Chrysler Group's All-New Dodge Dakota Club Cab Gets Five Stars from NHTSA

- 2005 Dakota Gets Top Rating in NHTSA Frontal and Side-Impact Tests - Eighth consecutive new Chrysler Group Product to Receive Five Stars for Frontal Crash Protection

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 1 -- The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota Club Cab has received a Five-Star rating in front and side-impact crash tests from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Dodge Dakota marks the eighth consecutive new Chrysler Group product to receive Five-Star frontal crash-test rating. A Five-Star rating means the likelihood of injury in a frontal crash is 10 percent or less.

"When the Dodge Dakota was redesigned, we knew we wanted to continue what Dodge is known for -- rugged, tough vehicles that withstand all road conditions," said Mike Donoughe, Vice President Body On Frame Product Team. "We also knew that the all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota would be built to include the latest safety technology that would help keep our customers and their passengers safe in case of an impact."

Safety features on the all-new Dodge Dakota include a hydroformed and fully-boxed frame that improves handling, accident avoidance and crash protection. The new, award-winning and patented octagonal front frame rail tips help absorb impacts in a frontal crash.

Additionally, the 2005 Dodge Dakota features a new advanced air bag system that includes dual-stage front air bags and an occupant-sensing system for the passenger-side front air bag. Other safety features available on the new Dodge Dakota include side curtain air bags, which cover both rows of seats on Club and Quad Cabs. Rear seat positions in the Dodge Dakota feature three- point shoulder belts, including a new center seating position on the Quad Cab.

Designed to maintain optimal positioning in case of an impact, rear seats on the new Dodge Dakota feature fixed outboard rear head restraints, mounted to the roof and cab back as well as larger coverage head restraints that are fixed to the top of the outboard rear seats.

Starting with the Chrysler Pacifica in 2003, Chrysler Group has an unbroken string of eight consecutive product launches that produced NHTSA- rated Five-Star vehicles for frontal crash protection. Vehicles include: Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler and Dodge Minivan, Dodge Durango, Dodge Ram 1500, Dodge Ram Quad, Chrysler 300, Dodge Magnum, and Dodge Dakota.

The all-new 2005 Dodge Dakota Club Cab is built at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Warren, Mich.