NHTSA Helmet Test Results

These figures were obtained from the NHTSA directly and should give you some insight into the possibilities of buying a helmet that has failed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 218. As defined by FMVSS 218, testing requires 4 helmets of each model for testing at different temperatures and one under water. The nature of the testing leaves all helmets totally destroyed.

So the next time you are told by a law officer or court that your helmet is not in compliance, unless they have an actual recall, test data from NHTSA or an objective independent laboratory, eye-balling a helment does not come close to meeting the FMVSS 218 testing standard.

Year # Tested Failed Passed
1980 162 99 63
1981 103 50 53
1982 a
1983 a
1984 32 11 21
1985 32 32 0
1986 30 30 0
1987 0
1988 0
1989 30 24 6
1990 30 26 4
1991 47 31 16
1992 30 23 7
1993 31 20 11
1994 167 128 39
TOTALS: 694 474 220
100% 68% 31%
a – Test results were not submitted