Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram and Nissan Titan fair poorly in safety crash tests

New tests conducted by the Institute for Highway Safety have rated the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, the Dodge Ram 1500 and the Nissan Titan pickups poor for side impact crash protection.

The Ram, equipped with standard side air bags, earned the second-lowest score of marginal. The Titan and Silverado received the lowest mark of poor when tested without optional side air bags.

When optional safety equipment was added, the Titan’s rating improved but the Silverado still received a poor rating. The results were the same for the GMC Sierra 1500, which is the twin vehicle of the Chevrolet Silverado.

The top safety picks were the Honda Ridgeline, the Ford F-150 and the Toyota Tundra. All units tested received good ratings for frontal crash tests. For more information on the tests conducted by the Institute for Highway Safety, visit their website.