2011 Camry Disappointing Safety Test Results

Sorry that I initially posted this to a different area. Hopefully this will go OK.
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I own a 2005 Camry LE . It is my third Camry, so I suppose you could say I am a real Camry
fan.

I just started looking at the 2011 Camrys and was shocked to find the results of the
current - 2011 model year - crash tests from both the IIHS and the NHTSA. Camry's
generally have done very well in these safety tests (e.g. 5 Stars for the NHTSA tests).

But, the 2011 Camry Overall Rating, Frontal Crash and Side Crash ratings from the
NHTSA were all 3 Stars. In addition, the IIHS ratings, although GOOD for both Frontal
and Side testing, was rated Marginal for Overall and Dynamic Rear Crash (Rating scale
is: Good, Acceptable, Marginal and Poor). This same Marginal rating is awarded for year
2007 through 2011 Camry Models.

I realize that the government - NHTSA - tests were changed for the 2011 model year
tests, to include additional parameters, which I assume, made the tests more difficult.

One might think that, perhaps, Toyota was blind-sided with the new government NHTSA
tests. But, apparently the new tests were supposed to be implemented for the 2010
models, but they were delayed a year to allow the automakers additional time to address
the new testing criteria. Also, the 2011 Honda Accord flew through the new Government tests with
their typical 5 Star rating Overall and for every individual test. Ditto for the newcomer -
2011 Hyundai Sonata. And, both the Accord and Sonata achieved the highest, GOOD rating
for the rear crash testing by the IIHS.

I don't know what the technical issue is that the 2011 Camry has with the new NHTSA
tests, but, apparently the IIHS Marginal rating for Rear Crash testing is due to the fact
that the Camry, unlike many (most??) competitors, including the Accord and the Sonata.
does not employ a dynamic or active head restraint system even though they have been
receiving the same Marginal rating for the IIHS rear crash test at least from the 2007
model year.

That is a long way of saying that, although I never doubted Toyota would sort out and
make right the recent unintended acceleration problem, and never doubted the overall
safety performance of the Camry, I now have doubts about Toyota's real commitment.
I realize that this is not an earth-shattering problem and that the Camry is certainly
"Safe." But, why has Toyota allowed the competition to gain such an advantage on these
safety issues?

Is anyone else concerned with this issue?

Charlie

I sure am. Especially since I took it for granted that Toyota would continue with the excellent crash test results. I just bought a 2011 Camry and now I'm disappointed.

I think if the tests changed and toyota didn't score as expected because the tests changed that would be ok for me IF and only IF, the same previous set of tests were run on the 2011 and it scored as it has in the past.

This would tell me that the level I'm used to haven't changed and it's still a top choice by using previous parameters.

From a USA Today article:

Head injuries from both side tests now factor into the star rating. The previous program recorded head acceleration but didn't include the results in the star ratings -- one of Cars.com's greatest objections. Side-impact collisions are more likely than frontal crashes to cause head injuries, which are among the most dangerous and potentially fatal. (In previous NCAP tests, head-acceleration data could earn a vehicle the "safety concern" citation, but it's too easy to glance at a star rating and think a vehicle's score is acceptable.)