National Press Release

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 18 /PRNewswire/ --

    --  Five-star driver and five-star front-passenger ratings highlight
        Chrysler LLC's commitment to safety and security
    --  Ratings include entire 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 lineup
    --  Dodge Ram offers more than 35 safety and security features
    --  Standard features include side-curtain air bags and Electronic Stability
        Control (ESC) which includes all-speed traction control, trailer sway
        control, hill-start assist and anti-lock brake system (ABS)

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab and Quad(R) Cab earned 5-star ratings for driver- and front-passenger protection in a frontal crash, the highest ratings in the U.S. government's safety crash test program. The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab received the same five-star ratings earlier this year.

"Safety is an engineering priority in all Chrysler vehicles and the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram is proof of our efforts," said Scott Kunselman, Vice President - Body on Frame Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "The all-new Dodge Ram offers enhanced passive safety protection as well as the latest active safety technologies. We have integrated more than 35 safety and security features, instilling the confidence our customers want and expect."

When it comes to safety and security, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 employs a two-fold approach: passive features including pre-tensioning seat belt retractors and supplemental side-curtain air bags are combined with accident-avoidance features including responsive steering, braking, handling and ESC.

35 Safety and Security Features

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 offers more than 35 safety and security features including:

    --  Advanced Multi-stage Air Bags: Inflates with a force appropriate to the
        severity of an impact
    --  Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering
        improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery
        conditions - advanced ABS modulates each of the four brakes individually
        for optimum control and stopping performance
    --  All-speed Traction Control: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies
        individual brakes to a slipping wheel(s), and reduces excess engine
        power until traction is regained
    --  Auto-reverse Sun Roof: Advanced sensing system that automatically
        engages and reverses the sun roof to the open position when an object
        that restricts glass movement is detected
    --  Auto-reverse Window: Automatically engages and reverses the window to
        the down position when an obstacle that restricts glass movement is
        detected
    --  BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the
        instrument cluster to remind the driver to buckle up if a vehicle is
        driven without the driver being properly belted
    --  Brake Assist: In a panic brake condition, the system applies maximum
        braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance
    --  Brake/Park Interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle
        from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied
    --  Child Seat Anchor System: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH)
        is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats
    --  Child-protection Rear Door Locks: Disables the rear doors'
        inside-release handles via a small lever on the door-shut face
    --  Crumple Zones: Designed to compress during an accident in order to
        absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to
        occupants
    --  Digressive Load-limiting Retractors: A two-stage load-limiting feature
        that limits the maximum force on the belt webbing in order to help
        absorb the energy of the occupant's upper torso during an impact
    --  Electronic Stability Control (ESC): Enhances driver control and helps
        maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the
        greatest benefit in critical driving situations, such as turns, and is
        especially valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions including
        snow, ice or gravel. If there's a discernible difference between
        what the driver asks through the steering wheel and the vehicle's
        path, ESC applies selective braking and throttle input in order to put
        the vehicle back onto the driver's intended path
    --  Energy-absorbing Steering Column: The manual-adjust steering column
        utilizes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that move relative to each other
        in order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced
        energy-absorption during an impact
    --  Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for emergency
        personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by
        turning on interior lights and unlocking doors after air-bag deployment.
        Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine
    --  Height-adjustable Front Seat Belts: Allows the driver and front
        passenger to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat belt
        usage by offering a comfortable fit
    --  HomeLink(R) Universal Home Security System Transceiver: Stores three
        separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door
        openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled
        devices
    --  Hill Start Assist (HSA): Assists drivers when starting a vehicle from a
        stop on a hill by maintaining the level of brake pressure applied for a
        short period of time after a driver's foot is removed from the
        brake pedal. If throttle is not applied within a short period of time
        after the driver's foot is removed from the brake pedal, brake
        pressure will be released
    --  Inside Emergency Release: A glow-in-the-dark release handle, which may
        be activated in the event of an adult or child being inadvertently
        trapped inside of the RamBox
    --  Interior Head-impact Protection: Interior pillars above the belt line
        and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear window
        headers, roof and side-rail structures and shoulder-belt turning loops
        are specifically designed to limit head-impact force
    --  Knee Bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glove-box door are
        designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work
        effectively
    --  ParkSense(R) Rear Park Assist System: Assists at low speeds in Reverse
        to detect stationary objects. Consists of visible (interior lights seen
        with rearview mirror) and audible warnings for the driver
    --  ParkView(R) Rear Back-up Camera: Provides a wide-angle view of the area
        immediately behind the vehicle, giving the driver greater peace of mind
        before backing up. Also aids in lining up a trailer to the
        vehicle's trailer hitch, when so equipped. The image automatically
        displays on the navigation screen when the transmission is shifted into
        Reverse
    --  Power-adjustable pedals: Allows brake and accelerator pedals to move
        toward or away from the driver in order to achieve a comfortable seating
        position for improved vehicle control
    --  Remote Keyless Entry: Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior
        lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm,
        the remote also arms and disarms that system
    --  Remote Start: Conveniently starts the engine from outside the vehicle by
        using the Remote Keyless Entry fob while maintaining vehicle security
    --  Safety Cage Body Structure: Protects occupants by managing and
        controlling energy in the event of an impact
    --  Seat-belt Pretensioners (both front seat belts): During a collision,
        impact sensors initiate front seat-belt pretensioners to immediately
        remove slack from seat belts, thereby reducing the forward movement of
        occupants' heads and torsos
    --  Sentry Key(R) Engine Immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an
        embedded transponder with a pre-programmed security code to discourage
        vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the
        controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is
        allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off
        after only a few seconds
    --  Side Guard Door Beams: In front and rear doors, provides occupant
        protection during a side impact
    --  Standard Side-curtain Air Bags: Extends protection to all outboard
        front- and rear-seat passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact
        sensor which autonomously triggers the air bag on the side where an
        impact occurs
    --  Tire-pressure Monitoring (TPM): Pressure-sensor modules within the valve
        stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to
        a receiver and the system informs occupants when tire pressure is too
        low
    --  Trailer Sway Control System: Reduces trailer sway and improves handling
        in adverse towing conditions caused by crosswinds and traffic. Software
        monitors the vehicle's movement relative to the driver's
        intended path, then applies brake pressure to slow the vehicle and
        increases the pressure on one front wheel to counteract sway induced by
        the trailer
    --  uconnect phone: Uses Bluetooth(R) technology to provide voice-controlled
        wireless communication between the occupants' compatible mobile
        phones and the vehicle's onboard receiver
    --  Vehicle Theft Security Alarm: Deters vandalism and theft, frequently
        lowering insurance premiums. System protects the vehicle from theft by
        monitoring door- and liftgate-ajar switches and the ignition circuit for
        unauthorized entry

Dodge Brand

With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Dodge brand continues to offer a full line of cars, trucks, SUVs, commercial vehicles and sales-leading, fifth-generation minivans in 2009. Dodge introduced several new vehicles in 2008, including the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey, the 2009 Dodge Challenger and the 2009 Dodge Ram. Dodge also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the minivan during the 2009 model year. Also in 2008, Dodge Journey entered key volume markets outside North America, joining the Dodge Avenger, Nitro and Caliber. Dodge Caliber was the highest sales volume vehicle for the company outside North America in 2008.

SOURCE Chrysler LLC