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Side impact safety?

17K views 102 replies 35 participants last post by  Leadnut 
#1 ·
Hey folks,

I've been pretty set on getting a JK as my first Jeep. However, I watched a couple of review videos and read some comments that have me a bit concerned about the side impact safety of these vehicles. Overall, they implied that this was sub-par at best, very dangerous at worst. In testing and the real world, how do JK's do in side impacts?

This has got me second guessing and thinking of maybe buying a Tacoma or Colorado 4x4 instead. Problem is, I'm sure those wouldn't have the fun factor and overall ownership satisfaction of a Wrangler.

Thanks for any info!
 
#3 ·
The thing about these kind of issues is...

If you want a Wrangler, there is no substitute. Get the Wrangler and love it!

If safety is your first priority, don't get a Wrangler.

Unfortunately I have no accident experiences to share with you but I did look up safety ratings before purchasing too. Although, they could have been much worse and it wouldn't have mattered. I decided I wanted the Jeep.

I remember watching those videos, and it didn't look great for the side impact... compared to some other modern vehicles.

That being said, I feel pretty safe in mine. Between being up several inches higher (lift+tires), the Mopar rock rails, many cars would wedge underneath the Jeep from a side impact.

On the highway I guess it's another story... but I've never really thought, "if I had a terrible accident... which vehicle would I want to be in?"
 
#6 ·
My 2014 JKU was rammed from the side by an inattentive police officer who turned left coming off a side street without actually looking (I was coming from his left and no he wasn't running lights). Struck in the side by a Crown Vic with a ram bar on the front when he still had his foot on the gas while I was going 45mph, rolled me several full rolls. Jeep totaled, I'm fine (the police bought my 2015). I actually climbed out on my own while she was laying on her side. Highly doubt any other vehicle on that street would have done as well (especially the geo storm in the lane beside me).


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#7 ·
There's a warning label on my soft top just above the windshield that says:

WARNING
THE TOP AND DOORS ARE DESIGNED ONLY FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE ELEMENTS. DO NOT RELY ON THE TOP AND DOORS TO CONTAIN OCCUPANTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE OR PROTECT AGAINST INJURY DURING AN ACCIDENT.

If you have deep concerns about side impact safety maybe the Wrangler isn't the best vehicle for you. If you're set on getting one, look into side air bags and some modifications to take your wife a little more out of harms way.
 
#18 ·
Hey folks,

I've been pretty set on getting a JK as my first Jeep. However, I watched a couple of review videos and read some comments that have me a bit concerned about the side impact safety of these vehicles. Overall, they implied that this was sub-par at best, very dangerous at worst. In testing and the real world, how do JK's do in side impacts?

This has got me second guessing and thinking of maybe buying a Tacoma or Colorado 4x4 instead. Problem is, I'm sure those wouldn't have the fun factor and overall ownership satisfaction of a Wrangler.

Thanks for any info!
There is a world of difference between a midsize truck and a Wrangler. They have two totally different purposes. If you plan on doing some serious off roading, the Wrangler is your best bet. If you need something more versatile, a truck is the better choice. A Canyon with a V6 can tow 7000 lbs. With a diesel, it can tow 7600 lbs if 4WD or 7700 lbs if 2WD. Depending on what you get, the Jeep tow limit is 2000 lbs or 3500 lbs. If you live where it snows, the Canyon has Auto 4WD, in addition to 2WD, 4HI and 4LO. The Wrangler is a part time 4WD system, which really sucks in the winter. If the "cool factor" is an issue, you need to decide which is more important...cool or safe. But you really need to complete a mission profile and determine what best suits your needs.
 
#21 ·
I had a 18 year old young lady t-bone me in the right rear tire & N-fab nurf step, going around 35mph never hit the brakes , spun us sideways then rolled once. We all had seatbelts on, I was the only one out of three of us that bruised my shoulder on the door on impact. My new Jeep has even thicker rock rails you're ok if you wear seatbelts.
 

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#27 ·
I was thinking about a pickup instead of a Wrangler. Turns out pickup insurance is 40% higher for the pickup. WHY ?? Because injury and fatality claims are much fewer per capita for the Wrangler. To me that says the odds of injury are much higher in a pickup. Forget the spin. Insurers base their rates on the facts.
 
#48 ·
Mr. Kevinsmith5,
Your personal experience withstanding...
You made this post: "Airbags are for when you don't have your seatbelts on"
I and others pointed out the incorrectness of that position.
And, "supplemental" means, in addition to. Not in lieu of.

Simple Definition of supplemental:
added to something else to make it complete

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Btw, glad you survived your accident. :thumb:
 
#49 ·
And that definition reinforces my point. "In addition to" your primary restraints which are your seat belts. I also posted a video of a side air bag free wrangler being tested in a severe side impact and the dummie NOT striking the side of the vehicle due to the seat belt. Which is the entire point of the conversation.


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#52 ·
For the love of god if you don't like being called an idiot then stop acting like one. Seat-mounted side airbags are there to protect your torso and all the important things inside of it.


And to prove your initial claim wrong, here is the VERY FIRST line in the manual you obviously have not bothered to read regarding the operation of airbags:


"Advanced Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional protection by supplementing the seat belts."
 
#57 ·
And here is some more helpful knowledge from the manual you can't read apparently:

"The SABs may help to reduce
the risk of occupant injury during certain side impacts, in addition to the injury reduction potential provided by the seat belts and body structure.
"
 
#62 ·
Apparently my insurance company "likes" Wranglers or just doesn't care about the safety rating as my insurance when up $76 a year when I added the Rubicon Unlimited to my way more than minimum coverage policy.

I would imagine the percentage of side impact accidents is low. Most of those I would assume would be "sideswipes" where someone merges into an already occupied lane. T-bones are never good as there's just 6-9" of buffer space vice the front and rear's feet worth.
 
#63 ·
For side impacts, I'm not sure. I got the airbags on mine. I don't mind spending a few hundred dollars, even if it's just for more peace of mind.

I have three Jeep accident experiences (2 first hand, 1 friend), but with TJs.

1. I hit one of those butt ugly Aztec things one time. I did some damage to it. Nothing happened to my TJ.

2. I ass ended a Chevy (or Geo, whatever) Prizm. They were stopped, and I was starting from stopped in 1st. I think I pushed his ass end about to his back seat it seemed. Maybe not quite. Anyway, pretty extensive damage. My damage? Bent my front bumper back about 2 or 3 inches...$60 fix.

3. My friend was driving down highway in her TJ. Car in front of her spun out and stopped. She slammed into the other car head first going probably between 40 and 50. She walked away from it.

MY conclusions (Mine, not others, whether correct or not) based on my experiences is that in more common types of accidents, Wranglers win.

Now in roll overs, weird side impacts, and things like that? I'm not sure.
 
#64 ·
My Rubicon had side curtain air bags , but we had the impact at the right rear tire & step rail then slid sideways & rolled , I'm 6'1" & my head never hit anything, but my shoulder hit the door hard because the side air bags did not deploy. I'm just saying that anyone that rides in a Jeep & don't wear a seatbelt is not very smart, the same roll bar that's there to save you can cut you in half without seatbelts.
 

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#71 ·
You're definitely not very bright. Did I say they stuck them in from another version? Nope. Said they benefited from the development in other models so the development for wranglers was less expensive than you think. I'm starting to get the distinct impression you aren't actually reading what I post, just skimming it and responding. I'm mean come on, at one point you apparently weren't even clear we were talking about side airbags.


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Dude, stop. You've come here and spewed nothing but incorrect information. Airbag development from one model has extremely little to do with transplanting it to another model. Safety validation is a giant expense when developing a new vehicle. The feds are extremely particular when it comes to this stuff. When GM first started offering 20" wheels on their trucks as an option, they had to re-certify the models for crashworthiness. So an airbag component or test from vehicle A has no relevance for vehicle B.
 
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