U.S. consumers frequently rely on the “Stars on Cars” program to help them determine which vehicles are safest. Over time, though, the Transportation Department has noted that safety standards have changed significantly, so this year they are grading cars on a tougher 5-star system that might change which vehicles get recognized as safe options.

This has some auto manufacturers upset. Especially those who will see significant drops in their ratings for the 2011 season. Undoubtedly, one of the most disappointed companies is Toyota, which manufacturers the popular Camry. The 2010 Camrys received 5-stars in front and side collision tests. The 2011 models, however, only received three stars. That means the new Camrys have fallen from head of the pack to serious losers in the safety race.

Add that to Toyota’s highly publicized struggle with recalls over the past couple years, and it’s easy to see that this could have a real influence on the company’s performance.

Another big loser is the Nissan Versa. The compact car only received two starts overall, making it one of the worst options on the 2011 market.

The safety rating program has been a big success with consumers. Since it was started in 1979, it has helped more and more people recognize the importance of auto safety standards. Anyone who looks at automotive designs over the past couple of decades will see that the program had an impact: since the early 1970s, more manufacturers focus on and advertise their safety standards. Before the program started, it was all too easy for manufacturers to skimp on safety options in favor of looks. Anyone over 30 might remember cars from the 70s that didn’t even have seat belts in them. Today, people expect cars to include safety features that can withstand high impacts. It’s absolutely unthinkable that a company could sell a car without seat belts, let alone airbags and other standards that were non-existent before the 80s.

So, how will changes in the system impact manufacturers?

Toyota says that it is already researching solutions to problems found by the Transportation Dept. The Camry is a family car, so Toyota obviously wants to improve its ratings to attract parents worried about their children’s safety on the road. Chances are that other manufacturers will follow this lead. No one wants low safety ratings. Anything under a 4-star rating typically means declining sales, news reports, and poor resale values.

The strict system has shown that some vehicles already stand out from the rest in terms of quality. Out of the 34 models tested so far, only two have merited 5-star rankings: the 2011 BMW 5 Series and the 2011 Hyundai Sonata.