Excerpted from http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr021109.html
The full press release may be viewed at the above link, along with an accompanying video and a .pdf version of the press release including a chart comparing the IIHS crash test results for large pickup trucks.
News Release | February 11, 2009
3 large pickups don't live up to brawny image in side tests; none rates better than marginal for occupant protection
ARLINGTON, VA — The Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Dodge Ram 1500, and Nissan Titan are billed as workhorses, but the side crash protection these 2009 model large pickups provide is wimpy, at best. The trio earns either poor or marginal ratings in side tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Even with side airbags, occupant protection in these crew-cab pickups is no better than marginal.
"The size, weight, and height of these large pickups should help them ace the side tests just like the other large pickups we've tested. Not these three," says Institute senior vice president David Zuby. "They perform worse than many cars we've evaluated."
The Dodge Ram with standard side airbags earns a marginal rating. The Nissan Titan and Chevrolet Silverado earn poor ratings when tested without their optional side airbags. The Titan's side rating improves to marginal in models tested with side airbags, while the Silverado's optional side airbags don't improve the rating over models without them. The Silverado's ratings also apply to its twin, the GMC Sierra 1500, both of which were redesigned in 2007, so the ratings apply to 2007-09 models. The Ram is a new design for the 2009 model year. The Titan was introduced in the 2004 model year, so results apply to 2004-09 models.
The full press release may be viewed at the above link, along with an accompanying video and a .pdf version of the press release including a chart comparing the IIHS crash test results for large pickup trucks.