The new, tightened up system of testing cars by the NHTSA has made it much harder for cars to achieve the top ranked 5 star rating, but to only score 3 stars is below expectations and will give Fiat more work to do in terms of customer perceptions already damaged by the product endorsement of actress/singer Jennifer Lopez.

While the 500 scored the top level of 5 stars in Europe in the tough Euro NCAP crash test programme this new result caps a difficult period for Fiat in terms of vehicle safety perceptions as the Lancia Voyager (Chrysler Town & Country) as well as the new Jeep Grand Cherokee both scored 4 stars in the Euro NCAP tests late last month with the latter, an all-new vehicle, being singled out for criticism and with a request for urgent rectification to unsafe seat rails.

The Model Year 2012 Fiat 500 tested by the NHTSA received 4 stars (out of a possible 5 stars available) for the frontal crash test, just 2 stars for the side impact test and 4 stars for the rollover test. In the frontal impact test, the driver safety rating was 4 stars for a male (again out of a possible 5) while the passenger (female) was rated at 3 stars. In the side impact test the front seat (male) occupant collected the maximum 5 stars while the rear seat (female) picked up just two. In terms of the rollover test, the 500 earned 4 stars with a 14.5 percent risk rating of rolling over.

The 500 gets the thumbs up from the NHTSA for having one of the three safety features the organisation is focusing on this year, Electronic Stability Control (ESC). However the 500 misses out on a ticked box for not featuring either Lane Departure Warning (LDW) or Forward Collision Warning (FCW).

NHTSA, established in 1970, directs highway safety and consumer programs and is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. And for more than 30 years the agency has set the standard for safety, helping consumers find safer cars with its 5-Star Safety Ratings.

The program's crash tests for this session will eventually provide consumer safety information on approximately 81 percent of model year 2012 passenger vehicles sold in the United States, while rollover tests will provide information on 92 percent of the 2012 fleet.

NHTSA is rating 74 vehicles for the 2012 model year, including 42 passenger cars, 22 sport utility vehicles, two vans, and eight pickups. The testing is being conducted under NHTSA's enhanced program, which was revamped last year to include tougher crash tests and provide consumers with a single overall safety score for each vehicle. A number of model year 2012 vehicles had carry-over designs from the previous year or have already been tested, and these ratings are already posted online.

"Our 5-star ratings program is a critical resource to help consumers make the best possible decisions about the cars they want to buy," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "By revamping the tests and creating a more rigorous program last year, we raised the bar on safety for all vehicle manufacturers. People should remember: More stars, safer cars."

In addition to overall safety ratings, NHTSA's revamped testing program also provides recommendations to consumers on the most effective "crash avoidance" technologies available in new model year vehicles. For the 2012 model year, NHTSA has identified 68 vehicle models equipped with either lane departure warning (LDW), forward collision warning (FCW), or both features, which can help drivers avoid a collision. Of these equipped vehicles, 12 have LDW, 18 vehicles have FCW, and 38 vehicles have both features. Since NHTSA began identifying vehicles equipped with these crash avoidance technologies in 2011, availability of these features has risen, up from the 45 vehicles offering these technologies as optional equipment last model year.

Starting with 2011 models, NHTSA has introduced tougher tests and rigorous new 5-Star Safety Ratings that provide more information about vehicle safety and crash avoidance technologies. Because of the more stringent tests, ratings for 2011 and newer vehicles should not be compared to ratings for 1990-2010 models. Overall vehicle score and frontal crash ratings should ONLY be compared to other vehicles of similar size and weight.

ItaliaspeedTV: Fiat 500 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Crash Tests: Frontal Impact / Side Impact / Pole Impact