RoadVitals

1978 Dodge Aspen

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
5
Latest May 1, 1978
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 Dodge Aspen. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM

May 1, 1978
1,100,000 units potentially affected
The defect: POSSIBLE FATIGUE FAILURE CAN OCCUR IN THE FRAME SUPPORT PLATES (FRONT SUSPENSION PIVOT BAR SUPPORT PLATE) THAT CONNECTS A PORTION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO THE VEHICLE FRAME ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT SUPPORT PLATES FOR INDICATIONS OF FAILURE AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE THE PLATES. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BRACKETS WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED TO REINFORCE THE SUPPORT PLATE AT THE PIVOT BAR ATTACHMENTS.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

Dec 28, 1977
1,207,458 units potentially affected
The defect: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE HOOD SECONDARY CATCH SYSTEM MAY BE MISALIGNED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE SECONDARY CATCH TO MALFUNCTION. CONSEQUENTLY, THE HOOD MAY NOT BE SECURELY LATCHED.
The remedy: DEALER WILL ADJUST THE CATCH SYSTEM TO FULLY SECURE THE HOOD, WITHOUT CHARGE.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Nov 28, 1977
22,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE COLUMNS MAY CONTAIN STEERING SHAFTS IN WHICH THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLING ROLL PIN RETAINING NOTCH WAS MACHINED TOO DEEP. THIS MAY CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL SHAFT TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE REST OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A COTTER PIN THROUGH THE ROLL PIN TO ENSURE RETENTION, AT NO COST TO OWNER.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

23-30-80

STRUCTURE:BODY

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Dodge Aspen by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1980010
1979010
1978Viewing050
1977050
1976181
1975010

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.