Results from crash testing of the Japanese model aren't great (scored 1 out of 5; higher is better), but since results are only comparable to similar weight vehicles, we can't compare to bigger cab-overs directly, only to passenger Kei cars, where some reach 4 out of 5, with a few scoring the full 5.

And that's how to get these banned.

People reflash these to remove the speed governor, then drive them on regular roads. These things hold up traffic, piss people off, who then complain to law enforcement. The police do nothing about it so the issue gets raised to state and federal legislators, who do take action.

You can get away with a lot, so long as you don't bother anyone. The EPA didn't crack down on diesel tuners until coal rolling became enough of an issue that people complained about the lack of enforcement.

IDK what kind of gearing this gimped version will come with, but it apparently has the same 660cc engine as the "real" Japanese version that can do 70+ mph. That's not a vehicle that's going to hold up traffic by being too slow, unless it's camping in the left lane on the freeway.

Just how cars that can be hacked to eliminate pollution controls are banned?

Oh wait. That doesn't happen. The individual that does the hacking can get in trouble; the company? Not so much.