2008 Chrysler Aspen recalls & problems

The 2008 Chrysler Aspen has 2 safety recalls and 74 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (27 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints74filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

2 recalls for this model year carries an NHTSA do not drive advisory. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Safety recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 16V352000 · May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

NHTSA advisory: do not drive affected vehicles until repaired.

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) expanded the affected population to include 73,712 2005-2009 RAM 2500 trucks produced at the St. Louis North Assembly Plant. With this change, Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2010 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2010 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2012 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2012 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2012 Chrysler 300, 2006-2012 Dodge Charger, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Chrysler is also recalling 2004-2008 RAM 1500, 2005-2009 RAM 2500, 2006-2009 RAM 3500, 2007-2009 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2009 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2009 Dodge Durango, 2007-2009 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2009 Jeep Wrangler, 2008-2009 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2009 Chrysler 300, 2006-2009 Dodge Charger, 2005-2009 Dodge Dakota and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in AZ, AR, DE, Washington D.C., IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Chrysler is recalling certain 2005-2008 RAM 2500, 2006-2008 RAM 3500, 2007-2008 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, 2004-2008 Dodge Durango, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2007-2008 Jeep Wrangler, 2008 Dodge Challenger, 2005-2008 Dodge Magnum, 2005-2008 Chrysler 300, 2006-2008 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2008 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles originally sold, or registered, in AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY.

Risk: These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM owners. Mitsubishi owners will be notified by their company. Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2017. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S43. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-7700.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 15V313000 · May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)

NHTSA advisory: do not drive affected vehicles until repaired.

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Dodge Ram 2500, 2004-2008 Dodge Ram 1500 and Durango, 2006-2009 Dodge Ram 3500, 2008-2010 Dodge Ram 4500 and 5500, 2007-2008 Chrysler Aspen, 2005-2010 Chrysler 300, 300C, 300S, and SRT8, 2006-2010 Dodge Charger, 2005-2008 Magnum, 2005-2011 Dodge Dakota, and 2006-2009 Mitsubishi Raider vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify the affected Chrysler and Dodge owners and Mitsubishi will notify the affected Raider owners. Dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began for Chrylser on June 8, 2015. The recall for Mitsubishi started on June 24, 2015. Chrysler and Dodge owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Mitsubishi owners may call 1-888-648-7820. Chrysler's number for this recall is R25. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V817 in its entirety. Vehicles that have had their driver side frontal air bag replaced previously need to have their air bag replaced under this recall as well.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2008 Chrysler Aspen 4-Dr. w/SAB

Overall	Not Rated
Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	19.1%

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Aspen 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Aspen 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Aspen 2WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Aspen 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Aspen 2WD FFV

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

Aspen 4WD FFV

15mpg combined

City / highway	13 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bags	27	2	0	1	108,500 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	17	0	1	0	113,000 mi
Electrical system	10	0	0	2	104,255 mi
Engine	9	1	2	1	121,500 mi
Power train	8	1	0	0	75,000 mi
Steering	7	0	0	0	118,342 mi
Structure Body; Body › Hatchback/liftgate	3	0	0	2	—
Fuel system, gasoline	3	0	1	1	—
Service brakes	3	2	0	0	126,000 mi
Seat belts	2	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Suspension	2	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Dec 27, 2025Air bags
My Air bag light will not go out. Not sure what the problem is, cleaned all contracts in the connectors and seat belts and connectors under the seats. Check for a blown fuse. Could not find any bad fuses.
Dec 2, 2024Suspension
The manufacturer stop making a part that can fix my car. Itâs at the Ford dealership in Opelika, Alabama and they cannot find a part to make the car safe. Please contact and pull the car for analysis to save lives. We love this car and the Ndsd said it does not qualify. Please call them and ask if this vehicle there and reason cannot be fixed so we can get something for the car
Dec 13, 2024Electrical system
Hello there my name is [XXX] , i bought this car 2-3 year ago but on around december 2023 i found out before i go to work my car smell like mildew but i could figure it out coming from where i thought my kids forgot shut the truck because we went to travel and came home early and was raining. Anyway after i found out come from the sunroof throw the handler bar and go underneat of the break where is the gas paddle is (was allot of water). So i decided to fixed for $850 i believe. But around November 2024 it happen again twice and almost got me an accident because when this happen the ALL THE LIGHTS IS GOING CRAZY AND I SMELL BURNNING UNDER MY STEERING WHEEL. Is was shut down on me on the…
Oct 15, 2024Power train
There is a known issue where the transfer case motor will erratically fail causing multiple safety issues. The car is AWD with a 2 speed 4WD selector. The motor can shift into neutral on its own disabling the gear selectors Park function ( it is used when towing the vehicle and disconnects the transmission from the drive train). It happened to me in a parking lot and fortunately it was on level ground or the car could have rolled away when I went into a store. I only discovered what had happened after I started the car and could not get it into forward or reverse. I turned the engine off and put the gear selector in Park, got out and I was able to move the car by pushing, after a Google…
Dec 8, 2022Fuel/propulsion system
When adding fuel, there is a splash back and gasoline spews out and onto who ever is fueling the vehicle. Then when you start the car and drive a few minutes, the car will stall. This vehicle is available for inspection opon request. This issue puts many people in danger. The fueler getting splashed with gasoline, absorbs fuel into their skin, and also the smell of the fumes when entering back into the vehicle. The fueler also now has a very combustible liquid on them. Which is a fire hazard. Also gas spilling is horrible for the enviroment. When stalling, that creates a very hazardous enviroment for everyone in the vehicle, as well as the vehicles around them. A wreck could easily occur…
Mar 6, 2023Fuel/propulsion system
After filling the gas tank, the car will stall out randomly without warning. Stalling out will occur for about 25 to 35 miles. After that the stalling out disappears. This has happen while I was turning which made steering difficult. It also has happen when stopping which cause the braking to become difficult.
Dec 16, 2022Electrical system
My 2008 Chrysler Aspen floor board and seat belts are drenched with water when it rains. The truck is leaking and allowing water to get inside the body of the truck. I had to replace my radio and other computer components in my truck because this is what the dealership told me was the problem. My truck was fixed at Lander's Chrysler Dodge and Jeep in Southaven, MS about 2 years ago. It's now doing the same thing again. This has to be a defect of the truck because I have not had any other major problems. The first repair cost me over $2000 dollars. Because of the water leaks, my truck carries a molded smell. My doors have to be oiled for the rust. I have to use a towel to wrap the seat belt.…
Aug 1, 2022Air bags
Air bag light on dash indicates not air bag not functioning properly

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · openDesiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…