The 10 Most Dangerous Used Cars You Should Avoid

“Danger, Will Robinson!” Anyone familiar with the popular sci-fi series “Lost in Space,” or its recent reboot on Amazon Prime, will recognize these familiar words of warning uttered by young space explorer Will Robinson’s faithful and protective robot.

More than 50 years ago, another cry of alarm shook the automotive industry to its core. It came from an unassuming young lawyer named Ralph Nader. His earth-shattering and controversial 1965 book “Unsafe at Any Speed” resulted in the creation of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the development of new technologies designed to make cars safer.

As a result, today’s modern automobiles now come equipped with an array of both passive and active safety features. From multiple airbags and rear backup cameras to advanced collision-avoidance systems, automakers are more committed than ever to making their cars, trucks, and SUVs as safe as possible.

But that doesn’t mean that all cars are created equally safe. Thanks to years of crash-safety tests conducted by the NHTSA and data compiled by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), automotive consumers have a much better idea of what cars are safer than others than they did 50 years ago.

In 2019, the automotive research website iSeeCars.com conducted an eye-opening study on the most dangerous cars in the U.S. They analyzed data from the U.S. Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) on more than 25 million vehicles involved in fatal accidents from the years 2013 to 2017. Based on their analysis, here’s our list of the top 10 most dangerous used cars to steer clear of:

10. 2016 Dodge Challenger

While this muscular sports car looks tough on the outside, IIHS front-driver crash tests tell a different story with the Challenger only earning a mediocre “marginal” rating. Additionally, the IIHS also gave the Challenger a “poor” rating for its structure and safety cage.

According to motorbiscuit.com, the 2011-2014 Challenger models resulted in 81 driver deaths per million registrations, making it the deadliest muscle car by far.

9. 2013 Kia Rio

Kia’s diminutive Rio is among several subcompacts that fail to offer significant passenger safety. While IIHS crash-test scores improved for the 2017 model, Rio’s dismal “marginal” crash test and structural safety scores still make it one of the subcompacts you should take a pass on.

8. 2014 Nissan Versa

Nissan’s inexpensive entry-level Versa may seem appealing because of its low price point. But when it comes to passenger safety, there are plenty of reasons to shy away from the Versa on used-car lots. The same goes for the Versa Note which ranks as the 14^th most-deadliest car to buy. The IIHS found issues with airbags and front overlap protection when testing Versa models. They also gave the Versa a “poor” rating for small overlap front driver-side test results.

7. 2014 Subaru Forester

Subaru’s Forester SUV makes this infamous top 10 list by getting “marginal” scores by the IIHS for deficiencies in small overlap tests for passengers, as well as for inferior headlights. The IIHS also gave the Forester “marginal” scores for its LATCH child-seat anchors.

6. 2013 Scion FR-S

Subaru’s small two-door hatchback may seem like a sporty bargain. But despite respectable marks by the IIHS, the BRZ still falls short in real-world passenger safety with a disturbing Fatal Accident Rate of 6.9. Its twin is the discontinued Scion FR-S, which shares the same inadequate safety test scores as the BRZ.

5. 2016 Chevrolet Spark

Chevy’s tiny Spark subcompact gets a poor safety rating from the IIHS for issues with its driver-side airbags. Its small size simply doesn’t offer much protection.

4. 2014 Kia Forte

Another Kia compact car that makes this dreaded list is the Forte. This small four-door sedan gets a “Poor” rating from the IIHS for its small front overlap driver-side crash test results.

3. 2013 Honda Fit

While discontinued by Honda, you’re likely to find lots of used Honda Fits on South Florida used-car lots. If you do, you might consider another choice. Earlier models of the Fit received a “Poor” score from the IIHS’s front driver-side test results.

2. Chevrolet Corvette

Chevy’s iconic sports car may quicken your pulse, but it’s one car to avoid if you want that pulse to continue beating. As a matter of policy, both the IIHS and the NHTSA don’t test sports cars, so there are no safety data to go by. However, with a Fatal Accident Rate score of 9.8, the Corvette ranks near the top of the iSeeCars.com dangerous-car survey, which should give any Corvette buyer pause.

1. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage

At the top of the list of the most dangerous used cars is the Mitsubishi Mirage. The IIHS gives the tiny Mirage hatchback a “marginal” rating for mediocre small front overlap driver-side test scores. Plus, the Mirage also gets a “marginal” rating for its structure and safety cage. At the end of the day, passenger safety is only a mirage for this Mitsubishi subcompact.

Make the Safer Bet at Braman

As the area’s premier family of luxury car dealerships for over 45 years, Braman Miami proudly sells some of the safest and most reliable used vehicles in South Florida today.

Take the Bentley Bentayga luxury SUV for sale in South Florida at Braman Bentley. The Bentayga comes equipped with some of the most advanced safety features in the automotive industry. These include Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Detection, Blind-Spot Monitoring, Traffic-Sign Recognition, Autonomous Parking, and Rear Traffic Alert.

You’ll also find a full complement of cutting-edge safety technologies on the breathtaking BMW 5 Series luxury sport sedan. The available Driving Assistance Professional Package on the 530i for sale near Ft. Lauderdale consists of Active Lane-Keeping Assistant, Frontal Collision Warning, City Collision Mitigation, Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, and more. This improved crash protection earns the 2021 BMW 5 Series an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the institute’s highest safety rating.

Additionally, the IIHS has given the entire 2021 Genesis model lineup its TOP SAFETY PICK+ award, which represents a milestone in the luxury automaker’s unwavering commitment to passenger safety.

Not to be outdone, over the past 5 years, Hyundai has earned more total IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ awards than Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or Subaru. If you want an affordable, late-model used vehicle that offers safety, Hyundai’s got one.

These are just some examples of the many outstanding and exceptionally safe luxury and exotic cars for sale near Miami that you’ll find at our Braman Miami luxury car dealerships.

We invite you to contact Braman Miami today at 305-720-2548 and let our experienced and friendly staff assist you with your next luxury car purchase. It’s a safe bet that you’ll find just what you’re looking for.