Most common 2009 Chrysler Aspen problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chrysler Aspen complaints by model year
Best Aspen years: 2009. Years to avoid: 2007. Compare all years →
2009 Chrysler Aspen recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Jeep Wrangler, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger vehicles, and 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2009 Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen vehicles manufactured January 17, 2007, to December 18, 2008, and 2010 RAM 3500 cab chassis manufactured September 25, 2009, to February 1, 2010.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the recall repair is complete. Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Power train › Driveline › Differential unit
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30,…
Remedy: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2009 Chrysler Aspen:
Desiccated 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.
What 2009 Chrysler Aspen owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
I had trouble with a humming noise and popping under my vehicle for a few months. The humming got so loud that we could not hear each other talk to one another at all. It popped pulling out, going around a curve, going backwards, or slowing down. The humming stopped all of a sudden after it got very loud. My Aspen then fell toward the right side and smoke started shooting out from the passenger back tire when driving it. I then took it to the mechanic. He said it was very bad. The rear axle and rear axle bearing are destroyed and it will need a new rear end. This vehicle had no8 rear pinion nut recall completed on 1/13/2014. If the recall really solves the 2009 Aspen problem of the rear end axle and axle bearings from being destroyed then why am I now having to get a new rear end in December of 2019. …
Air bags
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.
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. …
Fuel & propulsion system
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.
For the last 1-2 years, every time I fill up my gas tank my 2009 Chrysler Aspen will stall repeatedly. When the vehicle stalls, all steering and control of the vehicle is lost. The car will restart after about 30-45 seconds. Once the vehicle has been driven approximately three times after fueling up, the problem stops until the next time I fill up the tank. The issue occurs without fail ever time I fill up my tank. I have had it in the shop a number of times and the problem has not been able to be determined or repaired. There have been no codes when a diagnostic is ran (one time there was a small EVAP. Leak but once the ignition coil was replaced, the code was gone). I have had the ignition coil replaced, spark plugs replaced, evaporation control canister replaced, etc. …
2009 Chrysler Aspen engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl hybrid | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 20 / 22 / 21 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Chrysler Aspen a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Aspen rates better than average: 83% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Aspen at the same age. It is one of the best Aspen years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Chrysler Aspen?
The transmission & drivetrain — 10 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the air bags (10) and fuel & propulsion system (9).
How many recalls does the 2009 Chrysler Aspen have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2009 Chrysler Aspen, the most recent from January 9, 2018 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chrysler Aspen?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007. See the full Chrysler Aspen years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Chrysler Aspen problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 92,000 miles; 7% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.