When it comes to buying a car, safety is always at the forefront.. Lane departure warning systems, airbags and other features often influence buyers' choices..

However, as practice shows, the best safety criterion remains the results of crash tests. Cars show significant variation in ratings, and although having a particular brand does not always guarantee safety, some trends can be seen.

Data provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies the worst-performing vehicles. These organizations use rating systems including a five-star rating scale for NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation for IIHS. Based on data analysis, a ranking was compiled of brands with the worst safety records, which received poor results both in tests and in mortality statistics.