The most surprising crash test results of popular cars

Three well-known models—Renault Zoe, Fiat Punto and Jeep Wrangler—became symbols of unexpected failure in Euro NCAP and IIHS safety tests. Find out what went wrong and why it matters for modern car safety.

In recent years, the automotive world has been jolted by a few shockers — once-trusted, popular models failing spectacularly in crash tests. We examine three such cases: Renault Zoe, Fiat Punto, and Jeep Wrangler — vehicles with names, familiarity, and suddenly, infamy.

Renault Zoe: from “star” status to zero

It’s startling enough that an EV with a good reputation earned 0 stars in Euro NCAP. In December 2021, the updated Zoe was rated 0 with scores: Adults 43 %, Children 52 %, Vulnerable Road Users 41 %, Safety Assist 14 %.

In the frontal offset test, chest protection was flagged “weak” and risk of intrusion into the driver’s space was noted. In the side pole test, the driver’s head struck a protruding component — rated “poor.” Rear impact (whiplash) protection fared “poor” and “marginal.” Importantly, Zoe lacked central airbag, Multi-Collision Braking, and a more robust active safety suite.

Renault’s response included announcements of improved assist systems in March 2022, though no documented structural overhaul that overturns the test result has surfaced. The case of Zoe illustrates vividly how evolving test protocols, stricter safety thresholds, and market expectations can undo even a well-regarded model.

Fiat Punto: when a mass-market favorite becomes the first “zero”

In December 2017, the Fiat Punto became the first car in Euro NCAP history to score 0 stars. The numbers are stark: Adults 51 %, Children 43 %, Pedestrian 52 %, but Safety Assist 0 %. The zero in Safety Assist stems from the test configuration: no reminders for most seats, no AEB, no speed control or lane-keeping systems standard.

Notably, the side pole test was omitted, because the Punto didn’t have a standard head-protecting airbag. Media dubbed this a “historic precedent” — a widely owned model, unprepared for modern safety norms. Against a backdrop of rising competition, Punto’s failure looks especially dramatic in hindsight.

Jeep Wrangler: the off-road icon falters in small overlap

Wrangler — a name synonymous with rugged adventure — hit a surprising snag when it rolled over in the IIHS driver-side small overlap test. IIHS reported in June 2022 that the 2022 Wrangler flipped in the test despite claimed structural upgrades. The result: Marginal, downgraded due to rollover, even though cell integrity and dummy retention were acceptable.

The 2024 rating page explicitly states “partial rollover … not acceptable outcome,” and confirms that the rating applies to Gladiator as well. Interestingly, in the moderate overlap (updated) test, Wrangler scores Good, thanks to new pretensioners and force limiters starting in MY2024.

Yet the damage to reputation lies in the small overlap scenario: where many other SUVs pass, Wrangler turned volatile. For brand loyalists, it’s a disturbing signal: brute strength and ruggedness can’t always offset crash risks.

What links these cases?

On the surface, these are wildly different cars — an EV, a budget hatchback, an off-road legend. Yet common threads emerge:

Each failure is a temporal test: as crash protocols get tougher, models that don’t evolve get exposed. Absence or weakness of fundamental safety systems often casts a longer shadow than strong shell design. The stumbles occur where expectations run high — for brands and models seen as reliable or aspirational.

A cautious look ahead

If this trend persists, we may see more “fallen stars” among vehicles once considered safe — especially among EVs, where safety ratings are part of the selling narrative. Car makers will have to either commit to substantive revisions in safety and assistance tech, or risk eroding trust. Independent crash tests are increasingly not just marketing spectacles — they’re real maturity checks for modern vehicles.