What NHTSA tested for 2027
- Applies to
- Model year 2027 vehicles
- Models meeting criteria
- 102 qualifying models across 10 manufacturers
- Program
- New Car Assessment Program 5-Star Safety Ratings
- Body areas tested
- Head, hips, legs and knees
- Results shown
- Yellow box on the ratings page
- More info
- NHTSA.gov/ratings
NHTSA has published its first pedestrian protection assessments for model year 2027 vehicles, a new category inside the New Car Assessment Program 5-Star Safety Ratings (opens in a new tab). The agency says 102 models from 10 manufacturers met the new pedestrian protection performance criteria. NHTSA says a yellow box will indicate whether each vehicle passed or failed, or whether its rating is pending or was not submitted.
The testing looks at the injury risk a vehicle poses to a pedestrian's head, hips, legs and knees, using three impact scenarios. One of those scenarios applies full lower-limb impacts to the bumper. The pedestrian protection portion of crashworthiness scoring covers the head along with the upper and lower legs.
The model year 2027 information also carries updated frontal, side and rollover crashworthiness ratings. Crash avoidance evaluations continue to cover driver assistance systems, including automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist, along with blind spot warning and blind spot intervention. NHTSA says it keeps evaluating both crash protection and advanced safety features.
How to check a specific model
NHTSA points consumers to NHTSA.gov/ratings for individual model information. The agency published the results on September 18, 2026, from Washington, DC. Media questions go to NHTSAmedia@dot.gov or 202-366-9550.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said, "NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings program is the gold standard. By adding a new category for pedestrian safety, we will help consumers make informed choices when buying a new or used vehicle". He added, "We expect this recognition to spark thoughtful inclusion of new pedestrian safety designs in more models, making new vehicles safer than ever."