A Toyota Starlet sold in South Africa has come under fresh scrutiny after receiving a zero-star rating for adult occupant protection in crash testing. The finding has triggered concern because the Starlet remains one of the country’s most popular passenger cars, with more than 20,000 of the affected version sold locally before Toyota added more safety features in September 2025.

The warning came through the Automobile Association of South Africa, which said the tested Starlet model received the lowest possible adult safety score in assessments by the Global New Car Assessment Programme. According to the AA, the result means thousands of South African drivers may be using a vehicle that performed poorly in key crash scenarios.

Crash test found serious protection failures

The model was tested in front and side impacts at 50km/h. The results were especially troubling in side-impact conditions. Investigators found poor protection for the head and chest, while abdomen protection was rated adequate. The report also found that the bodyshell and footwell were unstable and unable to withstand further loading.

A major weakness was the lack of side body and side head airbags in the tested version, which had only two airbags fitted at the time. Because side head protection airbags were not standard on that model, the side pole test was not carried out.

Child occupant protection also raised concern. In the front-impact test, the head of the crash dummy representing a three-year-old made contact with the interior of the vehicle, while chest protection was rated low. In the side-impact test, the toddler dummy’s head was again exposed to impact.

Toyota pushes back against the report

Toyota South Africa has challenged the framing of the findings, saying the vehicle tested was an “obsolete model” and does not reflect the Starlet currently sold in the local market. The company said the updated version, introduced in September 2025, now comes standard with six airbags, including side and curtain airbags, and meets both local regulatory requirements and Toyota’s global safety standards.

That response has not ended the debate. AA chief executive Bobby Ramagwede said the results remain serious because they apply to a model bought by thousands of South Africans. Global NCAP chief executive Richard Woods called the crash test outcome “shocking”, while also welcoming Toyota’s later safety upgrades.

Current buyers will want clearer answers

Toyota says safety is non-negotiable and that the latest Starlet offers a broader suite of protection features. Global NCAP has indicated that the revised model will also be tested in similar crash conditions in future.

For South African motorists, that next test will matter. Right now, the message is uncomfortable but clear: a widely sold Starlet version performed badly in crash testing, and many local owners are already driving it.