Chrysler Pacifica, Kia Carnival and Toyota Sienna received a «minor» rating. IIHS rating; The Honda Odyssey received a «poor» rating. The unfavorable ratings stem from the use of improved airbags and improved seat belts in the front seats while automakers have ignored the second row, creating a «safety gap,» Joe Young, an IIHS spokesman, told Automotive News.
< p>IIHS found that new, improved airbags and rear restraints are «rarely available.»
“Back seat safety is important for all vehicles, but it’s especially important for vehicles like minivans that customers choose specifically to transport their families,” — IIHS President David Harkey said in his address.
According to a study conducted by the IIHS, although safety in the front seats has improved, the risk of fatal injuries for seat belted second-row passengers has increased comparatively.
Automakers have done a good job of improving front airbags, but may not have done internal testing to find ways to improve second-row safety, Young said. He said IIHS is confident that automakers will take note of the new findings and quickly make changes since most updates will not require structural changes to the car.
The Carnival and Odyssey are expected to be restyled as 2024, which will provide automakers with the opportunity to improve safety in the second row. The same is true for the Sienna, which is scheduled for a refresh in 2025.
Even with the new developments, the IIHS said the rear seat is still the safest place for children who may be injured if the front airbags deploy. In addition, the rating does not apply to children properly secured in car seats.