Chrysler Aspen Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2007 draws 4.02 complaints per run and the 2009 1.48, a 2.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 86.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 101 complaints, typically at 7.6 years.

Chrysler Aspen years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Chrysler Aspen — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2009	1.48	37	25	yes
2008	3.45	138	40	yes
2007	4.02	217	54	yes

ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2007 Aspen asks a median $3,000, against $3,500 for a 2008, the next model year: about 14% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.

Among the 3 Chrysler Aspen years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2007, 2008, 2009; the three worth hunting are 2009, 2008, 2007.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Chrysler Aspen — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	13	3.4%	covered
1 year	17	7.8%	covered
2 years	23	13.8%	covered
3 years	54	27.8%	you pay
4 years	30	35.6%	you pay
5 years	18	40.3%	you pay
6 years	23	46.2%	you pay
7 years	55	60.5%	you pay
8 years	57	75.3%	you pay
9 years	37	84.9%	you pay
10 years	19	89.9%	you pay
11 years	11	92.7%	you pay
12 years	11	95.6%	you pay
13 years	10	98.2%	you pay
14 years	5	99.5%	you pay
15 years	2	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 13.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 86.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 16% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Chrysler Aspen, the early trouble is Fuel System and Gasoline — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Air Bags at 7.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Chrysler Aspen — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	101	7.6 yrs	11	1
Fuel System	89	3.5 yrs	—	1
Gasoline	89	3.5 yrs	—	1
Fuel/propulsion System	68	8.2 yrs	—	1
Electrical System	41	7.8 yrs	1	1
Power Train	37	7.1 yrs	5	—
Steering	26	6 yrs	3	—
Engine	24	7.5 yrs	2	2

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Aspen's vehicle class. Per production run, the Subaru Outback draws 3.64, the Toyota Land Cruiser 1.49 and the Subaru Forester 3.35, against 3.38 for the Aspen.

FIG.05·Chrysler Aspen — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Aspen	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Subaru Outback	8,587	159	2005–2026
Toyota Land Cruiser	257	85	1981–2026
Subaru Forester	6,521	121	1998–2026
Chevrolet Trailblazer	8,447	57	2002–2026
Honda Element	1,308	100	2003–2011
Jeep Liberty	8,880	80	1993–2013

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Chrysler Aspen

Recalls9 campaigns Fuel economy21 mpg best Common problems443 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Used prices75 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2007–2009

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chrysler Aspen reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.38 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Aspen years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2007, 2008, 2009. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2009, 2008, 2007. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Aspen problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 7.6 years, followed by Fuel System.

Will the warranty cover Aspen problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 13.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 16% of the complaints here.

Is the Aspen more reliable than the Subaru Outback?

Yes: 3.38 complaints per production run for the Aspen against 3.64 for the Subaru Outback.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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