2007 Chrysler Aspen

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 inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

When fueling the vehicle as soon as the pump pops off indicating your tank is filled gass will sphew/ or spray back out of the vehicle and onto the person fueling, the side of the vehicle and the ground. This happens every single time no matter what fuel station you use,regardless of the time of day or temperature outside. After looking online I can see there have been numerous reports of this from other 2007 Chrysler Aspen owners going back several years; however, I have not been able to locate anything indicating this is a recall and my vin number indicates all recalls have been addressed on this vehicle. Is there a solution for this issue, is it being repaired by Chrysler or what is being done? Please let me know, as this is a safety issue for anyone fueling up , anyone in the vehicle or around the vehicle. I noticed it asks for an approximate date of when this occured, there has been several dates so I will provide the date of the most recent issue.

NHTSA ID

11645161

Incident

Feb 21, 2025

When filling the gas tank up using the "fill lock" feature on nearly all modern fuel pump nozzles, when the tank gets full the fill nozzle clicks off and about a half a pint of raw fuel is "purged" back out of the tank filler neck. At first I thought this was a problem at a specific fuel station. I have since learned that it can do it anywhere, at any time of day, and at any temperature.

NHTSA ID

11632737

Incident

Dec 18, 2024

My 07 Chrysler aspen has a huge fuel problem and as I have read it’s happening to a lot of people! When I fill my car up with fuel no matter what store I am at the gas starts spewing back out of the tank. I do not over fill my car the moment the gas pump clicks that it’s done, a lot of gas starts spewing out onto the ground! I believe this is a potential hazardous ⚠️ situation for all involved especially my family! For one I am stressed out about if there were to be an accidental rollover the gas would go everywhere, and 2 when it pours out onto the ground or could even splash out onto my skin I could end up with chemical burns or the bio hazard issue we are having with the gas just being powered onto the ground without me being able to control it! Chrysler doesn’t seem to think this is a problem or that it’s hazardous! But when people go to have the problem fixed they are telling everyone it’s a faulty gas tank and you have to replace the entire tank!! Please help us get our cars fixed for something that Chrysler messed up on they should be responsible for the repairs!!

NHTSA ID

11459417

Incident

Apr 3, 2022

SUSPENSION: EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE THE VEHICLE THROWS YOU ACROSS THE LANE. FUEL TANK: EVERY TIME YOU FILL THE GAS TANK UP AND WHEN THE PUMP CLICKS OFF THE GAS SPITS OUT OF THE TANK AND LANDS ALL OVER YOU AND THE VEHICLE. ELECTRICAL: THE DASHBOARD WILL LIGHT UP WITH THE OIL SYMBOL FLASHING ON AND OFF. AIR CONDITIONING: THE COMPRESSOR BLOWS HOT AIR AND NOW THE ENGINE SPEEDS UP LIKE IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE.

NHTSA ID

11373649

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

140,000 mi

AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING IT TO LOSE BRAKING AND POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHUTS OFF WHILE AT A STAND STILL. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK AND SEEMED TO BE CAUSED BY A FAULTY FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE THAT IS BUILT INTO THE GAS TANK SO IT CANT BE CHANGED. THE WHOLE FUEL TANK HAS TO BE CHANGED AND THE FUEL TANK IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE ANYWHERE. I'M FORCED TO DRIVE A TICKING TIME BOMB BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11363635

Incident

Aug 10, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

A WARNING INDICATER WILL SOUND SOMETIMES WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WHEN HAS BEEN LOCKES INTO PLACE (FASTENED). I HAVE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE SEATBELT TO SHUTDOWN THE INDICATER. ALSO THE PASSANGER SEATBELT WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE LOCKED, HOWEVER IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUETS TO GET IT TO RELEASE.

NHTSA ID

11361377

Incident

Sep 27, 2020

Mileage

164,060 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON WITH MY CAR IGNITION MESSED UP MY ALTERNATOR BATTERY AND STARTER. THERE'S A FAILURE IN IGNITION THAT IS MESSING UP A LOT OF THINGS IN THE CAR. THE IGNITION HAD ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD SUCH AS SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN I USE MY FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE A LOT OF COMPLICATIONS STARTED HAPPENING WITH MY LYCIAN ALTERNATOR STARTER AND BATTERY

NHTSA ID

11353386

Incident

Sep 3, 2020

Mileage

190,000 mi

THE STEERING JERKS AND CAR SHIFTS WHEN I HIT A POT HOLE OF BUMP IN THE ROAD ON MY 2007 CHRYSLER ASPEN AND IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED US TO LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE A FEW TIMES, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR I WOULD DODGE THE HOLE. VERY SCARY WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. WE HAVE HAD THE FRONT END CHECKED AND THEN TELL US THERE'S NO PROBLEM. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS YOUR DRIVING OVER 40 MPH AND WHEN YOUR DRIVING 65 ON THE HIGHWAY, IT'S GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED ONE DAY. THERE'S NOT A SPECIFIC DAY, SINCE IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT AND HIT A HOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD. WE HAVE OWNED IT SINCE IT WAS NEW AND ALWAYS HAD THE PROBLEM. WE ARE ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING, WE HAVE INSTALLED 3 COMPRESSES, DRYERS IT WILL NOT COOL THIS LAST TIME IT WAS IN THE SHOP 8 DAYS. THEY MUST HAVE INSTALLED AND REMOVED EVERY PART THAT WOULD CAUSE IT NOT TO COOL, STILL BLOWS HOT AIR AND IT'S ALREADY 95+ DEGREES OUTSIDE. MY ELDERLY MOTHER DRIVES THIS ASPEN AND IT USE TO BE A GREAT CAR, BUT ONCE THEY BREAK YOU MIGHT AS WELL BUY SOMETHING NEW. IT'S NO WONDER THEY ONLY MAKE THE ASPEN 3 YEARS. WORST AND MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLE EVER.

NHTSA ID

11340034

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

86,000 mi

ACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER

ACTUATOR - A/C AND HEATER

Plate - Planetary

Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.

Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.

Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1. All Promaster (VF) 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the transmission bracket to the transmission case fasteners are removed during servicing, the fasteners (Part Number 06511385A$) are one-time usage. Vehicles built prior to 10/23/2015 requires Service Kit PN 68461214AA; includes Transmission Isolator PN 68264483AA, and Adaptation Bracket 68264479AA and Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA Vehicles built after on or after 10/23/2015 will require only the Fastener Service Kit PN 68329056AA. 2. All 3.6L/62TE equipped vehicles. If the vehicle you are repairing has a crack in the flex plate or failed pump bushing inspect and confirm that both (2) dowel pins are present in the engine block, which align the transmission center line to the crank shaft centerline and visually inspect the dowel alignment holes in the transmission case. If the holes are damaged or elongated the transmission should be replaced to prevent further damage to the transmission/flexplate or pump bushing due to the inability to properly align the engine to the transmission during the repair. 3. All 62TE equipped vehicles. If pump bushing is scored or damaged and the dowel pin alignment holes are ok, replace the pump assembly as opposed to complete transmission. 4. All 62TE equipped vehicles. If vehicle is jerking/slipping with MIL code(s) P0740 or P2764, check TCC Solenoid operation. If TCC Solenoid is ok, the codes are indicative of a torque converter failure. Replace the torque converter.