This Quiz
Do you know which car that was featured in "Back to the Future" has picked up a reputation for danger? Know which compact Chinese import has a bad habit of dismantling test dummies? Have you heard about the Pontiac model that would occasionally burst into flames for no known reason? Take our quiz to see how much you know about the most dangerous cars ever built!
Let's face it -- there are no perfect products, but the stakes of buying a lousy car are way higher than splurging on a poor quality TV. Not only could you find yourself stranded with no way to work or school, but you could also find yourself at higher risk of accidents, injury, or even death if you end up with an unsafe ride.
Sure, safety standards have increased dramatically over the years, and statistically, cars are safer now than at any other point in history. Of course, that's little comfort for people who find out they're driving a car with a gas pedal that tends to stick, brakes that frequently fail or tires that have been known to blow at just the wrong time.ÂÂ
After all, smashing vehicles packed with crash test dummies into a wall in a laboratory can only tell us so much. Quite often, the real dangers of a car aren't apparent until it's used in the real world, or in large numbers.
Think you know all about the most dangerous cars in the history of the industry? Take out the quiz to find out!
This famous car was seen in the 'Back to the Future' trilogy. This car was, in fact, extremely dangerous.
DeLorean
With its gullwing doors, the DeLorean was a deathtrap. If the doors were damaged in an accident, they would prove impossible to get open. Coupled with very tiny side windows, a driver had very little chance of escaping the vehicle.
Ford Mustang
Chevrolet Camaro
None of the above
This Korean-made car was popular in Canada in the 1980s. Sadly, it was poorly made and very dangerous.
Honda Accord
Nissan Almera
Hyundai Pony
The Hyundai Pony sold over 50,000 units in Canada between 1984 and 1985. Sadly, substandard materials were used in the chassis construction and that, coupled with very little protection for the driver, effectively put them at massive risk during an accident.
None of the above
The 1980s version of this iconic American vehicle proved dangerous and was responsible for 5.2 fatalities per 10,000 models sold.
Chevrolet Corvette
Even though the '80s models of the Corvette had smaller engines than before, they remained powerful vehicles. In the hands of inexperienced young drivers looking to impress, they were particularly dangerous.
Hudson Hornet
Ford Thunderbird
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This American car named after a horse, although produced in massive numbers, was known to have not just one but two dangerous flaws.
Pontiac GTO
Ford Pinto
The Pinto had two major problems. The first saw the car change gears by itself while the second saw its fuel tank located very close to the rear of the car. This caused a number of fires after rear-end collisions.
Chevrolet El Camino
This particular Japanese car has an unfortunate reputation due to its tendency for rolling.
Nissan Versa
Available as both a hatchback and a sedan, the Nissan Versa has a tendency to roll. Both versions of this car appear on the Institute for Highway Safety's top 10 deadliest cars list.
Honda Civic
Hyundai Sonata
This German model from the 1980s was recalled after an "unintended acceleration" problem was said to result in hundreds of crashes and six fatalities.
Audi 5000
Even experienced automakers such as Audi can have problems from time to time. Their 5000 model from the '80s was prone to revving while idle and sometimes jumping forward without any input by the driver.
BMW 3 Series
Mercedes Benz C Class
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This marque from a massive American brand was known to oversteer terribly, which cause many problems for less experienced drivers.
Oldsmobile Bravada
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Corvair
The Corvair, produced by Chevrolet 1960 and 1969, had a rear-mounted engine, something American drivers were not used to. This caused massive oversteer and saw many drivers lose control of the Corvair.
None of the above
Somewhat of an icon in the 4x4 world, the second generation of this vehicle often proved to be very dangerous.
Willys Jeep
International Scout II
Ford Bronco
The second generation Bronco was particularly top-heavy. Couple this with poor suspension and the Bronco had a tendency to roll when cornering hard.
None of the above
This subcompact car is made in China and still sold in markets around the world. In crash tests, however, the dummy could only be removed from the vehicle after it was dismantled.
Hyundai Elantra
Honda Civic
Chery A13
The Chery A13 has been in production since 2004. It is sold in markets around the world including South America, Asia and Africa. This car is far from safe, however, and does not have the required crumple zones for US and European markets.
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This Korean vehicle, although incredibly popular, has some scary death statistics
Kia Rio
Although this popular car has passed the strictest safety standards, it currently has the highest rate of deaths among current models. This stands at 149 fatalities per million.
Toyota Corolla
SsangYong Musso
None of the above
Sold in the United States between 1985 and 1992, this car didn't have any design flaws, it was just poorly made from low-quality materials.
Yugo
The Yugo was fairly popular in the States for a brief period, with over 140,000 sold over seven years. The vehicle design was not the problem in terms of the Yugo being a dangerous car. It was the poor construction and inferior materials used during the process that caused many of the problems.
Toyota Corolla
Nissan Almera
None of the above
This American car had a tendency to burst in to flames for no apparent reason
Pontiac Fiero
Although the Fiero passed all of its crash tests and other safety requirements, it had a tendency to burst into flames. This was caused by a number of faults, most notably wiring problems.
Ford Focus
Chevrolet Corvette
None of the above
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This Chinese vehicle, on sale since 2000, continues to fail basic crash testing requirements in Europe.
Brilliance BS6
This vehicle has completely failed basic European crash testing requirements. These suggest that in a medium-speed accident, the BS6 will not protect its occupants at all.
Geely CK
Chery A13
None of the above
This American 4x4 suffered from the same problems as the second generation Ford Bronco.
Ford Explorer
Plagued with the same problems as the Bronco II, the Ford Explorer was top heavy and tended to roll over when going around tight corners. Ford advised that owners lower the tire pressures, but this led to a loss of grip.
Chevrolet Blazer
International Scout II
None of the above
This full-sized vehicle from a popular Japanese manufacturer has higher death ratings than many others in its class
Suzuki Swift
Toyota Yaris
Nissan Maxima
The Nissan Maxima has particular problems with head restraints as well as seating. These have been evident during crash testing.
None of the above
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This Japanese compact car, although extremely safe, is number one for personal injury claims in the US.
Fiat Uno
Toyota Yaris
Although it passed major safety inspections, the Yaris shows that even with crumple zones, airbags and other safety features, a small car puts its occupants close to whatever they might be hitting.
Mini Mk1
With 4.4 deaths for every 10,000 of this vehicle on the road, this iconic American car is considered dangerous, particularly for less experienced drivers.
Porsche 911
Ford Mustang
Although some early generations of the Mustang did feature gas tanks in the rear (a known safety problem), the reason they are involved in accidents is the fact that these are powerful vehicles. In the hands of inexperienced young drivers looking to impress, they can be particularly dangerous.
Ferrari F50
None of the above
This American brand's popular SUV has appeared on insurance surveys marked less than safe.
Jeep Patriot
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the Jeep Patriot as one of the least safe vehicles on the road. Based on figures between 2008 and 2011, over 57 people per million people died while in a Patriot.
Ford Bronco
Chevrolet Corvette
None of the above
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One of the most iconic vehicles ever made, this car, even for the era in which is was built, was dangerous!
Chevrolet Cruze
Ford Model T
Although there is no doubting Henry Ford's contribution to automotive history, he did make his Model T as cheaply as possible. As an example, it only had brakes on the rear tires and not on the front.
Willys Jeep
None of the above
This iconic German sports car was plagued with understeer problems, particularly early models.
Audi Quattro
BMW Isetta
Porsche 911
With a rear mounted engine positioned behind the rear axle, early models of the 911 were very prone to understeer. Porsche tried to alleviate this by placing weights in the front of the car which helped a little. Luckily, all-wheel drive and traction control systems have sorted out the understeer problem.
None of the above
This car caused an iconic American manufacturer untold problems thanks to an ignition system that would turn off at any time.
Chevrolet Cobalt
Sadly, the Chevrolet Cobalt had major ignition problems which often saw the car turning itself off while it was been driven. Chevrolet initially tried to cover up the problem which resulted in 90 deaths but eventually, the company issued safety recalls.
Ford Mustang
Buick Regal
None of the above
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In 2012, an Italian sports car manufacturer was forced recall one of their models that liked to burst into flames!
Ferrari 458 Italia
Ferrari was forced to recall the over 1,200 458 Italias, as they like to catch fire every now and again. This was as a result of inner fenders positioned too close to the exhaust system.
Fiat Uno
Alfa Romeo 4C
None of the above
This small car from an iconic American brand seems to be particularly dangerous in multiple vehicle accidents.
Chevrolet Aveo
The wagon version of the Chevrolet Aveo seems to be a particular problem in multiple-vehicle accidents according to the Institute for Highway Safety.
Pontiac GTO
Oldsmobile Cutlass
None of the above
This popular pickup has some high death numbers resulting from rolling.
RAM 1500
Although short-bed pickups are involved in many driver deaths, the RAM 1500 has the highest figures with 55 people dying in a four-year period from 2011-2015 as an example. This is often as a result of the vehicle rolling.
Fiat Strada
Opel Utility
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Although this American vehicle is no longer produced, it is popular in the second-hand market. It has some flaws, however.
Dodge Avenger
The last Avenger rolled off the production line in 2014. Stats show that the Avenger can be a problem in multiple vehicle accidents, particularly as flaws have been found in its front overlap protection.
Ford Fiesta
Chevrolet Cruze
None of the above
The model of a Korean manufacturer, this car has been on the Institute for Highway Safety's top 10 deadliest cars list twice.
Daewoo Lanos
Hyundai Accent
Sadly, the Accent seems to be fairly dangerous, even when it is the only vehicle involved in an accident. Results suggest that this small car simply crumples upon impact.
Toyota Yaris
None of the above
This Japanese manufacturer's pickup has a particular problem when it comes to roof strength.
Nissan Titan
The Titan is a popular Japanese pickup in the American market but it is one of the most dangerous currently available. This is a result of strength problems relating to the roof of the vehicle. Most fatalities have occurred with rollovers during single vehicle accidents.
Ford Bantam
Fiat Strada
None of the above
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Although this Chinese vehicle is sold in a number of markets around the world, it's failed a number of U.S. safety tests
Toyota Corolla
Daihatsu Terios
Geely CK
The Geely CK is sold in China, South America, Russia and Africa. It is a no-go in the USA and Europe as it failed numerous safety tests and does not have airbags.
None of the above
The deadliest muscle car on the road in terms of fatalities, can you identify this iconic vehicle?
Ford Thunderbird
Dodge Charger
This iconic muscle car has not produced the greatest of safety figures when it comes to structure and safety cage protection. At 81 deaths per million cars registered, it is the most dangerous muscle car on the road, particularly in multiple vehicle crashes.
Chevrolet Bel Air
None of the above
This Korean-made SUV is ranked as the poorest in its class when it comes to safety
Kia Soul
The Kia Soul is the worst performing out of many SUVs when it comes to safety. It received poor scores particularly for front overlap crash tests.
Ssangyong Musso
Daihatsu Terios
None of the above
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This model from a Ford company was plagued with suspension problems.
Pontiac Aztek
Mercury Grand Marquis
Produced between 1975 and 2011, the Grand Marquis was plagued by suspension problems. It made the Forbes list of dangerous vehicles in 2010.
Hudson Hornet
None of the above
This American compact SUV has received less than stellar safety ratings and complaints from those who drive it
Ford Focus
Chevrolet Cruze
Dodge Nitro
The Dodge Nitro made the Forbes list of dangerous vehicles in 2011 and has also received ratings below average in the J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality and Reliability surveys.
None of the above
This Korean vehicle appeared on the dangerous cars list released by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in 2009.
Toyota Corolla
Hyundai Tiburon
The Tiburon was produced over two generations between 1996 and 2008. The second generation recorded 96 deaths per million recorded over both single car and multiple vehicle crashes.
Kia Picanto
None of the above
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This Japanese sports car is regarded as one of the deadliest modern two-door cars.
Subaru Forester
Toyota Yaris
Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z has some terrible figures when it comes to safety. In fact, records from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that in between 2005 and 2008, the 350Z has been responsible for a death ratio of 143 per one million registered vehicles.
None of the above
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