WEB DESK: Independent safety assessment by ANCAP has resulted in the Suzuki Fronx receiving a near-critically low one-star safety rating, following subpar results in key crash tests and inadequate occupant protection for both adults and children.
In addition to its poor crash test performance, ANCAP identified a significant safety issue—a rear seatbelt retractor failure during a full-width frontal crash test. This defect has been reported to vehicle safety authorities in Australia and New Zealand.
Crash tests revealed that the Suzuki Fronx provides minimal protection for occupants, with both adult and child crash test dummies experiencing high levels of injury risk. During the full-width frontal impact, excessive chest loads on the rear passenger exceeded safety limits, resulting in a capped score under ANCAP’s evaluation criteria.
Further, the testing showed that critical body regions of child occupants aged 6 and 10 years received zero points due to high head acceleration and neck strain.
A serious safety concern emerged when the rear seatbelt retractor failed during the crash test, causing the seatbelt to release uncontrollably and leaving the rear dummy unrestrained, which could have led to serious injuries in real-world crashes. However, it’s important to note that the vehicle’s overall safety rating was already capped at one star based on crashworthiness before the seatbelt failure was observed.
ANCAP clarified that the overall one-star rating primarily reflects the vehicle’s structural integrity and restraint system performance in crash scenarios—not the separate seatbelt component failure.
Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP’s CEO, emphasized the importance of independent testing: “The seatbelt failure is a rare but serious safety issue. Our role is to inform consumers transparently, and when we uncover such problems, we act in their best interest.”
She added, “It’s alarming to consider that consumers could have purchased this vehicle, and in an actual crash, the rear seat occupant’s safety could be severely compromised.”
Approximately 1,300 Suzuki Fronx units have been sold in Australia, with an additional 1,000 in New Zealand.
ANCAP recommends that consumers avoid using the rear seats of the Suzuki Fronx until Suzuki conducts a thorough investigation and implements necessary repairs to address the seatbelt failure.
The safety authority urges buyers to stay informed about this issue and to wait for Suzuki’s confirmation that the defect has been resolved before making a purchase.
“Consumers expect vehicles that meet basic safety standards,” Hoorweg stated. “We call on Suzuki to act swiftly to identify and fix all affected vehicles without delay.”
This incident marks the third safety component failure uncovered through independent testing in recent months. ANCAP encourages manufacturers to submit their vehicles for early testing during development to identify issues before vehicles reach the market and are driven on roads across Australia and New Zealand.
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