7 of the Most Dangerous Cars You Can Own

Whether shopping for a new or used vehicle, you deserve a safe ride. While an appealing price tag may seem like a smart money move for car owners, it could cost you more in the long run.

The following cars can put drivers, passengers, and everyone else on the road in danger.

Do you already own one of these cars? If so, you might want to take steps to protect yourself. At the very least, research any recalls that have been issued, and then follow up with the manufacturer for replacements.

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When you look at vehicle ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), you want to see as many green squares as possible. Green indicates the highest level (Good). What you see when you look at the 2025 Volkswagen Taos's page looks like a rainbow — and not the good kind.

The Taos gets a Marginal (the second-lowest rating) in crashworthiness in moderate overlap front tests. IIHS gives it an Acceptable in the small overlap front test.

It just gets worse from there. The front crash prevention system gets a Poor (the lowest) rating. The only area that receives a Good? The child seat attachment.

Are you really going to spend more than $25,000 on a compact SUV that only excels in one safety area? There are many better options out there, so you don't have to jeopardize your safety.

The Fiat 500L was available in North America from 2014 to 2020. During that time, Fiat's small minivan's safety expectations fell short every year.

The IIHS gave the 2020 Fiat 500L a Poor rating in an overall evaluation of the vehicle's small overlap front safety. Although the 500L protected the driver's chest and head/neck well, a shoddy safety cage and just Acceptable driver restraints dragged down the rating.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also lists three recalls for the Fiat 500, including one for an incorrect software calibration that could prevent the vehicle from accelerating as expected, which increases the risk of a crash. That's going to create a huge issue when you're trying to merge onto a busy highway.

Yet again, we have a car that seems like a safe choice but gets absolutely horrible results in driver-side crash tests.

The IIHS gives the 2016 Lincoln MKS an overall Poor rating for its driver-side small overlap front protection. The car also gets the lowest possible score for the safety of its structure and safety cage.

The front crash prevention system also didn't do very well. The IIHS gives it the second-lowest score, even after adding optional equipment.

The 2020 Dodge Journey is one of several vehicles on this list that get terrible crashworthiness ratings from the IIHS. The IIHS test resulted in a Poor overall evaluation for driver-side small overlap front protection.

The 2020 Journey also gets several Marginal ratings and Poor ratings for the safety cage and headlights.

The IIHS hasn't done tests on the 2020 Cadillac Escalade, so the jury's out on how well it protects passengers during a crash.

So, why is it on this list? Because of two pretty shocking recalls. One recall says that a manufacturing issue with the tires could cause the sidewall to break. If that happens, drivers could lose control of their vehicles.

As if that weren't bad enough, another recall notes that some Escalades have fuel pumps that don't include necessary pressure regulators. If the pumps get over-pressurized, they could crack and leak. If the leak reaches any ignition source, it will start a fire.

Consumers expect minivans to offer above-average safety. The 2016 Chrysler Town & Country minivan doesn't even come close to meeting that expectation.

The IIHS gives it a Poor rating for small overlap front crashworthiness. The extremely low overall rating is largely due to ineffective structure and safety cages, as well as inadequate driver hip/thigh and lower leg/foot protection.

The NHTSA has five recalls for the 2016 Town & Country. Some big concerns include loss of power that causes a transmission pump failure, a hood that may open unexpectedly while driving, and a fire extinguisher that might not work when you need it.

Remember when Elon Musk had an employee throw a metal ball at the Cybertruck to demonstrate the effectiveness of the EV's bulletproof glass? That didn't go so well. Given the early look into the Cybertruck's performance, maybe it isn't surprising to find it on this list of dangerous vehicles.

Unfortunately, disappointing windows barely scratch the surface of what's wrong with the Cybertruck. The IIHS gives the Tesla vehicle's headlights its lowest rating. Again, probably not a surprise. The headlights look like a strip of cheap LEDs strung across the vehicle's front end.

The NHTSA has issued eight recalls for the 2024 Cybertruck. Some standout concerns include recalls for an accelerator pedal that can get trapped, causing an unexpected surge in speed, and a faulty inverter that can cause the truck to lose power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owning an unsafe vehicle is never a good idea. Even if it seems like a good deal when you buy it, there's a chance you will come to regret your decision.

There is also no reason to choose a car that puts you and your passengers at risk. Be sure to do your research, and no matter what model you choose, ensuring you have solid car insurance is always a must.