Pickup Crash Tests Reveal Weak Protection: IIHS Criticizes the Ram 1500

The 2025 Ram 1500 Crew Cab pickup failed the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s updated moderate-overlap front crash test. According to the IIHS, the main concern centers on how the rear-seat seatbelts performed during the impact.

During the test, the shoulder belt shifted off the dummy’s chest toward the neck, increasing the risk of injury, while the lap belt rode up from the pelvis onto the abdomen. These issues significantly hurt the truck’s overall rating for rear-passenger protection. The findings also apply to the 2026 model-year Ram 1500.

That said, the pickup delivered stronger results in several other areas. The Ram 1500 passed the updated side-impact test and performed well in the small-overlap front crash test. Its front crash prevention system earned a “Good” rating for pedestrian detection, though it received only an “Acceptable” score when tested in vehicle-to-vehicle scenarios.

The IIHS also flagged concerns with child-seat installation. The lower anchors are difficult to locate, and the rear center seating position is not well suited for mounting a child safety seat.