Ford Cars: Are They Safe?
A Fortunate Escape: One Woman’s Story Highlights the Ongoing Debate Over Vehicle Safety
The jarring image of a crumpled 2024 Ford Escape, almost unrecognizable after a collision with a dump truck, is making the rounds online. But the story isn’t about the destruction; it’s about survival. A TikTok video posted by @thetruckcounselor, a Ford dealership owner, showcases the wrecked vehicle and reveals that the driver walked away without a scratch. The incident has ignited a conversation about vehicle safety standards and which automakers truly prioritize occupant protection.
While the dealership owner’s enthusiastic claim that Ford makes “the safest vehicle in the world” is a bold one, the story underscores a critical point: modern vehicle design and safety features are increasingly effective at mitigating the severity of crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 39,345 people died in car crashes in 2024. Despite advancements in automotive technology, traffic fatalities remain a significant public health concern. Approximately 6 million car accidents occur annually in the United States – that’s more than 15,000 every single day.
The Role of Crash Testing and Safety Ratings
The 2024 Ford Escape involved in the incident received a five-star overall crash rating from NHTSA, a testament to its performance in standardized crash tests. These tests, conducted through the New Car Assessment Program, evaluate a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in frontal, side, and rollover collisions. NHTSA also assesses the effectiveness of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking. For the 2025 model year, NHTSA testing covers vehicles representing roughly 86% of the new car fleet.
However, a five-star rating doesn’t guarantee complete protection in every scenario. The real-world physics of a collision are complex, and factors like impact speed, the type of vehicle struck, and the angle of impact all play a role. The Ford Escape’s performance in this particular incident – a head-on collision with a much larger vehicle – is a compelling, if anecdotal, example of how well-engineered safety features can work.
Beyond Ford: A Landscape of Safe Vehicles
While the TikTok video focuses on Ford, several other manufacturers consistently achieve high safety ratings. NHTSA’s 2025 five-star ratings include:
- Audi Q6 e-tron (EV SUV)
- BMW X3 (SUV)
- Cadillac CT5 with V6 (4-door)
- Cadillac Escalade (SUV)
- Chevrolet Equinox (SUV)
- Chevrolet Tahoe (SUV)
- Ford Expedition (SUV)
- Ford Explorer (SUV)
- Ford Transit Wagon (Low and Medium Roof)
- Genesis GV80 (SUV)
- Hyundai Palisade (SUV)
- Subaru Forester (SUV)
- Toyota 4Runner (SUV)
- Toyota Camry Hybrid (4-door)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (SUV)
The inclusion of multiple brands on this list highlights the industry-wide commitment to improving vehicle safety. However, consumer perception often leans towards certain brands, with Volvo frequently cited as a leader in safety innovation. Commenters on the TikTok video were quick to point this out, with one user stating, “100% have a safer vehicle it’s called a Volvo.” The dealership owner acknowledged Volvo’s strong safety reputation, but emphasized the remarkable outcome of the Ford Escape crash.
The Human Factor and the Future of Road Safety
The debate over which automaker produces the “safest” vehicle is ultimately a complex one. While crash test ratings provide valuable data, they don’t tell the whole story. Driver behavior, road conditions, and the increasing prevalence of distracted driving all contribute to the risk of accidents. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, accounting for approximately 1.3 million deaths each year.
The focus on vehicle safety must be coupled with efforts to improve driver education, enforce traffic laws, and develop safer road infrastructure. The rise of autonomous driving technology also holds promise for reducing accidents, but widespread adoption is still years away. For now, stories like the one shared by @thetruckcounselor serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of choosing a vehicle with robust safety features and driving responsibly.
The woman’s fortunate escape isn’t just a testament to Ford’s engineering; it’s a reminder that even in the face of devastating collisions, survival is possible. And that, perhaps, is the most important message of all.
ARTICOL ORIGINAL:
Protection against collision impact, or car crashes, is one thing no car buyer should ever disregard. The numbers aren’t very good.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 39,345 people died in a car crash in 2024. Every year, around 6 million car accidents happen, which is more than 15,000 every single day.
With this in mind, it really does offer some peace of mind when you see a really messed-up car and find out the people inside are totally fine.
One Ford dealership owner, @thetruckcounselor on TikTok, showed exactly what something like that looks like.
“Proof Ford Is SAFEST”
In the clip, which has over 33,700 views, @thetruckcounselor stood atop a tow truck, holding a crashed car.
“I’m about to show you proof that Ford makes the safest vehicle in the world,” he says over footage of a wrecked 2024 Ford Escape. “As part of our world class customer service, we provided this brand new 2024 Ford Escape to one of our customers…who had a vehicle in our service department as a completely complimentary loaner.”
Then the camera spins to show severe front-end damage.
“And what happened next? She got smoked by a dump truck,” he says. “And as you can see, we’re not gonna be able to put Humpty Dumpty back together again.”
Then comes the stat that anchors his claim: “But the kicker to the story is she walked away from the accident injury-free.”
He references the safety rating, too, saying, “Which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, given that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2024 Ford Escape a five star overall crash rating.”
His caption is bold, too: “Who makes the safest vehicle in the world??? IT’S FORD!!!”
Highly Rated Car Crash Safety Vehicles for 2025
Crash-test ratings are still the most straightforward way to compare how vehicles protect occupants in a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publishes its five-Star Safety Ratings through the New Car Assessment Program every year. For model year 2025, the vehicles selected for testing represent roughly 86% of the new-car fleet.
NHTSA’s testing includes frontal, side, and rollover crashes, and the agency also verifies advanced driver-assistance systems such as lane departure warning, forward collision warning, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support.
Here are some of the vehicles that earned five-star safety ratings for 2025 (via NHTSA):
- Audi Q6 e-tron (EV SUV)
- BMW X3 (SUV)
- Cadillac CT5 with V6 (4-door)
- Cadillac Escalade (SUV)
- Chevrolet Equinox (SUV)
- Chevrolet Tahoe (SUV)
- Ford Expedition (SUV)
- Ford Explorer (SUV)
- Ford Transit Wagon (Low and Medium Roof)
- Genesis GV80 (SUV)
- Hyundai Palisade (SUV)
- Subaru Forester (SUV)
- Toyota 4Runner (SUV)
- Toyota Camry Hybrid (4-door)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (SUV)
Commenters Aren’t Exactly On The Same Page
Viewers jumped into the comments with plenty of skepticism and brand loyalty.
“Safest vehicle because you can’t crash if you can’t drive it,” one person wrote.
“Most don’t start. That helps,” another added.
Many pointed to Volvo. “100% have a safer vehicle it’s called a Volvo,” one commenter said flatly.
The dealership answered that one, writing, “No question the Volvo is a remarkably safe vehicle, and to be fair, I was hyperbolizing a bit with my statement that ‘Ford is the safest in the world. BUT you’ve gotta admit, it’s pretty impressive that our customer walked away without injuries, given how badly our Escape was damaged.”
Others shared their own crash stories. One person said they walked away from an 80 mph head-on collision with very minimal injuries in a 2020 Ford Escape.
Motor1 has contacted Ford for comment and reached out to @thetruckcounselor via TikTok messages. We’ll update this if either responds.