2020 DODGE JOURNEY warning

SAFETY 141
Infant And Child Restraints

Safety experts recommend that children ride
rear-facing in the vehicle until they are two years
old or until they reach either the height or weight
limit of their rear-facing child restraint. Two types
of child restraints can be used rear-facing: infant
carriers and convertible child seats.

The infant carrier is only used rear-facing in the
ve

hicle. It is recommended for children from
birth until they reach the weight or height limit of
the infant carrier. Convertible child seats can be
used either rear-facing or forward-facing in the
vehicle. Convertible child seats often have a
higher weight limit in the rear-facing direction
than infant carriers do, so they can be used
rear-facing by children who have outgrown their
infant carrier but are still less than at least two
years old. Children should remain rear-facing
until they reach the highest weight or height
allowed by their convertible child seat.
Older Children And Child Restraints
Children who are two years old or who have
outgrown their rear-facing convertible child seat
can ride forward-facing in the vehicle.
Forward-facing child seats and convertible child
seats used in the forward-facing direction are
for children who are over two years old or who
have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height
limit of their rear-facing convertible child seat.
Children should remain in a forward-facing child
seat with a harness for as long as possible, up
to the highest weight or height allowed by the
child seat.

All children whose weight or height is above the
f o

rward-facing limit for the child seat should use
a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s
seat belts fit properly. If the child cannot sit with
knees bent over the vehicle’s seat cushion while
the child’s back is against the seatback, they
should use a belt-positioning booster seat. The
child and belt-positioning booster seat are held in
the vehicle by the seat belt.

WARNING!

Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front
of an air bag. A deploying passenger front air
bag can cause death or serious injury to a child
12 years or younger, including a child in a
rear-facing child restraint.

Never install a rear-facing child restraint in
the front seat of a vehicle. Only use a
rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat.
If the vehicle does not have a rear seat, do
n o

t transport a rear-facing child restraint in
that vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not install a rear-facing car seat using a
rear support leg in this vehicle. The floor of
this vehicle is not designed to manage the
crash forces of this type of car seat. In a
crash, the support leg may not function as it
was designed by the car seat manufacturer,
and your child may be more severely injured
as a result.
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142 SAFETY
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the
shoulder belt comfortably, and whose legs are
long enough to bend over the front of the seat
when their back is against the seatback, should
use the seat belt in a rear seat. Use this simple
5-step test to decide whether the child can use
the vehicle’s seat belt alone:

1. C an the child sit all the way back against
t
he back of the vehicle seat?

2. D o the child’s knees bend comfortably over
t
he front of the vehicle seat – while the child
is still sitting all the way back?
3. D oes the shoulder belt cross the child’s
s
houlder between the neck and arm?
4. I s the lap part of the belt as low as possible,
t
ouching the child’s thighs and not the
stomach?
5. C an the child stay seated like this for the
w
hole trip?
If the answer to any of these questions was “no,”
t
h

en the child still needs to use a booster seat in
this vehicle. If the child is using the lap/shoulder
belt, check seat belt fit periodically and make
sure the seat belt buckle is latched. A child’s
squirming or slouching can move the belt out of
position. If the shoulder belt contacts the face or
neck, move the child closer to the center of the
vehicle, or use a booster seat to position the seat
belt on the child correctly.
WARNING!
Improper installation can lead to failure of
an infant or child restraint. It could come
loose in a collision. The child could be badly
injured or killed. Follow the child restraint
manufacturer’s directions exactly when
installing an infant or child restraint.
After a child restraint is installed in the
vehicle, do not move the vehicle seat
forward or rearward because it can loosen
the child restraint attachments. Remove
the child restraint before adjusting the
vehicle seat position. When the vehicle seat
has been adjusted, reinstall the child
restraint.
When your child restraint is not in use,
secure it in the vehicle with the seat belt or
LATCH anchorages, or remove it from the
vehicle. Do not leave it loose in the vehicle.
In a sudden stop or accident, it could strike
the occupants or seatbacks and cause
serious personal injury.
WARNING!
Never allow a child to put the shoulder belt
under an arm or behind their back. In a crash,
the shoulder belt will not protect a child
properly, which may result in serious injury or
death. A child must always wear both the lap
and shoulder portions of the seat belt
correctly.

SAFETY 147
(Continued)

Lower Anchors

Options for installing two child seats using the
LA T

CH anchorages in this vehicle:

1. R ight and left outboard seating positions
(
1 and 3): Install the child seats in the right
and left outboard seating positions using
lower anchorages A and B, and D and E.
Do not use the center seat anchorage, C.
If the child seats do not block the center
s e

at belt webbing and buckle, the center
seat belt can be used to restrain an
occupant or child restraint in the center
seating position.
2. Le
ft outboard and center seating positions
(
3 and 2): Install the first child seat in the
left outboard seating position using lower
anchorages D and E. Install the second
child seat using the center anchorages, B
and C. Do not use the outer anchorage
closest to the opposite door, A. Do not use
the remaining right outboard seating
position (1) for any occupant. The center
child restraint will block the seat belt buckle
for this position.
Always follow the directions of the child
re

straint manufacturer when installing your
child restraint. Not all child restraint systems
will be installed as described here.
To Install A LATCH-Compatible Child
Restraint
If the selected seating position has a
Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
seat belt, stow the seat belt, following the
instructions below. See the section “Installing
Child Restraints Using the Vehicle Seat Belt” to
check what type of seat belt each seating
position has.
WARNING!
Use anchorages B and C to install a
LATCH-compatible child restraint in the
center seating position (2). Do not
install a
LATCH-compatible child restraint using
anchorages C and D. This is not a
LATCH-compatible position in your vehicle.
A child restraint installed in the center posi -
tion (2) will block the seat belt buckle for
t h

e empty right outboard seat behind the
front passenger (1). Do not use this seat for
another occupant.
Never use the same lower anchorage to
attach more than one child restraint.
If you are installing three child restraints
next to each other, you must use the seat
belt and the center tether anchor for the
center position. You can then use either the
LATCH anchors or the vehicle’s seat belt for
installing the child seats in the outboard
positions. Please refer to “To Install the
LATCH-Compatible Child Restraint System”
for typical installation instructions.
WARNING! (Continued)
4

148 SAFETY

1. Loosen the adjusters on the lower straps
and on the tether strap of the child seat so
that you can more easily attach the hooks
or connectors to the vehicle anchorages.

2. Place the child seat between the lower a
nchorages for that seating position. If the
second row seat can be reclined, you may
recline the seat and/or raise the head
restraint (if adjustable) to get a better fit.
If the rear seat can be moved forward and
r e

arward in the vehicle, you may wish to
move it to its rear-most position to make
room for the child seat. You may also move
the front seat forward to allow more room
for the child seat.
3. A ttach the lower hooks or connectors of the
c
hild restraint to the lower anchorages in
the selected seating position.
4. I f the child restraint has a tether strap,
c
onnect it to the top tether anchorage.
See the section “Installing Child Restraints
U s

ing the Top Tether Anchorage” for
directions to attach a tether anchor. 5. T
ighten all of the straps as you push the
c
hild restraint rearward and downward
into the seat. Remove slack in the straps
a c

cording to the child restraint
manufacturer’s instructions.
6. T est that the child restraint is installed
t
ightly by pulling back and forth on the child
seat at the belt path. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any
d i

rection.
How To Stow An Unused Switchable-ALR
(ALR) Seat Belt:
When using the LATCH attaching system to
install a child restraint, stow all ALR seat belts
that are not being used by other occupants or
being used to secure child restraints. An unused
belt could injure a child if they play with it and
accidentally lock the seat belt retractor. Before
installing a child restraint using the LATCH
system, buckle the seat belt behind the child
restraint and out of the child’s reach. If the
buckled seat belt interferes with the child restraint installation, instead of buckling it
behind the child restraint, route the seat belt
through the child restraint belt path and then
buckle it. Do not lock the seat belt. Remind all
children in the vehicle that the seat belts are not
toys and that they should not play with them.
WARNING!
Improper installation of a child restraint to
the LATCH anchorages can lead to failure of
the restraint. The child could be badly
injured or killed. Follow the child restraint
manufacturer’s directions exactly when
installing an infant or child restraint.
Child restraint anchorages are designed to
withstand only those loads imposed by
correctly-fitted child restraints. Under no
circumstances are they to be used for adult
seat belts, harnesses, or for attaching other
items or equipment to the vehicle.

SAFETY 149
Installing Child Restraints Using The
Vehicle Seat Belt
Child restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap
belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt. The seat belts in the passenger seating
p
o

sitions are equipped with either a Switchable
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) or a cinching
latch plate or both. Both types of seat belts are
designed to keep the lap portion of the seat belt
tight around the child restraint so that it is not
necessary to use a locking clip. The ALR
retractor can be “switched” into a locked mode
by pulling all of the webbing out of the retractor
and then letting the webbing retract back into
the retractor. If it is locked, the ALR will make a
clicking noise while the webbing is pulled back
into the retractor. Refer to the “Automatic
Locking Mode” description in “Switchable
Automatic Locking Retractors (ALR)” under
“Occupant Restraint Systems” for additional
information on ALR. The cinching latch plate is
designed to hold the lap portion of the seat belt
tight when webbing is pulled tight and straight
through a child restraint’s belt path.
Please see the table below and the following
s e

ctions for more information.
Lap/Shoulder Belt Systems For Installing
Child Restraints In This Vehicle

Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) And CINCH Locations (Third Row Shown) — if equipped

WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure
of the restraint. The child could be badly
injured or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant
or child restraint.
Cinching Latchplate — CINCH
ALR — Switchable Automatic Locking Retractor
Top Tether Anchorage Symbol
4

SAFETY 151
Installing A Child Restraint With A
Switchable Automatic Locking
Retractor (ALR):
Child restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap
belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt.

1. Place the child seat in the center of the
s
eating position. If the second row seat can
be reclined, you may recline the seat and/or
raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to get
a better fit. If the rear seat can be moved
forward and rearward in the vehicle, you may
wish to move it to its rear-most position to
make room for the child seat. You may also
move the front seat forward to allow more
room for the child seat.
2. P
ull enough of the seat belt webbing from
t
he retractor to pass it through the belt path
of the child restraint. Do not twist the belt
webbing in the belt path.
3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you h
ear a “click.”
4. P ull on the webbing to make the lap portion
t
ight against the child seat.
5. T o lock the seat belt, pull down on the
s
houlder part of the belt until you have
pulled all the seat belt webbing out of the
retractor. Then, allow the webbing to retract
back into the retractor. As the webbing
retracts, you will hear a clicking sound.
This means the seat belt is now in the
A u

tomatic Locking mode.
6. T ry to pull the webbing out of the retractor.
I
f it is locked, you should not be able to pull
out any webbing. If the retractor is not

locked, repeat step 5.

7. Finally, pull up on any excess webbing to tighten the lap portion around the child restraint while
you push the child restraint rearward and
downward into the vehicle seat.

8. If the child restraint has a top tether strap a
nd the seating position has a top tether
anchorage, connect the tether strap to the
anchorage and tighten the tether strap.
See the section “Installing Child Restraints
U s

ing the Top Tether Anchorage” for
directions to attach a tether anchor.
9. T est that the child restraint is installed
t
ightly by pulling back and forth on the child
seat at the belt path. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any
d i

rection.
Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so
c h

eck the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if
necessary.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure
of the restraint. The child could be badly
injured or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant
or child restraint.
4

152 SAFETY
Installing A Child Restraint With A Cinching
Latch Plate (CINCH) — If Equipped:
Child restraint systems are designed to be
secured in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap
belt portion of a lap/shoulder belt.

1. Place the child seat in the center of the
s
eating position. If the second row seat can
be reclined, you may recline the seat and/or
raise the head restraint (if adjustable) to get
a better fit. If the rear seat can be moved
forward and rearward in the vehicle, you may
wish to move it to its rear-most position to
make room for the child seat. You may also
move the front seat forward to allow more
room for the child seat.
2. N
ext, pull enough of the seat belt webbing
f
rom the retractor to pass it through the belt
path of the child restraint. Do not twist the
belt webbing in the belt path.
3. Slide the latch plate into the buckle until you h
ear a “click.”

4. F inally, pull up on any excess webbing to
t
ighten the lap portion around the child
restraint while you push the child restraint
rearward and downward into the vehicle
seat.

5. I f the child restraint has a top tether strap
a
nd the seating position has a top tether
anchorage, connect the tether strap to the
anchorage and tighten the tether strap.
See the section “Installing Child Restraints
U s

ing the Top Tether Anchorage” for
directions to attach a tether anchor.
6. T est that the child restraint is installed
t
ightly by pulling back and forth on the child
seat at the belt path. It should not move
more than 1 inch (25.4 mm) in any
d i

rection. Any seat belt system will loosen with time, so
c
h

eck the belt occasionally, and pull it tight if
necessary.
If the buckle or the cinching latch plate is too
c lo

se to the belt path opening of the child
restraint, you may have trouble tightening the
seat belt. If this happens, disconnect the latch
plate from the buckle and twist the short
buckle-end belt up to three full turns to shorten
it. Insert the latch plate into the buckle with the
release button facing out, away from the child
restraint. Repeat steps 4 to 6, above, to
complete the installation of the child restraint.
If the belt still cannot be tightened after you
s h

orten the buckle, disconnect the latch plate
from the buckle, turn the buckle around one
half turn, and insert the latch plate into the
buckle again. If you still cannot make the child
restraint installation tight, try a different seating
position.
WARNING!
Improper installation or failure to properly
secure a child restraint can lead to failure
of the restraint. The child could be badly
injured or killed.
Follow the child restraint manufacturer’s
directions exactly when installing an infant
or child restraint.

SAFETY 153
Installing Child Restraints Using The Top
Tether Anchorage

1. Look behind the seating position where
you plan to install the child restraint to find
the tether anchorage. You may need to
move the seat forward to provide better
access to the tether anchorage. If there is
no top tether anchorage for that seating position, move the child restraint to
another position in the vehicle if one is
available.

Seat Track Release Lever

2. R oute the tether strap to provide the most
d
irect path for the strap between the anchor
and the child seat. If your vehicle is
equipped with adjustable rear head
restraints, raise the head restraint, and
where possible, route the tether strap under
the head restraint and between the two
posts. If not possible, lower the head
restraint and pass the tether strap around
the outboard side of the head restraint.
3. A ttach the tether strap hook of the child
r
estraint to the top tether anchorage as
shown in the diagram. 4. R
emove slack in the tether strap according
t
o the child restraint manufacturer’s
instructions.

Rear Seat Tether Strap Mounting (Second Row 60/40)

WARNING!
Do not attach a tether strap for a rear-facing
car seat to any location in front of the car
seat, including the seat frame or a tether
anchorage. Only attach the tether strap of a
rear-facing car seat to the tether anchorage
that is approved for that seating position,
located behind the top of the vehicle seat.
See the section “Lower Anchors and Tethers
for CHildren (LATCH) Restraint System” for the
location of approved tether anchorages in
your vehicle.
WARNING!

An incorrectly anchored tether strap could
lead to increased head motion and possible
injury to the child. Use only the anchorage
position directly behind the child seat to
secure a child restraint top tether strap.

If your vehicle is equipped with a split rear
seat, make sure the tether strap does not
slip into the opening between the seat -
backs as you remove slack in the strap.
4