NCAP slams unsafe pick-ups, singles out Nissan Navara

Safety organisation Euro NCAP has slammed pick-up trucks such as the Nissan Navara and Isuzu D-MAX for negligence, saying that such trucks - marketed increasingly as family cars - pose unacceptable risks to passengers.

Focusing particularly on the Nissan Navara pick-up, NCAP says the Navara presents an 'unacceptably high risk of life-threating injury' to occupants, having scored one point out of a potential five after testing.

NCAP insists that the time it takes for the rugged off-roader to deploy its onboard airbags is negligent, and deemed that the seat belts did not provide a sufficient level of protection to the occupant in the event of impact.

Euro NCAP also added a note of caution with regard the pick-up's body shell structure for not being up to the job of total protection.

Dr Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of Euro NCAP said 'Euro NCAP must act as a guardian of car safety for consumers – testing these vehicles becomes imperative when we realise they are no longer simply being used for the carriage of goods.

'Manufacturers must realise we will test all cars that could have an impact on the safety of European consumers.'

In a bid to distance itself from the negative publicity, Nissan has stressed that it has already addressed these issues.

Nissan has now issued a recall for all Navaras built between May and December 2007, and has written to all Navara owners inviting them to visit their dealer.

Nissan says that Navaro models produced pre-May 2007, as well as those produced since December 2007 are not affected.

Nissan says that it overhauled airbag control unit software was, developing software update so as to rectify the problem that enables the airbag to respond correctly.

The Japanese manufacturer has since supplied Euro NCAP with a modified airbag control unit in a revised Navara for a retest.

Euro NCAP claims that results from the retest will take another month before being made public, while stressing that the Navara's side impact and child protection levels were encouraging in the main, scoring three stars for child occupant safety.

NCAP also voiced reservations about the Navara's front bumper which is set at a child's head height.

Nissan also singled out the Isuzu Rodeo for posing 'an unacceptably high risk of life-threatening injury to the chest region'.

Of the pick-ups tested, the Mitsubishi L200 received four stars, though all three performed poorly for child and pedestrian protection.

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