2008 Safety and Security Features

August 31, 2007 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -  Chrysler LLC's new 2008 models offer the latest safety and security features to help transport passengers and gear safely and securely.

The company employs a twofold safety approach: conventional safety features, such as pretensioning and constant-force seat belt retractors and supplemental side air bags, combined with accident-avoidance features, including precise steering, handling and braking.

In addition, the highest level of security offered, such as a Sentry Key® engine immobilizer, provides the ultimate in vehicle-theft protection.

“Through a broad range of engineering technologies, Chrysler is offering customers the safety customers expect and deserve,” said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler. “Both passive and active safety systems enhance the inherent stability and safety we design into all Chrysler vehicles.”

Safety and security features available on 2008 model year Chrysler vehicles include:

Active turn signals: Turn signal flashes three times when stalk is depressed for one second to indicate a lane change.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Automatically decreases the vehicle’s preset cruise-control speed when closing in on another vehicle in the same lane, or when another vehicle pulls into the same lane. The system will accelerate to the preset speed when the vehicle in front speeds up or moves into another lane. Adaptive Cruise Control will maintain a specific distance between the vehicle and the one in front of it, allowing the use of cruise control in light traffic without having to continuously adjust settings.

Advanced multi-stage air bags: Uses either an Occupant Classification System or a Low-risk Deployment Air Bag for the front passenger.

All-speed Traction Control: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies individual brakes to a slipping wheel(s), and can reduce excess engine power until traction is regained.

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions.

Anti-lock Brake System with rough road detection: Anti-lock brake system capable of detecting if the vehicle is driving on a rough road by the oscillations in the wheel speed signals. Rough road is detected on off-road surfaces or trails, and ABS enters a different pressure control where it will hold the brake pressure for longer pulses.

Auto-reverse sun roof: Advanced sensing system that automatically engages and reverses the sun roof (to the open position).

Auto-reverse windows: Automatically engages and reverses the window (to the down position).

BeltAlert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver and front passenger 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.

Brake Traction Control System (BTCS): Helps to keep driving wheels from spinning during acceleration from a stop or during slow speeds by applying individual brakes to the slipping wheel(s).

Child seat anchor system: LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats.

Child-protection rear door locks: Disables the rear doors’ inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face.

Constant Force Retractors (CFR): Distribute force or load exerted on a seat belt, and then gradually release the seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner.

Crumple zones: Designed to compress during an accident to absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to the occupants.

Digressive load-limiting seat belts: Retractor senses a vehicle impact and immediately applies a load to the seat belt to properly position the occupant before the full load from the vehicle impact is imparted onto the occupant. It then reduces the seat belt load to moderate forces imparted onto the occupant during the impact event.

Electronic brake force distribution: Adjusts braking pressure front to rear, based on weight distribution of passengers and cargo, to minimize brake dive during hard braking.

Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM): An extension of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP). Uses input from the ESP sensors to anticipate if the vehicle is at risk of entering a potential roll situation, then reacts immediately, applying the brakes individually and modulating throttle position as needed to attempt avoiding the roll situation.

Electronic Stability Program (ESP): 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 such as snow, ice or gravel. If there’s a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering wheel and the vehicle’s path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle input 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 can move relative to each other to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy-absorption during a crash. The power-adjust steering column employs a calibrated bending element that deforms during column stroke for optimal energy management.

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 the interior lighting and unlocking the doors after air bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine.

Height-adjustable seat belts: Allows occupants to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat belt usage by offering a more comfortable fit.

High-intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps: Provide approximately three times the light output of conventional reflector lamps for improved nighttime illumination.

Hill Descent Control (HDC): Allows smooth and controlled descent on rough or slippery terrain without the driver having to touch the brake pedal. Applies the brakes to each wheel individually when needed to reduce forward motion when negotiating down steep grades.

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.
HomeLink 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.

Inflatable knee blocker: An air bag for the driver’s knees that deploys whenever the primary driver air bag deploys, helping position the driver relative to the primary air bag.

Inside emergency trunk release: A glow-in-the-dark release handle, that can be activated in the event of an adult or child being inadvertently trapped inside the trunk.

Interior head-impact protection: Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear window headers, roof and side-rail structures, and shoulder belt turning loops specifically designed to limit head-impact force.

Keyless ignition system: A fob with integrated key and a wireless ignition node with integral ignition switch replace the metal key. The double-sided integrated key is inserted into the ignition switch to start the vehicle. The fob also contains the Remote Keyless Entry and a removable valet key.

Knee bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glovebox door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling the air bags to work effectively.

Low-risk deployment air bag: Front-passenger air bag that uses unique shape, venting, folding patterns, advanced inflators or a combination of these four technologies to position and inflate the restraint properly for a belted passenger, while also meeting federal safety requirements for out-of-position, small occupants and rear-facing infant seats. Occupants are advised to always sit properly in their seats with the seat belt fastened. Children 12 years old and younger should always be seated in a back seat correctly using an infant or child restraint system, or have the seat belt positioned correctly for their age and weight.

Occupant Classification System (OCS): Measures the conditions for activation or deactivation of the front passenger-side air bag based upon the weight of the occupant. Occupants are advised to always sit properly in their seats with the seat belt fastened. Children 12 years old and younger should always be seated in a back seat correctly using an infant or child restraint system, or have the seat belt positioned correctly for their age and weight.

Octagonal frame-rail tips: Designed to collapse in a controlled manner during a frontal or offset front impact, decreasing transfer of energy to the occupants.

ParkSense® 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™ 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, accelerator and clutch (if equipped) pedals to move toward or away from the driver to help achieve a safe and comfortable seating position for improved vehicle control.

Rear interior conversation mirror: A convex mirror located in the overhead console above the inside rearview mirror that allows the driver to see rear seat occupants while looking forward.

Rain-sensing wipers: A driver convenience feature that automatically senses moisture on the windshield and activates the wipers.

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 fob while maintaining vehicle security.

Seat-belt pretensioners: During a collision, the impact sensors initiate the front seat belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupants’ heads and torsos.

Sentry Key® engine immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a preprogrammed 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-occupant protection system: Includes side-curtain air bags with extended up-time, tethers and roll-detection system that deploy in certain rollover situations and side-impact events. Utilizes information from multiple sensors to determine the severity of the impact.

Signal mirrors: Signal lamp built into housing of exterior mirrors allows turn signals to be viewed from the front, as well as sides and rear of vehicle to assist oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

SmartBeam® headlamps: Intelligent headlamp system that adjusts to ambient light and oncoming traffic to deliver maximum lighting.

Supplemental side air bags: Provide enhanced protection to the driver and front outboard passenger in certain impacts. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where the impact occurs. Supplemental side air bags are housed within the outboard side of each front seat.

Supplemental side-curtain air bags: Extend protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers, including third-row outboard passengers in vehicles so equipped. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor to autonomously trigger the air bag on the side where the impact occurs.

Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM): Informs occupants when tire pressure is too low. Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system.

Trailer Sway Control (TSC): 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 then increases the pressure on one front wheel to counteract the sway induced by the trailer.

UConnect® Hands-free Communication System: Uses Bluetooth® technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants’ compatible mobile phone and the vehicle’s onboard receiver. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility.