2009 DODGE JOURNEY Cargo

Lap/Shoulder Belts
All seating positions in your vehicle are equipped with
lap/shoulder belts.
The belt webbing retractor is designed to lock during
very sudden stops or impacts. This feature allows the
shoulder part of the belt to move freely with you under
normal conditions. However, in a collision, the belt will
lock and reduce your risk of striking the inside of the
vehicle or being thrown out.WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or
outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these
areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed.
• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that
is not equipped with seats and seat belts.
• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a seat
belt properly.
• Wearing a seat belt incorrectly is dangerous. Seat belts are
designed to go around the large bones of your body. These
are the strongest parts of your body and can take the forces
of a collision best.
• Wearing your belt in the wrong place could make your
injuries in a collision much worse. You might suffer internal
injuries, or you could even slide out of part of the belt.
Follow these instructions to wear your seat belt safely and to
keep your passengers safe, too.
• Two people should never be belted into a single seat belt.
People belted together can crash into one another in an
accident, hurting one another badly. Never use a lap/
shoulder belt or a lap belt for more than one person, no
matter what their size.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 412

WARNING!
•Do not stack luggage or other cargo up high enough
to block the location of the side curtain airbag. The
area where the side curtain airbag is located should
remain free from any obstructions. Do not have any
accessory items installed which will alter the roof,
including adding a sunroof to your vehicle. Do not
add roof racks that require permanent attachments
(bolts or screws) for installation on the vehicle roof.
Do not drill into the roof of the vehicle for any reason.
• Do not use accessory seat covers or place objects
between you and the supplemental front seat
mounted side airbags; the performance could be
adversely affected and/or objects could be pushed
into you, causing serious injury.
• Do not attach cupholders or any other objects on or
around the door. The inflating supplemental front
seat mounted side airbags could drive the object into
occupants, causing serious injury.
NOTE: Do not use a clothing bar mounted to the coat
hooks in this vehicle. A clothing bar will impede the
proper performance of the curtain airbags.
Along with the seat belts, front airbags work with the
instrument panel knee bolsters to provide improved
protection for the driver and front passenger. Side curtain
and seat airbags also work with seat belts to improve
occupant protection.
While the seat belts are designed to protect you in many
types of collisions, the front airbags will deploy in
moderate to severe frontal collisions. The supplemental
side curtain airbag and supplemental front seat mounted
side airbag on the crash side of the vehicle will also
trigger in moderate to severe side collisions. However,
even in collisions where the airbags deploy, you need the
seat belts to keep you in the correct position for the
airbags to protect you properly.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53
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“Maintenance Procedures” in Section 7. NON-
DETERGENT OR STRAIGHT MINERAL OILS MUST
NEVER BE USED.
A new engine may consume some oil during its first few
thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This should be
considered as a normal part of the break-in and not
interpreted as an indication of difficulty.
SAFETY TIPS
Transporting Passengers
NEVER TRANSPORT PASSENGERS IN THE CARGO
AREA.
WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed.
• Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat belts.
• Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using
a seat belt properly.
• On seven passenger models, do not drive the vehicle
with the second row passenger seat in the easy
entry/exit position (seat cushion flipped upward and
seat moved forward), as this position is only intended
for entering and exiting the third row seats. Failure to
follow this warning may result in personal injury.
• On seven passenger models, do not allow a passenger
to sit in a third row seat with the second row seat-
back(s) folded flat. In a collision, the passenger could
slide underneath the seat belt and be seriously or
even fatally injured.
78 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

Storage ..............................180
▫ Beverage Cooler/Storage Compartment —
If Equipped .........................180
▫ Instrument Panel Storage Compartment —
If Equipped .........................182
▫ Center Console Storage .................183
▫ Flip ’n Stow™ Front Passenger Seat Storage —
If Equipped .........................184
▫ Second-Row Passenger Seat Temporary
Storage Bin ..........................185
▫ Second-Row Map Pocket And Grocery
Retainers — If Equipped ................186 ▫
In-Floor Storage Bin With Removable Liner . . . 186
 Cargo Area Features .....................188
▫ Rechargeable Flashlight — If Equipped ......188
▫ Cargo Management System ..............188
 Rear Window Features ...................193
▫ Rear Window Wiper/Washer — If Equipped . . 193
▫ Rear Window Defroster — If Equipped ......195
 Roof Luggage Rack — If Equipped ..........196
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 87
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Fold Flat Front Passenger Seat — If Equipped
This feature allows for extended cargo space. When the
seat is folded flat, it is an extension of the load floor
surface (allowing long cargo to fit from the rear hatch up
to the instrument panel). The fold-flat seatback also has a
hardback surface that you can use as a work surface
when the seat is folded flat and the vehicle is not in
motion.
Fold Flat Seat
128 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

60/40 Split Second-Row Passenger Seats
To provide additional storage area, each second-row
passenger seat can be folded flat. This allows for ex-
tended cargo space and still maintains some seating room
if needed.
NOTE:Prior to folding the second-row passenger seat,
make sure the front seatback is not in a reclined position.
This will allow the seat to fold easily.WARNING!
•It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people
riding in these areas are more likely to be seri-
ously injured or killed.
•Do not allow people to ride in any area of your
vehicle that is not equipped with seats and seat
belts.
•Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a seat belt properly.
•On seven passenger models, do not allow a pas-
senger to sit in a third row seat with the second
row seatback(s) folded flat. In a collision, the
passenger could slide underneath the seat belt and
be seriously or even fatally injured.
134 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Do not drive the vehicle with the seat in this posi-
tion, as it is only intended for entering and exiting
the third row seats. Failure to follow this warning
may result in personal injury.
To Unfold and Move the Second-Row Passenger Seat
Rearward
1. Move the seatback rearward until it locks in place and
then continue sliding the seat rearward on its tracks until
it locks in place.
2. Push the seat cushion downward to lock it in place.
3. Adjust the seat track position as desired. Then, using
body pressure, move forward and rearward on the seat to
be sure that the seat adjusters have latched.
WARNING!
Be certain that the seatback and seat are locked
securely into position. Otherwise, the seat will not
provide the proper stability for child seats and/or
passengers. An improperly latched seat could cause
serious injury.
50/50 Split Third-Row Passenger Seats with
Fold-Flat Feature — Seven Passenger Models
To provide additional storage area, each third-row pas-
senger seat can be folded flat. This allows for extended
cargo space and still maintains some rear seating room if
needed.
NOTE: Prior to folding the third-row passenger seat,
make sure the second-row passenger seat is not in a
reclined position. This will allow the seat to fold easily.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 141
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NOTE:If the multifunction lever is held in the Flash to
Pass position for more than 15 seconds, the high beams
will shut off. If this occurs, wait 30 seconds before
activating the Flash to Pass function again.
Interior Lights
Courtesy/Reading Lights
Models with Overhead Console
These lights are mounted in the overhead console be-
tween the sun visors. They are also located in the
headliner above the second row passenger seats. Press
and release the lens to turn ON or turn OFF the light
manually. These lights also turn on when you press the
UNLOCK button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter, open a door or the liftgate, or turn the
Dimmer Control completely upward to the second de-
tent. For models equipped with LED lighting, you can
swivel the lens socket to direct the light as desired. Models without Overhead Console
There are two courtesy/reading lights mounted in the
headliner between the sun visors. Press and release the
button next to the lens to turn ON or turn OFF the light
manually. A courtesy light is also mounted in the head-
liner above the second row passenger seats. Press and
release the lens to turn ON or turn OFF the light
manually. These lights also turn on when you press the
UNLOCK button on the RKE transmitter, open a door or
the liftgate, or turn the Dimmer Control completely
upward to the second detent.
Cargo Light
This light is mounted in the liftgate trim panel. It turns on
when you press the UNLOCK button on the RKE trans-
mitter, open a door or the liftgate, or turn the Dimmer
Control completely upward to the second detent.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 151
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