IIHS testing uncovers safety issues in the 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck.

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      On Wednesday, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provided an update regarding its evaluations for 2025, shedding light on some preliminary findings from seven electric vehicles currently undergoing testing. The outcome? At best, it's mixed. Thus far, it appears that there will be no Top Safety Picks among this year's selections, despite some vehicles in this group performing reasonably well.

      The IIHS is assessing the 2025 BMW i4, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, Nissan Ariya, Tesla Cybertruck, Tesla Model 3, and the Volkswagen ID Buzz. While they share the common trait of being electric vehicles, they have few similarities, making it challenging to directly compare their results. However, the Cybertruck and F-150 Lightning are somewhat comparable, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.

      The Lightning's lowest score was achieved in the new moderate overlap test, part of IIHS’s crashworthiness evaluations for more angled head-on collisions. As the test name implies, there is more hood engagement (40%) than in the previously established small overlap test. Like the gasoline version of the F-150, the Lightning was rated only “marginal” in this test, even though it had favorable results for front passengers; the problems were mainly seen in the rear compartment.

      “In the F-150 Lightning, measurements taken from the rear dummy indicated a high risk not only for chest injuries but also for head and neck injuries,” stated the IIHS release. “Furthermore, the lap belt for the rear dummy shifted from the optimal position on the pelvis to the abdomen, which increases the likelihood of internal injuries.”

      The Lightning has yet to receive ratings for front or side-impact collisions, but its gasoline counterpart performed nearly flawlessly in those evaluations in 2021.

      In contrast, the Tesla Cybertruck performed adequately in the moderate overlap test, achieving a “Good” rating, but with a caveat. This rating only applies to Cybertrucks manufactured from April 2025 onward. What about units made before that date? We reached out to IIHS for clarification.

      “Whenever we conduct crash tests on a vehicle, we collaborate with the automaker to determine which model years the ratings can apply to. In this instance, Tesla indicated they had implemented a modification at that time that would influence how the vehicle performed in this type of collision, preventing the rating from being backdated to earlier models,” said Joseph Young, IIHS Director of Media Relations, in an email.

      “Although we have limited details on what that change entailed, it seems it was related to enhancing crashworthiness,” he continued. “For further specifics on this change, you would need to contact Tesla.”

      We did just that, and will update this article if Tesla offers any insights.

      Despite its strong showing in the moderate overlap test, the Cybertruck will still be excluded from the Top Safety Pick list due to its headlights. No vehicle in this group received a “good” rating for headlights, with the Cybertruck among only two to receive the lowest rating, along with the BMW i4. IIHS noted that excessive glare from the low beams contributed to the downgrade of the Tesla’s standard headlights from “marginal” to “poor.” In comparison, the i4 offers upgraded headlights that perform better (“marginal”).

      To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must achieve “good” ratings in both the small overlap and side crash tests, “acceptable” or “good” ratings for headlights (available across all trims), and an “acceptable” or “good” rating in the pedestrian crash avoidance assessment. An “acceptable” rating in the moderate overlap test is sufficient for Top Safety Pick, while a “good” rating is necessary for Top Safety Pick+. As of now, only the Ariya and Blazer have finished their testing processes, and neither met the criteria for an award.

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