If you’re vehicle shopping for a used SUV, we don’t need to tell you that safety comes first. So how about the Dodge Journey? According to ratings from NHTSA, the IIHS and others, it’s actually one of the safest vehicles available today.
How safe is the Dodge Journey?
The 2020 Dodge Journey received a 4-Star Overall Safety Rating from the NHTSA and the highest score of “Good” from the IIHS. Combine that with 4.6-Star Owner and 2.9-Star Expert Review Ratings from Vehicle History and you’ve got a pretty secure SUV.
While these scores look good at a glance, the Journey didn’t exactly score a perfect one-hundred. Every car has its issues, and you’ll want to know its shortcomings before you get behind the wheel. So let’s get into what you can expect from the Dodge Journey.
Dodge Journey Crash Test Rating
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Test/Results
The IIHS gives the 2020 Dodge Journey Good ratings across the board with a few notable exceptions. Namely, the structure and safety cage earns a Poor rating for “small overlap, front driver side.”
The IIHS also gives the Journey a rating of Poor for the headlights. Those are one of the easiest features to upgrade with an aftermarket fix, of course, but that’s going to be something to look out for if you’re buying a Journey.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Test/Results
The NHTSA gives the 2020 Journey an overall rating of 4-Stars out of a possible five. That’s four stars for overall front rating, with four for front passenger side and five for front driver side, a perfect five stars for all side impact ratings, and four for rollover.
Very few cars have a perfect rollover rating with the NHTSA, least of all top-heavy SUVs, so this is about as close to a perfect rating as you’re likely to see in this class.
Other Reputable Test/Results
In Europe, the Dodge Journey is sold as the Fiat Freemont, and it scores a perfect 5-Star rating with Euro NCAP. That score is comprised of an 83% rating for adult occupants, 82% for kids, 50% for pedestrians, and 71% for safety assist.
Note that the Euro NCAP rating is based on the testing of a 2011 model. While the general platform of the vehicle hasn’t changed significantly, 2020 Dodge Journeys will have a number of safety features not found in the 2011.
Dodge Journey Available Safety Tech
Tire Specific Low-Pressure Warning
Tire specific low-pressure warning works by a simple sensor placed in each tire that sends a signal to let you know if you’re low on air.
This is a great safety feature, but it’s also a great maintenance feature. Low tire pressure will put a lot of extra wear and tear on your auto, so it’s good to be able to catch it early.
ParkSense Rear Parking Sensors
Your backup camera will help you to spot any visible obstacles in your path when backing up, but what if something is blocked from view? That’s where ParkSense comes in.
ParkSense is a series of scanners in the rear of your Journey that will look for anything you might bump into while backing into a parking space, and alert you when it spots something.
ABS and Driveline Traction Control
Anti-lock brakes and driveline traction control are pretty standard in SUVs these days. ABS will help to keep your brakes from locking up, and driveline traction control helps you to keep your wheels spinning at the correct speed.
Traction control works by checking the speed of each wheel against the speed of the vehicle. If something’s not right, individual wheels are slowed down or stopped in order to prevent skidding and spinouts.
People Also Ask…
Is Dodge Journey a Minivan or SUV?
The Dodge Journey is a crossover. Technically that makes the Dodge Journey an SUV, but the line between minivan and SUV can be a bit blurry at times. With 179 horsepower and solid off-road and all-weather capabilities, the 2020 Dodge Journey is a little closer to SUV than minivan.
What Problems do Dodge Journeys have?
Braking problems account for over a third of all complaints made regarding the Dodge Journey. Electrical system problems account for 21% of the complaints, and interior accessories make up another 7%.
But the 2019 Journey has only nine complaints on record with the NHTSA. So these problems aren’t all that common.
Is the Dodge Journey 4 Wheel Drive?
Not anymore. In previous years, Dodge Journeys were offered with 4WD options, but the newer models are front-wheel drive only. For this reason, you could consider the Dodge Journey to be off-road-capable, but not off-road-oriented. It’s a highway SUV that can handle the trail, but it isn’t specifically built for dirt roads.
