Suzuki Fronx sales halted
The NZTA describes the failure of a rear seatbelt when a Suzuki Fronx was being safety tested as of “significant concern”.
The agency says it has been advised that New Zealand sales of the SUV, which has been given a one-star ANCAP rating, have been put on hold by the marque.
Officials from the NZTA have met with Suzuki NZ to encourage the company to address the issue, including the consideration of a recall being issued.
“While the seatbelt failure is serious, the low ANCAP rating reflects the vehicle’s poor performance across all aspects of ANCAP’s testing,” says an agency spokesperson. “Whether further regulatory action is required will depend on what steps Suzuki takes to address the issue.
“The NZTA is advised Suzuki NZ has stopped sales of the Fronx and is contacting owners from today [December 22] to provide them with further information including advice that passengers do not travel in the rear seats at this time.”
Customers yet to be contact by Suzuki NZ should contact the company or their local dealer. People can email enquiry@suzuki.co.nz or call 0800-929-394.
Model gets one safety star
Independent testing of the Fronx has resulted in the SUV narrowly reaching the threshold for a one-star safety rating after its performance in key crash tests, and for its levels of occupant protection for adults and children.
In addition, ANCAP’s testing identified the separate safety concern when a rear seatbelt failed during the car’s full-width frontal crash test. The testing showed the Fronx delivered “poor” levels of occupant protection for adults and children.
In the full-width frontal test, excessive chest loads were recorded for the rear passenger, exceeding ANCAP’s performance thresholds and resulting in the score being capped under assessment protocols.
Key body regions of the 10-year-old and six-year-old child occupants were capped at zero points due to high head acceleration and excessive neck tension.
During the full-width frontal test, the rear-passenger seatbelt retractor failed resulting in an uncontrolled seatbelt release when the rear dummy became unrestrained, allowing it to strike the rear of the front seat.
While the component failure is serious, the vehicle had already received zero points in the full-width frontal test before the failure occurred due to the high chest load recorded.
Importantly, says ANCAP, the one-star rating reflects the Fronx’s overall crash performance – particularly the performance of its structure and restraint systems – and is not a consequence of the separate seatbelt component failure.
“The seatbelt component failure is rare and serious,” says Carla Hoorweg, ANCAP’s chief executive officer. “We exist to give consumers confidence and, when our tests reveal results of this nature, we will act in their best interest by communicating our findings promptly and transparently.
“What concerns us is this particular vehicle could have been purchased by an ordinary consumer and in an on-road crash this failure could have had serious consequences for the person in the back seat.”
About 1,000 units of the Fronx have already been sold in Australia along with 1,115 in New Zealand. ANCAP’s view is adult and child passengers shouldn’t travel in the rear seats of the Fronx “until the reason for the failure has been determined and relevant rectifications have been carried out”.
Hoorweg adds: “Consumers expect and deserve vehicles that meet the fundamental standards of occupant protection. This is the third component failure revealed through independent safety testing in recent months.
“ANCAP encourages all manufacturers to bring their vehicles forward for testing ahead of market release as it allows the opportunity for issues to be identified and rectified before vehicles reach consumers and are driven on Australian and New Zealand roads.”
Visit http://ancap.link/s/cb710f for full ANCAP details on the safety performance of the Fronx.
