Most Dangerous EVs on the Road

Since automobile ownership became widespread across the U.S. in the early 20th century, American roads have gotten markedly safer. Nationwide, there have been fewer than 2 motor-vehicle deaths for every 10,000 registered automobiles every year since 1999 – less than half the traffic fatality rate throughout the 1960s. 

According to a 2015 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the decades-long improvement was largely due to new vehicle safety technology, such as air bags, side impact protection, better braking systems, electronic stability control, and seat belts – which alone are credited with saving an estimated 330,000 lives between 1960 and 2012. Today, every new vehicle sold in the United States is legally required to come equipped with these and other safety features.

Still, driving remains one of the most dangerous things millions of Americans do every day. Over the last decade of available data, an average of about 42,000 Americans are killed on the road each year. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding account for a large share of today’s traffic fatalities. 

But while these and other preventable driver behaviors are a leading risk to everyone on the road, safety tests conducted by the federal government and private organizations suggest that automakers could also be doing more to protect drivers and passengers. 

Using safety test data from Consumer Reports, IIHS, and the NHTSA, Climate Crisis 247 identified the most dangerous EVs on the road. We identified all EV models available in the U.S. with safety ratings from either IIHS or CR. Any EV that received an IIHS safety award for the 2026 model year or a perfect overall safety rating from CR was excluded from analysis. EV models with pending safety scores from CR were included if they had poor ratings in at least one category tested by IIHS, or did not meet NHTSA performance criteria in at least one tested category. The 10 EV models that meet these criteria are listed in alphabetical order. 

Audi Q4 e-tron

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 4 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Poor rating for moderate front overlap collision
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: 4/5
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: Rear seat occupant protection (2/5)
• NHTSA performance ratings: Does not meet criteria for crash imminent braking, dynamic brake support, or lane departure warning
• MSRP range: $51,895–$64,795
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 96 (0.0% of domestic EV market)

BMW i4

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 6 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Marginal/poor rating for headlights, marginal rating for seat belt reminder
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: 4/5
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: Rear seat child safety (2/5)
• NHTSA performance ratings: Results pending
• MSRP range: $59,250–$72,050
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 2,184 (1.0% of domestic EV market)

Kia EV6

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 4 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Marginal rating for moderate front overlap collision
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: 4/5
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: Rear seat occupant protection (1/5)
• NHTSA performance ratings: Meets criteria for tested categories
• MSRP range: $45,000–$56,000
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 2,023 (0.9% of domestic EV market)

Nissan Leaf

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 6 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: None
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: Pending
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: N/A
• NHTSA performance ratings: Does not meet criteria for crash imminent braking or dynamic brake support
• MSRP range: $31,535–$40,535
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 668 (0.3% of domestic EV market)

Rivian R1T

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 5 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: None
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: 4/5
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: Rear seat occupant protection (1/5)
• NHTSA performance ratings: Meets criteria for tested categories
• MSRP range: $74,885–$121,885
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 1,658 (0.8% of domestic EV market)

Subaru Solterra

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 5 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Poor rating for headlights
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: Pending
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: N/A
• NHTSA performance ratings: Meets criteria for tested categories
• MSRP range: $39,945–$47,305
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 3,041 (1.4% of domestic EV market)

Tesla Model 3

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 4 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Marginal rating for seatbelt reminder
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: 4/5
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: Rear seat child safety (2/5)
• NHTSA performance ratings: Meets criteria for tested categories
• MSRP range: $38,630–$56,630
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 31,672 (14.6% of domestic EV market)

Toyota BZ

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 5 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Poor rating for headlights
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: Pending
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: N/A
• NHTSA performance ratings: Meets criteria for tested categories
• MSRP range: $36,350–$46,750
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 10,029 (4.6% of domestic EV market)

Toyota C-HR

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 6 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: Poor rating for headlights
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: Pending
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: N/A
• NHTSA performance ratings: Results pending
• MSRP range: $38,595–$40,595
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 13 (0.0% of domestic EV market)

VW ID.4

• IIHS safety score summary: Top-rated in only 6 of 8 tested categories
• Below-adequate IIHS categories: None
• Consumer Reports overall safety rating: 4/5
• Worst Consumer Reports safety category: Rear seat child safety and occupant protection (3/5)
• NHTSA performance ratings: Does not meet criteria for crash imminent braking or dynamic brake support
• MSRP range: $46,570–$59,130
• Q1 2026 unit sales: 338 (0.2% of domestic EV market)