Montero's 'Not Acceptable' Rating Leaves Consumers Wondering Whom to Trust

An article in the Chicago Sun Times raises the same issues that TACH raised 5 weeks ago. In rating the 2001 Mitsubishi Montero "not acceptable" because tests indicate the vehicle rolls over easily, Consumer Reports magazine raises new concerns about the safety of sport-utility vehicles and leaves consumers wondering, whom do you trust? Mitsubishi staunchly defends the Montero's safety and accuses Consumer Reports of using a test that the federal government rejects as unscientific and unrepresentative of the real world. Consumer Reports said its test proves the government's methods of issuing rollover ratings based on a vehicle's dimensions are unrealistic. NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson would not comment on the Consumer Reports test procedures, but he said the federal safety agency still believes driver input can influence the results of such tests.