This Is the Deadliest Car in the U.S., According to Data
Emily Ross
Published Feb 23, 2026
Each year, more than 33,000 people in the U.S. die in a car accident, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System. In fact, car crashes are a leading cause of death in the country for people aged 1 to 54, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. It's clear that no matter what kind of car you drive, it's important to stay alert behind the wheel, whether you're just running a quick errand or going on a long road trip. But research does show that there are certain cars that tend to be involved in more deadly crashes than others.
A recent 2021 study by ValuePenguin Insurance looked at car crash data from the NHTSA to determine which car models were most often involved in fatal accidents. The data was recorded from 2013 to 2018, and it showed that one popular vehicle was involved in nearly 11,000 deadly accidents during the five-year period, far more than any other car. Wondering how trustworthy your truck, sedan, or SUV is, and which car is the deadliest of them all? Read on.
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25 Jeep Wrangler
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,513
Cars sold in 2018: 240,032
24 Honda CR-V
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,526
Cars sold in 2018: 379,013
23 Ford Fusion
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,550
Cars sold in 2018: 173,600
22 Nissan Sentra
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,561
Cars sold in 2018: 213,046
21 Ford Escape
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,700
Cars sold in 2018: 272,228
20 Toyota Tacoma
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,763
Cars sold in 2018: 245,659
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19 Chevrolet GMT400
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,851
Cars sold in 2018: N/A. This car was no longer being manufactured during the study period.
18 Ford Taurus
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,913
Cars sold in 2018: 40,341
17 Ford Mustang
Total fatal crashes over five years: 1,963
Cars sold in 2018: 75,842
16 Chevrolet Tahoe
Total fatal crashes over five years: 2,113
Cars sold in 2018: 104,152
15 Ford Focus
Total fatal crashes over five years: 2,256
Cars sold in 2018: 114,045
14 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Total fatal crashes over five years: 2,304
Cars sold in 2018: 224,908
13 Chevrolet Malibu
Total fatal crashes over five years: 2,345
Cars sold in 2018: 144,542
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12 Ford Ranger
Total fatal crashes over five years: 2,476
Cars sold in 2018: N/A. This car was no longer being manufactured during the study period.
11 Chevrolet Impala
Total fatal crashes over five years: 2,804
Cars sold in 2018: 56,556
10 GMC Sierra
Total fatal crashes over five years: 3,245
Cars sold in 2018: 219,554
9 Nissan Altima
Total fatal crashes over five years: 3,267
Cars sold in 2018: 209,146
8 Ford Explorer
Total fatal crashes over five years: 3,332
Cars sold in 2018: 261,571
7 Toyota Corolla
Total fatal crashes over five years: 3,430
Cars sold in 2018: 303,732
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6 Honda Civic
Total fatal crashes over five years: 4,397
Cars sold in 2018: 325,760
5 Toyota Camry
Total fatal crashes over five years: 4,734
Cars sold in 2018: 536,980
4 Honda Accord
Total fatal crashes over five years: 5,079
Cars sold in 2018: 343,439
3 Ram Pickup
Total fatal crashes over five years: 5,897
Cars sold in 2018: 291,071
2 Chevrolet Silverado
Total fatal crashes over five years: 7,718
Cars sold in 2018: 585,581
1 Ford F-Series
Total fatal crashes over five years: 10,845
Cars sold in 2018: 909,330
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