It could happen heading off on vacation! Or, on your way to work!
Chances are almost every driver has, at one time or another, experienced this scenario:
You’re driving along when traffic ahead of you slows to a stop – say for a red light, near or at the top of a hill. The light turns green, you take your foot off the brake and step on the gas to move forward. Trouble is that split second between switching from brake to gas on an incline can often allow a vehicle to roll slightly backward before moving forward. But, in an FCA vehicle equipped with Hill-start Assist (HSA), any ‘rollback’ experienced in that split second is diminished. This applies to both manual and automatic transmission vehicles.
HSA is one of more than 75 available safety and security features across the FCA vehicle lineup.
Here’s how it works:
When traffic starts moving forward, HSA will continue to hold the brake pressure for a short period of time as pressure on the brake pedal is released. The system allows the driver to transition to a drive off by decreasing brake pressure in response to increasing throttle. If the throttle is not applied shortly after the driver’s foot is removed from the brake pedal, brake pressure will be released.
HSA works in REVERSE and all forward gears, and will not activate if the transmission is in PARK or NEUTRAL. For vehicles equipped with a manual transmission, if the clutch is pressed, HSA will remain active.
HSA technology helps keep the brakes on, but it is NOT a parking brake. Always remember to apply the parking brake fully and be sure the transmission is in PARK before leaving your parked vehicle. Failure to follow these warnings could result in a collision or serious personal injury.
Is your vehicle equipped with HSA?
All FCA vehicles made in North America come equipped with HSA technology, with the exception of the Dodge Journey.
