NHTSA SaferCar Vehicle Safety & Crash Test Dataset
A detailed collection of vehicle safety data, including crash test ratings, technical safety features, and injury metrics for various car models.
Dataset Metrics
Data Format
Dataset Schema (10 features)
| Name | Type | Nullable | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAKE | string | No | |
| MODEL | string | No | |
| MODEL_YR | integer | No | |
| BODY_STYLE | string | No | |
| VEHICLE_TYPE | categorical | Yes | |
| DRIVE_TRAIN | string | Yes | |
| PRODUCTION_RELEASE | integer | No | |
| VEHICLE_CLASS | categorical | Yes | |
| BODY_FRAME | categorical | Yes | |
| NUM_OF_SEATING | string | Yes |
License & Compliance
About This Dataset
This dataset contains 17,306 records of vehicle models ranging from the early 1990s to planned 2026 releases. It includes exhaustive metrics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) such as frontal, side, and pole crash test stars, rollover risk factors, and specific biomechanical load data including Head Injury Criterion (HIC), femur force, and chest deflection. Additionally, it tracks the presence of advanced safety technologies like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and side airbags across different body styles and drive trains.
Data Quality
The dataset is comprehensive for model identification (Make, Model, Year). However, there is high sparsity in specific crash test metric columns (e.g., Rib Deflection, Symphysis Force) as not every vehicle is subjected to every specialized test configuration. Biomechanical data is consistently formatted where available.
Use Cases
Automotive engineering research, consumer safety comparison tools, predictive modeling for vehicle safety ratings, and historical analysis of safety tech adoption.
Limitations
Significant percentage of null values in specialized test result columns; 'Safety Concern' indicators are highly imbalanced due to the relative rarity of such flags; technical specs like length/weight are missing for older models.
Methodology
Compiled from standardized government crash test protocols and manufacturer disclosures. Data captures the technical specifications and safety performance of vehicles as tested by the NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Geographic Coverage
Source Information
Governance & Review
Usage & Restrictions
License: Public Domain — This dataset is licensed for use by the purchasing entity. Refer to the specific license terms for permitted use.
Access Control: Download links are time-limited and single-use. All access is logged for audit purposes.