Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 74 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Chrysler Aspen. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 74 · page 1 of 3
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.
The manufacturer stop making a part that can fix my car. It’s 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
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 middle of the [XXX] , likely is was early morning around 5:30am otherwise who know what is gonna happened to me. I think this is dangerous and i cant afford to fix it again and again again plus i can risk Three of my kids. Just tk make it clear this ONLY HAPPEND WHEN IS RAINING DAYS / SEASON. P.s i have video but i only recorded when that haplend and what is going on with the dash board! Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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 search indicated it might be in neutral. I found a procedure online to remove the transfer case from neutral and it worked. There is a tiny hidden button on the 4WD selector panel to put the vehicle in neutral for towing and an extremely faint indicator light that come on when it is in towing neutral. The motor has intermittently started shifting in to 4WD and 4WD low on its own and then back to AWD. Again this is a known issue as there are literally hundreds of reports of people having to replace the motor. Also if the 4WD shifts into low at highway speeds it will cause catastrophic transmission failure and loss of vehicle control. Also reports of the system going into towing neutral at highway speeds causing potentially dangerous situations. Again this is not the shift lever neutral but the 4WD transfer case disengaging the entire drivetrain. I have had it shift into 4WD low (which locks all the differentials together and is only for off-road or snow) which made it extremely had to steer because of the lack of the differentials. Moving the selector switch did return the transmission to AWD and I was forced to park the car. It returned to normal after turning the car off and restarting it. This is a very common issue on Chrysler/Dodge vehicle with 4WD options and needs addressing.
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 because of this issue. The issue has not been inspected by a dealer yet. No warning lamps or messages appeared. And i am uncertain of when the problem began.
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.
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. The water stands in the floor on the driver's side floor board. Now, my check engine light, Eps light, traction light, and a clicking sound under the hood and heater malfunction persists. Please help! Please investigate.
Air bag light on dash indicates not air bag not functioning properly
When refueling, the gas will overflow after just a few seconds (2-3 gallons of fuel added to empty tank). The fuel handle will shut off and only allow a few ML of fuel to be added to the tank. I must refil tank by holding gas handle and allowing only a trickle of fuel into the tank. Even with this SLOW refil, the fuel often overflows and spills onto the ground (and onto me). This problem began around 120000 miles. This is a continuous, persistent problem. VERY DANGEROUS Internet search indicates that this is a COMMON problem (https://www.chryslerforum.com/forum/chrysler-aspen-41/gas-overflow-fillup-10491/page3/)
The contact owns a 2008 Chrysler Aspen. The contact stated while his son was driving 45 mph, with his wife seated in the passenger’s side seat, the rear driver side wheel inadvertently locked up and the vehicle stalled. Several warning lights including the ABS warning light were illuminated. The contact stated when the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the rear driver’s side wheel unlocked, and they were able to veer to the side of the road. The contact stated that he drove the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.
While refueling when the fuel flow stops the first time on the nozzle ( I did not "top off" the tank) APPX 1/4 of a gallon of gasoline burps out of the re fueling port when the tank vents.
VEHICLE IN MOTION, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, JUST STARTED A ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO AND ONLY A FEW TIMES IN THE BEGINNING, NOW IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN, LIGHT WILL GO OFF THEN A DING SOUND FOR WARNING LIGHT IS ON . OTHERS MAY HAVE HAD A RECALL BUT MINE DIDN'T COME UP AS ANY RECALLS WITH MY VIN . BUT IS THIS A START TO A PROBLEM? PLEASE RESPOND WITH AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION, TY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MIDDLE CLIP COVERING THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DEFORMED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189,000.
VEHICLE STALLS REPEATEDLY AFTER FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE GIVES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR PROVIDES ANY OBD CODES TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS BOTH WHILE IN MOTION AND WHEN STATIONARY, WHEN IN MOTION ALL POWER ASSIST IS LOST INCLUDING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKING ASSIST. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOW AFTER NEARLY GETTING INTO A TRAFFIC COLLISION WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND SHE LOST ALL POWER ASSIST WITH OUR TWO CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND RUN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THEN STALL AGAIN OR WILL JUST CRANK AND FAIL TO START. THIS PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR AFTER FUELING UP AND TOPPING OFF THE FUEL TANK. ONCE THE FUEL TANK BURNS OFF SOME OF THE FUEL IT SEEMS TO RUN JUST FINE.
ON MAY 9TH 2019 THE VEHICLES COMPUTER WAS GIVING STRANGE ALERTS ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE CHANGING AMONG ALL 4 TIRES. ALSO CHANGE OIL ALERT ON & OFF. LOW GAS ALERT ON & OFF. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK AROUND 9 AM & I PARKED THE VEHICLE, BROUGHT MY PERSONAL THINGS INTO THE OFFICE. I DECIDED TO USE OUR COMPRESSED AIR TO CHECK ALL 4 WHEELS TIRE PRESSURE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS I WAS BACKING UP THE RPM'S INCREASED SUDDENLY SENDING ME SPEEDING IN REVERSE TOWARDS MY WORK BUILDING. I LOOKED AT MY FOOT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ON THE BRAKE & IT WAS. I NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED IN 3 SECONDS TO OVER 40 MPH. I BACKED THROUGH THE CORNER OF MY BUILDING, ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS & INTO THE NEIGHBORING BUILDING. THE CORNER SUPPORT BEAM OF MY BUILDING WENT THROUGH MY SUNROOF MISSING MY HEAD BY INCHES. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. MIRACULOUSLY NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED & IT CAUSED EXTREME DAMAGE TO BOTH BUILDINGS. I CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY BUT SINCE THERE WAS NO SERIOUS INJURY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO GET INVOLVED. THEY SAID IT WASN'T WORTH IT TO THEM. I TRIED TO REACH CHRYSLER BUT NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. I WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE OF THIS WEBSITE TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I HAVE A VIDEO FROM MY WORK SECURITY CAMERA IT IS NOT ONE OF THE TYPE OF FILES THIS WEBSITE ACCEPTS
WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 ASPEN I'VE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLICKERING. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 1 YEAR. THE PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. IT STARTED OUT ONLY HAPPENING ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. NOW IT HAS BECOME A DAILY PROBLEM. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR, STARTER AND OTHER THINGS CHECKED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WAS DRIVING LAST WEEK AND HAD TO MAKE A HARD STOP AND THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. I FEEL LIKE BOTH OF THESE PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD FOR ME AND OTHER MOTORIST ON THE ROAD.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY INTO 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND SEIZED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP AND NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING RUBBER ODOR RIGHT BEFORE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WAS MALFUNCTIONING. THE MECHANIC INITIALLY REMEDIED THE FAILURE BY SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION BACK FROM FOUR WHEEL DRIVE INTO THE NORMAL GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN AND ALL FOUR WHEELS SEIZED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000.
JUNE 11, 2019. THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND LOCAL ROAD. THIS HAS CREATED AN UNSAFE CONDITION FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHERS. CHRYSLER SERVICE INDICATED A FUSE WAS BLOWN AND CHANGED THE FUSE. THE CAR STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN FOR 1 DAY BEFORE SHUTTING OFF AGAIN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE OWNER OF WHICH FUSE TO CHANGE. THE OWNER CHANGED THE FUSE AND THE CAR STARTED AND OPERATED. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CAR WAS TOWED AND OWNER CHANGED THE FUSE AGAIN. THE CAR WILL NOT START. CHRYSLER SERVICE ADVISED CHANGING THE JUNCTION BOX (CHRYSLER SERVICE INSTALLED JUNCTION BOX) AND THE OWNER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. 8/30/19 THE PCM WAS INSTALLED AND INITIALLY, THE CAR DID NOT START. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A BLOWN FUSE IN THE JUNCTION BOX. CHANGED THE FUSE AND THE CAR STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN FOR A DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CHANGED THE FUSE AND THE CAR STARTED AND WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 1 MILE AND SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR CONTINUES TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT DETACHED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
I'VE BEEN HAVING THIS TRUCK FOR A LITTLE OVER 5 MONTHS AND EVERY TIME I FILL IT UP IT NEVER STOPS PUMPING WHEN FULL. IT SPITS GAS OUT WHEN IT IS FULL. I TRY TO WATCH HOW MANY GALLONS I'M PUTTING IN IT SO I CAN STOP IT MYSELF BEFORE IT GETS FULL BUT SOMETIMES I DON'T CATCH IT. IT NEVER CLICKS OR STOPS ON ITS OWN. I KNOW MY TRUCK IS 11 YRS OLD BUT THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
ASPEN WAS PARKED WIFE IN PASSENGER SEAT PULLED ON WINDSHIELD PILLAR ASSIST HANDLE HANDLE BROKE LOOSE WIFE FELL TO GROUND AND WAS INJURED. *DSY
I RECENTLY BOUGHT MY CHRYSTLER ASPEN AND AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I NOTICED A CLUNK ON THE REAR END. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE SPARE TIRE OR MUFFLER WASN'T LOOSE AND EVEN TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE WE FOUND A BOLT LOCATED RIGHT AT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT APPEARS TO BE LOOSE CAUSING THAT CLUNKING NOISE. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CHRYSTLER OWNERS HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAS BEEN CERTAIN DODGE AND CHRYSTLER VEHICLES AFFECTED AND EVEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. I ALSO READ ONLINE THAT DRIVING WITH THAT BOLT BEING LOOSE COULD DAMAGE THE DIFFERENTIAL AND CAUSE IT TO LOCK UP MAKE THE WHOLE TRUCK TO STOP VERY SUDDENLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I CALLED 2 DIFFERENT LOCAL DEALERSHIPS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE AND ASKED THEM IF MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL LIKE MANY OTHER SIMILAR MODELS HAD,BUT THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON MY TRUCK. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY'S DUE TO MY TRUCK'S CONDITION AND I WOULD LIKE TO LET CHRYSTLER KNOW THIS POOR WORKMANSHIP COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY IF NOT RESOLVED.
MY 2008 ASPEN WAS BUILT DURING THE SAME TIME AS THE 2009 MODEL YEAR THAT HAD THE FAULTY PINION NUTS/SHAFT. RIGHT AT 170,K OUR PINION BEARING IS BAD. I BELIEVE THEY SAME PARTS WERE USED AND DODGE REFUSES TO WORK WITH ME. THANKFULLY IT HAS NOT BROKE YET BUT THE TRUCK IS NEEDING TO BE IN THE SHOP.
2008 CHRYSLER ASPEN STALLS FOR APPROXIMATELY FIRST 5 MILES AFTER REFUELING. MIL ILLUMINATES (CODES ARE FOR P0455 AND P0456) THEN CLEARS BY ITSELF AFTER A FEW DAYS. AFTER RESEARCHING, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ORVR VALVE MALFUNCTION, THIS IS DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS TIMES ON MANY WEBSITES THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET. THIS LEADS TO THE EVAP CANISTER MALFUNCTIONING (HTTP://OPENSIUC.LIB.SIU.EDU/CGI/VIEWCONTENT.CGI?ARTICLE=1006&CONTEXT=AUTO_PRES). THIS IS NOT ONLY A FAILURE OF THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, BUT ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN SINCE THE VEHICLE STALLS, WHICH IT ALWAYS DOES WHEN SLOWING OR STOPPING AFTER FILL-UP. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ABILITY, I CAN NO LONGER LET MY WIFE OR CHILDREN OPERATE THIS VEHICLE AS IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER RELATED VEHICLES (DODGE DURANGO, RAM 1500, AND OTHERS) SHOULD BE RECALLED AT ONCE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED BEFORE INJURIES OCCUR, IF IN FACT THEY ALREADY HAVEN'T. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING THE MY VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2016 BUT HAS LAST HAPPENED IN MARCH 2018 (NOW).
WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK UP AND THE GAS PUMP CLICKS, I REMOVE THE GAS HANDLE AND GAS WILL SPILL OUT FROM THE TANK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I FILL MY GAS TANK UP.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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