Study: 10 Most Accident-Prone EVs in the United States

The Porsche Taycan is the tenth most accident-prone vehicle on our list, with a crash rate of 0.28 per 1,000 cars and one reported fatal crash. This high-performance EV starts at a price of $99,400 and offers a 0-60 time of 4.5s and a top track speed of 143 mph thanks to its 300kW engine.

The Lucid Air was the lowest-selling vehicle on this list, with only 1,949 sales between 2019 and 2023. Amongst this smaller sample size, the vehicle reported a crash rate of 0.51 per 1,000 cars, which resulted in only one fatal crash. The Lucid Air is a luxury EV boasting a range of up to 440 miles and includes advanced driver-assistance systems like collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control.

The Chevrolet Bolt EV, with a crash rate of 0.55 per 1,000 cars, recorded 21 fatal crashes between 2019 and 2023. Known for its affordability, with a starting price of $26,500 and a range of 259 miles, the Bolt EV includes safety features such as forward collision alert and lane-keeping assist.

The Tesla Model 3 is the highest-selling vehicle on this list, racking up 195,698 sales between 2019 and 2023. This vehicle reported a slightly lower crash rate than the Model S, at 0.75 per 1,000 cars, but also managed to report the highest number of fatal accidents, with 147. The Model 3 offers a range of up to 341 miles and features like autopilot and full self-driving capability, making it one of the most advanced and popular EVs on the market.

Tesla Model S had a crash rate of 0.76 per 1,000 cars, with 69 fatal crashes recorded between 2019 and 2023. This model is known for its impressive range of up to 359 miles and features like autopilot, collision avoidance, and emergency braking, making it a high-performance and comparatively safe luxury sedan.

The Audi e-tron is one of the lowest-selling entrants on this list, with only 2,301 vehicles sold between 2019 and 2023.  This vehicle was reported to have a crash rate of 0.87 per 1,000 cars, only two of which were fatal crashes. The e-tron offers a range of about 285 miles and includes safety features such as 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control.

The Tesla Model X is a surprising entry to the list, with a crash rate of 1.08 per 1,000 cars. Despite the availability of self-driving functionality, the vehicle reported 26 fatal crashes over five years. Known for its long range of up to 326 miles and advanced autopilot features, the Model X is a luxury SUV with significant safety measures and sensors, including automated emergency braking and collision avoidance systems.

The Hyundai Ioniq EV has a crash rate of 1.57 per 1,000 cars, with 18 fatal crashes in 2023. This model offers a range of 303 miles and includes safety features like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and driver attention warning.

The Kia Niro EV follows closely behind the number one model in the study, with a crash rate of 1.82 per 1,000 cars. It recorded 27 fatal crashes in 2023 alone, with 53 associated fatalities in the past 5 years. The Niro EV offers a range of about 253 miles and includes advanced safety features such as forward collision warning and blind-spot detection.

The Nissan LEAF tops the list of accident-prone electric vehicles with 2.16 crashes per 1,000 cars, having experienced 26 fatal accidents over the past five years. The LEAF is known for its affordability and range of up to 214 miles, making it a popular choice among budget-conscious EV buyers. Safety features for this vehicle include Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, and Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention.

Our final slide shares the full data from the study:

Finally, here is a chart that breaks down the Barnes Firm study's data as supplied to the public. Note that this study doesn't look at EV crash rates versus internal-combustion-engine (ICE) powered automobile crash rates but sticks to the EV segment of the auto offerings on US roads.

Finally, here is a chart that breaks down the Barnes Firm study's data as supplied to the public. Note that this study doesn't look at EV crash rates versus internal-combustion-engine (ICE) powered automobile crash rates but sticks to the EV segment of the auto offerings on US roads.