This past December, the refreshed 2024 Ford F-150 earned a Top Safety Pick Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which is notable given the fact that the 2023 model previously struggled in that same organization’s crash testing. However, its all-electric counterpart – the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning – didn’t fare quite as well in the latest round of IIHS crash testing, which in this case involved seven different EVs from various manufacturers.
Rather, the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning only managed to receive a “good” rating in the category of front crash prevention: pedestrian, as well as for its seat belt reminder system. Otherwise, IIHS assigned the EV pickup ratings of “marginal” for latch ease of use, “acceptable” for its headlights, and “poor” for its performance in moderate front overlap protection. According to IIHS, the F-150 Lightning offers good protection for the driver, but falls short when it comes to protecting passengers in the rear.
In the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning, measurements taken from the rear dummy showed a high risk of not only chest injuries, but also, injuries to the head or neck. Additionally, the rear dummy’s lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, which increases the risk of internal injuries. The moderate overlap front test represents an offset crash between two vehicles traveling in opposite directions. The test vehicle strikes a stationary barrier at 40 mph, with 40 percent of its front end overlapping the barrier.
The Lightning’s poor performance in this moderate overlap crash testing prevents it from qualifying for a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ Award, too. Both awards require “good” ratings in the small overlap and side crash tests, acceptable or good ratings for the headlights offered with all trims, and an acceptable or good rating in the pedestrian crash avoidance test. A rating of acceptable in the moderate overlap test is needed for the lower-tier Top Safety Pick award, and a good rating is required for higher-tier Top Safety Pick+.
Comments
I don’t have an issue with IIHS testing rear seat safety but I do with the results affecting Top Pick status. I have rear seat passengers in my vehicle maybe 1-2 times a year.
I have noticed here and on Youtube as well that there are lots of “Big Vehicles’ that get poor crash test ratings. The Expedition also scored bad as well. Many others. Somebody should really beef up their structural pillars, their doors, etc etc and then test it and finally advertise it as one of the “SAFEST VEHICLES THAT YOU CAN BUY”. 39,345 people died in car/suv crashes in this country in 2024. ITS TIME TO CHANGE THAT!!!