December 16, 2000
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety saw the best and the worst at its most recent crash test sessions. The best was BMW's new sport utility vehicle, the X5. The worst was the Isuzu Trooper, which leaked fuel in two out of three IIHS tests.

BMW's X5 got the most glowing test report the IIHS has ever issued for a sport ute. Institute President Brian O'Neill called the vehicle's performance "outstanding." Its passenger compartment sustained very little damage in the 40 mph frontal crash test and measurements taken during the test indicated very little likelihood of passenger injury.

"BMW has set the standard for all other manufacturers to aspire to," O'Neill said. Besides its outstanding performance in the frontal test, the X5 is also the first light truck to offer a head-protection system.

The Isuzu, on the other hand, developed major fuel-system leaks in two out of three frontal tests, the only vehicle ever to do so out of more than 100 tested. Isuzu has since recalled 18,460 of its 2000 and 2001 model-year Troopers to try to fix the problem.

Isuzu engineers thought they had correct a design flaw in the 2000 model after the first leak developed at an IIHS crash test in June 2000. But the the IIHS tested a 2001 Trooper in September 2000, the fuel line once again broke. The company again tried to correct the problem at at a November 2000 test of the 2001 model, no leak occurred.

However, there are still 2000 and 2001 Troopers on the road whose fuel lines have not been fixed. Owners of affected models should receive a letter from Isuzu.