Mexico Nissan defends Tsuru after testers call it dangerous

MEXICO CITY – Nissan's Mexico subsidiary is defending the 1990s-era Tsuru compact car that it sells in Mexico after testers called it dangerous.

The warning came in a new study by the Latin New Car Assessment Program, known as Latin NCAP.

The Tsuru got zero stars in crash tests. The study says that "for most of the years analyzed, the Nissan Tsuru experienced the highest fatality score" of any vehicle sold in Mexico.

Nissan said Monday that the Tsuru "meets the safety regulations in the markets where it is sold."

The Tsuru has no standard air bags. Mexico's auto regulations require cars to have little more than brakes, tires and rear-view mirrors.

Latin NCAP says the model is sold in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Central and South America.