Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Chrysler Aspen problems
Owners filed 40 complaints about the 2009 Chrysler Aspen with NHTSA between May 2012 and Dec 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (11).
Complaints
40
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags11
- Power train10
- Electrical system9
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Engine5
- Seat belts3
- Vehicle speed control2
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Service brakes1
- Tires1
- Steering1
- Other / unknown2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
2
5
3
10
8
4
2
0
2
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
11 reports2 crashes3 related recalls
“The contact owned a 2009 Chrysler Aspen. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown rate of speed, she was run off the road by a vehicle by another vehicle. The contact crashed into an unknown object and hit her face on the steering wheel since the airbags did not deploy. The contact temporarily lost consciousness; once she regained consciousness, blood was coming from her mouth. The contact immediately checked on her two young children who were both treated by an ambulance. The contact stated that her son was treated for facial injuries. A police report was filed. The contact had yet to seek medical attention for her injuries. The vehicle was initially towed to an independent tow yard but was later towed back to her home. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was a total loss. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Power train
10 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2009 Chrysler Aspen. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently shifted from 4-wheel drive to 4-wheel low. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the roadway. The contact stated that a family member arrived at her location and assisted her with resetting the 4-wheel drive. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,369.”
Electrical system
9 reports
“FUEL PUMP SHORT CIRCUIT. AFTER PUMPING GAS THE TRUCK WILL NOT TURN ON. SHORT CIRCUIT FROM THE PUMP TO THE STARTER. AFTER TURNING THE KEY TO POWER ON THE TRUCK ALL THE GAS SPILLED FROM UNDERNEATH. I DROVE TO MY KIDS SCHOOL AT 230PM , AFTER LEAVING POWERED ON THE TRUCK TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN AND THATS WHEN ALL THE GAS SPILLED FROM UNDERNEATH.”
Fuel/propulsion system
7 reports
“Every time I fill the gas tank, the fuel spills out of the fill tube when it gets full. I have tried putting it in slow but before the nozzle can shut off it blows the fuel back out of the fill tube. This is a substantial amount of fuel which I believe is a serious hazard.”
Engine
5 reports
“CHRYSLER HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR 5.8 HEMI ENGINE. 12/16/2020 I PAID $3791.07 TO REPLACE A BAD CAMSHAFT AND LIFTERS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 72,768 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES! IN CONTACTING CHRYSLER, THEY OF COURSE, REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW. ALTHOUGH THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS A MAJOR ENGINE DEFECT WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND CHRYSLER'S COMPLETE DISREGARD.”
Seat belts
3 reports2 crashes
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER ASPEN 4X4. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V947000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V352000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO SUPPLY THE REMEDY PARTS TO THE DEALER TO RECEIVE THE REPAIR IN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL ON AN S CURVE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN ICE PATCH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FRACTURED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE AND CRASH. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER, WHICH CAUSED BRUISING FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ..UPDATED 06/08/17 *BF (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS *CN”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.