Do overloaded SUVs face an increased rollover danger?

Many SUVs are already being advertised to the public in a rugged sort of lifestyle. What consumers fail to realize is that SUVs have a much higher rollover danger increase, even if they are advertised to consumers as incredibly safe vehicles.

What cars load capacities and what cars don’t? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) these were the results for recent models:

• Chevrolet Blazer 4x2 – Standard load capacity: 847 pounds

• Chevrolet Suburban – Standard load capacity: 2,086 lbs

• Ford Expedition – Standard load capacity: 2,035 lbs

• Ford Explorer – Standard load capacity: 1,037 lbs

• GMC Jimmy 4x2 – Standard load capacity: 828 lbs

• Honda CRV EX – Standard load capacity: 850 lbs

• Jeep Cherokee – Standard load capacity: 1,150 lbs

• Nissan XTerra SE – Standard load capacity: 885 lbs

• Oldsmobile Bravada – Standard load capacity: 1,308 lbs

• Toyota 4Runner – Standard load capacity: 1,540 lbs

Tim Hurd, spokesperson for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), claims, “An SUV is higher off the ground, because it’s for the purpose of going places where passenger cars can’t go. Along with higher ground clearance comes the extra height, which means it has a higher center of gravity. And that makes SUVs more prone to turn over.”

Love of Consumer Reports claims, “One of the key factors is the center of gravity for the vehicle, which varies from one make and model to the other. We advice people not to put anything on rooftop racks because it raises the center of gravity and potentially increases the chance of a rollover. Say you have a fully outfitted Ford Explorer with power windows, power doors, power sunroof, and air conditioning. The load capacity of that vehicle will actually be somewhat less than an Explorer without all those options, simply because there’s more weight built in, which impacts the ability of consumers to put stuff inside it.”