ANCAP crash test results

Ford Falcon | 1998

Overall evaluation: Acceptable

The driver was well protected from serious head injury in both crash tests - the airbag contributed to this result. In the full frontal crash test the passenger's head contacted its knees.

The passenger compartment of the Falcon was substantially deformed in the offset test and protection from lower leg injury was poor for the driver.

Safety features

A driver's airbag is standard equipment. A passenger airbag is available as an option but was not fitted to the test vehicles. The front seat belt buckles are mounted on the seats. This feature improves the fit of the seat belt.

The front seat belts also have webbing grabbers. Lap/sash seat belts are fitted to all seats, including the centre rear seat. A lap/sash seat belt is safer than a lap only belt.

Restraints: Acceptable

Full Frontal Crash Test

The driver's head was cushioned by the airbag with a stable and central contact. Protection from serious head injury was acceptable, bordering on good. The passenger's head glanced the dash and then hit its knees, which were moving upwards at the time. The knee impact was outside biomechanical parameters and was therefore disregarded in the analysis. The passenger seat had moved forward on the inboard side due to some floor deformation.

According to Ford Australia, this deformation may have been caused by the placement of a 50kg ballast on the floor behind the driver.

Offset Crash Test

The driver's head was cushioned by the airbag with a stable and central contact. Protection from serious head injury was good. Later in the crash the driver's head rebounded and the top of the head came out of the window but did not hit any part of the car.

Structure: Marginal

Full Frontal Crash

The passenger compartment held its shape very well in the full frontal crash test.

All doors remained closed during the crash and could be easily opened after the crash.

Offset Crash Test

The passenger compartment was substantially deformed in the offset crash test. The area at the front of the driver's door was substantially deformed and the door sill buckled severely. Both hinges at the front of the driver's door separated and the width of the driver's doorway shortened by 17cm. The front part of the driver's floor folded over and moved rearwards 29cm, close to the driver's foot.

Measurements showed poor protection from serious lower leg injury. The dash moved rearwards by 14cm and the steering column moved upwards by 7cm. The driver's door was easily removed after the crash.