Despite being modified by Stellantis specifically to address this issue, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler 4-door has once again rolled to its side in Highway Safety for Insurance Institute (IIHS) crash testing.
The SUV rolled over after hitting the barrier used in the safety agency’s driver-side small overlap safety crash test. Although the safety cage around the driver did a good job and the controls effectively controlled the movement of the crash test dummy, the vehicle was given a “threshold” score in the test, with a possible second-lower result.
IIHS noted that tipping the side of a vehicle presents an additional risk of injury to passengers that its test is not equipped to partially measure, as there is only one dummy in the vehicle for this particular crash test. Also, a vehicle increases the risk of getting a passenger out of a rolling vehicle. This is a particular concern for the Jeep Wrangler as it has removable doors and roof parts.
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In addition to landing next to it, crash tests have also revealed that in a minor overlap accident, there is a significant risk of injury to the driver’s left leg and leg. It further noted that the combination head and torso side airbags were not placed in this crash test.
The result is remarkable because it bears a striking resemblance to a 2019 Wrangler 4-door crash test, which also rolled alongside it in small overlap crash tests. IIHS reports that Stalantis (formerly FCA) has been working to resolve the issue since that first crash test.
What’s more, perhaps more embarrassing for the company is that the previous generation pre-2018 model achieved a “good” rating in the same crash test. This rating is required to be considered a car for the Top Safety Peak Award.