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Detroit’s biggest SUVs and trucks didn’t just lose ground in the 2025 IIHS safety ratings—they got left in the dust. Not a single full-size truck or body-on-frame SUV from the Detroit Three earned a Top Safety Pick award. Last year, at least the Jeep Wagoneer made the cut. This year? Nothing. Meanwhile, Rivian and foreign brands dominated.

IIHS isn’t just testing how well vehicles survive a crash anymore. Safety today is about avoiding crashes in the first place. Nighttime pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and better side-impact protection all factor in. “The number of winners is smaller this year because we’re challenging automakers to build on the safety gains they’ve already achieved,” said IIHS President David Harkey. The IIHS’ standards leapt ahead, and Detroit didn’t keep up.

Detroit’s truck and SUV safety IIHS awards take a nosedive

Detroit’s full-size SUVs and trucks had at least one IIHS safety winner last year: the Jeep Wagoneer. This year? Nothing. Meanwhile, Rivian and foreign automakers cleaned up.

Rivian’s R1T pickup and R1S SUV both earned Top Safety Pick+ awards. The California-based brand assembles its EVs in Illinois. Audi’s Q7, Q8 e-tron, and Q8 Sportback e-tron also secured wins. Even Kia put the massive Telluride on the list. Detroit’s biggest vehicles? Absent.

As I previously wrote, an IIHS study found that vehicles heavier than a Dodge Charger don’t actually provide extra crash protection for their occupants. Instead, they just increase risk for everyone else. The study concluded, “For heavier vehicles, additional weight provided negligible extra protection but a substantial increase in crash partner risk.” Bigger isn’t always safer.

IIHS raised the safety bar, and Detroit trucks didn’t clear it

IIHS keeps making its tests tougher. The updated side-impact test now “involves 82 percent more energy than the original test.” A good score is required for Top Safety Pick+.

The biggest change? Nighttime pedestrian detection. IIHS said, “About half of all fatal U.S. crashes happen in the dark, and three-quarters of fatal pedestrian crashes occur at night.” Vehicles now need “advanced or superior performance” in both daytime and nighttime tests to qualify for Top Safety Pick+.

Detroit’s full-size trucks and SUVs already struggled with pedestrian safety, according to the IIHS. “The vehicle is striking the pedestrian much higher in the torso region and tends to push the pedestrian forward and down,” said Harkey, referring to their tall front ends. The added nighttime detection requirement may have knocked them out entirely.

Which Detroit models did earn IIHS safety awards?

Detroit still had some IIHS safety winners—but not in the full-size truck or SUV segment. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Ford Explorer, and Lincoln Nautilus all earned Top Safety Pick+ awards. The Chevrolet Traverse also won a Top Safety Pick award.

Size isn’t safety anymore. IIHS raised the requirements, and Detroit didn’t keep up. Zero Top Safety Picks for full-size trucks or SUVs from GM, Ford, or Stellantis. Meanwhile, brands that prioritized modern safety—like Rivian and Audi—walked away with awards. Buyers who assume a big truck equals big safety might want to think again.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.