Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2005-07 models built before June 2007
Tested vehicle: 2007 Ford Mustang GT 2-door convertible
The Ford Mustang was redesigned for the 2005 model year and modified beginning with 2007 models manufactured after May 2007 to reduce the likelihood of a door opening in frontal offset crashes (note: information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on or near the driver door).
Two tests of the 2007 Mustang convertible were conducted, one before the door modifications were made, and one after. During the first crash test, the window glass in the down position pushed on the driver door latch linkage, and the door opened. Ford responded by adding structure in the doors to prevent the window glass from contacting the latch mechanism and asked the Institute to test the Mustang again. In the second test, the driver door did not open.
The two cars are rated separately, but the overall rating for each is Acceptable.
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | |
| Chest | |
| Leg/foot, left | |
| Leg/foot, right | |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics Dummy movement was reasonably well controlled. However, the dummy's head hit the A-pillar, which bent downward and inward during the crash. During rebound, the head hit the top of the A-pillar. Late in the crash, the driver door opened. This opening didn't significantly affect dummy movement during the test but shouldn't happen because, in some crashes, it could allow partial or complete occupant ejection. |
Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.
The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.
Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the A-pillar twice. Head accelerations from these hits were low.
The driver door opened, which could allow occupant ejection in some crashes.
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | CEF0704 |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 14 |
| Left (cm) | 18 |
| Center (cm) | 21 |
| Right (cm) | 20 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 12 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 5 |
| Right (cm) | 4 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 4 |
| Rearward (cm) | 9 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 9 |
Driver injury measures
| Test ID | CEF0704 |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 252 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 57 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | no data |
| Maximum Nij | 0.00 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 36 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force - left (kN) | 3.6 |
| Femur force - right (kN) | 2.3 |
| Knee displacement - left (mm) | 3 |
| Knee displacement - right (mm) | 1 |
| Maximum tibia index - left | 0.38 |
| Maximum tibia index - right | 0.98 |
| Tibia axial force - left (kN) | 1.8 |
| Tibia axial force - right (kN) | 2.9 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 57 |
| Right | 90 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Manual-power leather seats
| Overall evaluation | |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | |
| Seat/head restraint geometry |
| Seat type | Manual-power leather seats |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 25 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 28 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Fail |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 10.9 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 94 |
| Force rating | 3 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 269 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 704 |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.