Three Dangerous Trucks You Need To Avoid
One of the primary reasons leading people to choose trucks is their capability. If you need to haul or tow loads, then obviously you need a truck. However, trucks aren’t the safest vehicles to choose from, so shop wisely by avoiding these most dangerous truck options.
The Most Dangerous Trucks You Need To Avoid
The 2014 GMC Sierra 2500
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ranked the 2014 GMC Sierra 2500 at four stars for its overall performance even though it only scored three stars in most areas, such as front driver safety in collisions. While having a low rollover risk and excellent side safety ratings, this truck is notoriously dangerous.
GMC Sierra | Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
One of its significant recalls is due to electrical issues. If stuck in the “Start” position, the ignition may suddenly snap into the “Accessory” position, causing the truck to stall. It may also cause the loss of steering and braking, leaving drivers and passengers unable to stop or steer the truck to avoid collisions safely.
This truck also has issues with the fuel gauge and pressure pumps. They may provide inaccurate readings and even cause the engine to stall.
On top of that, the GMC Sierra is known for having faulty seatbelt connectors. You might not be notified if your seatbelt isn’t probably secured, and it may not correctly restrain you in an accident.
The 2011 Ford Ranger
The 2011 Ford Ranger only received a 2-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It scored very low in collision safety tests and has a 3-star rating for its rollover risk.
This Ford Ranger Model has airbag inflators that may explode overtime due to ware and tare. With exposure to heat, the cold, and humidity, the propellant used to fill the bags with air can degrade, causing them to explode.
As they explode, passengers may be pelted with fragments of sharp metal and other equipment. They could also spark a fire in the truck or cause drivers to wreck.
The engine is also prone to surging. While backing up, using the breaks, or pulling forwards a sudden surge could send you flying faster than you intended to.
Plus, electrical issues with the headlights and backlights may cause them not to work. Meaning a regular drive at night could suddenly leave you in the dark, trying to navigate without the ability to see safely.
2014 Nissan Titan
The NHTSA gave the 2014 Nissan Titan an overall safety rating of 3 stars. The rollover risk is also rated at three stars because while this truck has a safe roof, it’s easy to lose control in a wreck. But the load compacity may not be as strong.
Nissan issued a recall for this truck because it listed it’s towing compacity incorrectly. As a result, people were overloading their trucks, causing damage to the tires and structure. Tire and structural failure both significantly increase the chances of getting an accident.
This truck does have more modern safety features such as side airbags, but testing has not been performed to see if they’re effective at keeping passengers safe or not. Front collision safety wasn’t tested either.
So, while we know that this truck has airbags and adequate roof strength, that’s about all we know, aside from load compacity issues. When it comes to safety, it’s best to do more than just guess.
