Skip to main content

Ford and IIHS Disagree Regarding Post-Collision Repair Costs for Aluminum F-150

Photo Credit: Ford Motor Company


In the United States, there is two major bodies that evaluate the crashworthiness of vehicles; the government-based National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The IIHS was assembled by insurance companies to assess the potential cost of vehicle damage and personal injury that could be suffered in a particular vehicle. IIHS tests are traditionally more rigorous than the NHTSA tests. For Canadians who buy almost identical vehicles to the ones of our American neighbours, the results of crash tests is regarded as reputably as it is stateside. When the IIHS published recent crash test results released for the revolutionary new 2015 Ford F-150, truck buyers in Canada would be most intrigued to know how one of the country's most popular-selling vehicles performed.

Testing of the 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCab and SuperCrew by the IIHS was a good news/bad news story for the blue oval purists. On the positive side, the SuperCrew version of the F-150 pickup recorded high-rated 'Good' performances in all five crashworthiness disciplines. The SuperCab model captured Good ratings in four of the five tests.

In a performance that earned the 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCrew a coveted Top Safety Pick award for acing all of its IIHS crash tests, the F-150 SuperCab's small front overlap impact test was a little more troubling. In the test conducted at 40 miles per hour (64.37 kilometers per hour) against an offset barrier, the Ford F-150 SuperCab's structure bent in such a manner that caused the pedals to move up to 13 inches closer to the crash test dummy. IIHS researchers were also concerned with the way the dummy's head landed into the front airbag. Despite the faults, the 2015 Ford F-150 SuperCab still received a mid-level 'Marginal' rating. 






Aside from the crash test, the IIHS performed calculations into repairs following less serious impacts. With the predominant use of aluminum in new Ford F-150's shape, the IIHS has tabulated the cost of front and rear damage done with a 10-mile per hour collision would be 26 percent more expensive than a steel-bodied vehicle. It is this second area of study by the IIHS that has sparked a strong difference in educated opinion. While Ford Motor Company proudly accepts the Top Safety Pick and appears to be investigating the small front overlap result of the F-150 SuperCab according to IIHS, the auto company strongly objected to the assertion that their aluminum-bodied truck cost more to repair.   

Following the publication of the IIHS' test, Ford rebutted with their own information. Using what they call real-world accident repair data, the automaker argues the costs are contrary to the crash institute's research. In fact, Ford Motor Company counters repair costs for their 2015 truck are lower than what is encountered with the 2014 F-150. Ford has recorded average repair costs have averaged $869 less. A number of components involved in the 2015 Ford F-150 utilize modular structures that requires less labour to repair.

The auto company also dispelled myths are more expensive to insure and own due to the aluminum body panels. Ford cites State Farm Insurance and Allstate Insurance expressing coverage for the new F-150 is comparable to the last-generation truck.


Information source: Ford Motor Company, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Canadian Star Car: Red Green's Possum Van

Clip of Possum Van during a Red Green Show season 1 scene transition.  It could be argued that the car someone regularly drives can be reflective of their personality. The level of character traits found in our automobiles can range from subtle to flamboyant as practicality, style, power, brand loyalty and other details are factors influencing our vehicle affection. On the big screen and silver screen, an automobile (frequently popularized as a Star Car) can be used to affirmatively to expand on a human character. Batman’s Batmobile, the Dodge Charger called the ‘General Lee’ in Dukes of Hazzard, the Volvo P1800 featured in the 1960s television version of The Saint, the Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in some of the most famous spy movies are some popular examples where vehicles play a major role in reinforcing the appearance of fictional individuals. Due to the budgetary constraints of Canadian media productions, the presence of native Star Cars is rare. However, one success...

Honda’s Secret 30th Anniversary In Indy Car Racing

Photo Credit: Engine Developments Ltd. Too many times, forgetting an anniversary would end with someone spending time in the proverbial doghouse. This has apparently happened this year as the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season concluded with no major celebrations or recognition for what is 30 years since a major current partner of American open wheel racing began participation in the sport. The following article is a collection of the details I’ve learned as well as some insight from engine builder John Judd on what was a quiet 30th anniversary in the Verizon IndyCar Series. During the week where the 30th running of the Canadian street race now known as the Honda Indy Toronto, I was compelled to capture the flavour of the inaugural event. The viewing experience provided me some insight into a period of time where I was too young to absorb auto racing in the manner I do today. A race that featured television coverage with no regular onscreen statistics, the league used a local ...

The 1967 Indy 500: When An STP-Sponsored Turbine Almost Changed Racing

Photo Credit: Uncredited Photographer/IMS LLC Racing has always been the ultimate proving ground for automobiles. Not only has competition promoted innovations big and small, race cars have also influenced overall vehicle appearance. At the 1967 Indianapolis 500, the STP-Paxton TurboCar fielded by the late Andy Granatelli provided a shocking example of how much racing at the speedway evolved over 56 years. Ever since the first 500-mile event was held at the 2.5-mile rectangular oval Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1911, the winning Marmon Wasp with a rearview mirror paved the way for what would be a grand showcase of automotive development. Accompanying “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” advancements in automobile technology showed greater sophistication with every passing decade in the quest for more speed. During the 1920s and 1930s, American race car designer Henry Miller offered groundbreaking engines to the Indianapolis 500. Miller also gave front-wheel drive technology it...