The dealer continues to send safety repair notices but has not been able to obtain the parts to remedy the situation. I have contacted the dealer at least 4 times and there still seems to be an issue on getting replacement parts.
2007 Chrysler Aspen airbags problems
severe 51 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
51
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
6crashes
1fire
4injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 51 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Airbags accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 9 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue across these 51 complaints is Takata's defective airbag inflators. Two recalls—15V-313 (driver airbag, issued May 2015) and 16V-352 (passenger/front airbag, issued July 2016)—target inflator housings that can rupture during deployment, spewing metal fragments at occupants. Many owners waited 16+ months after recall notification with no parts availability and no estimated repair timeline from dealers or Chrysler.
Several owners experienced airbag non-deployment during serious collisions: head-on impacts, 50–60 mph side crashes, and a 65 mph deer strike. One owner was rear-ended, side-swiped, and hit head-on in one incident, yet airbags never deployed; first responders and impound personnel questioned why. Another owner sustained a knee injury when airbags failed to deploy at 10 mph.
Beyond the recall, owners report airbag warning lights illuminating continuously or intermittently, often with beeping. Some dealers could not diagnose the cause. Clock spring failures (the electrical connector carrying airbag signals) appear in several complaints, causing warning lights and potentially disabling deployment. One owner describes burned wires in the control module requiring clock spring replacement.
Water intrusion is cited as a design defect: poor drainage allows moisture into the side airbag panel and electrical control panel, compromising the entire system despite Chrysler's awareness of the problem.
Same Chrysler Aspen airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Takata driver airbag inflator rupture risk (recall 15V-313)
Driver airbag inflator housing may rupture due to excessive internal pressure during normal deployment. Risk is higher if vehicle exposed to high humidity. Rupture can eject metal fragments, potentially causing serious injury or death to occupants.
When: During airbag deployment events; some vehicles already in accidents
Symptoms owners cite: No visible symptoms until deployment event; Airbag warning light illumination in some cases; Airbag beeping
Codes mentioned: 15V-313, 15V313000, R25
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of driver airbag inflator. Many owners report parts unavailable for extended periods—some waited 16+ months with no parts availability or timeline provided by dealer or manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall R25 / NHTSA 15V-313 issued May 29, 2015. Remedy: driver airbag inflator replacement. Many owners report delayed notification and chronic parts unavailability despite recall being issued years prior.
Takata passenger/front airbag inflator rupture risk (recall 16V-352)
Similar inflator rupture hazard as driver-side inflator. Passenger/front airbag inflator housing may rupture under deployment pressure, ejecting metal fragments into occupants.
When: During airbag deployment
Symptoms owners cite: No visible symptoms until deployment
Codes mentioned: 16V-352, 16V352000
Repairs/costs cited: Requires replacement of passenger/front airbag inflator. Parts availability remained a widespread problem; numerous owners unable to schedule repairs due to parts not being in stock.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V-352 / NHTSA 16V352000 issued July 2016. Remedy: inflator replacement. Chronic parts distribution disconnect reported by owners.
Airbag failed to deploy in collision
Airbags did not deploy during impact events severe enough to destroy vehicle or cause serious injury, raising questions about whether inflator defect is root cause or if sensor/wiring failure is involved.
When: At 36,300 miles; 63,000 miles; 75,831 miles; 10 mph parking lot impact; head-on collision; 65 mph collision with deer
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment despite significant impact; Check engine light illumination (one case); Vehicle destruction or severe damage with minimal occupant protection
Codes mentioned: Check engine light
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported dealer indicated only sensors working after head-on collision. Some vehicles towed to salvage. One owner sustained knee injury. Several cases resulted in vehicle total loss.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer stated only sensors are functional but offered no further explanation or remedy. Manufacturer did not assist on one vehicle due to age/mileage despite failure.
Airbag warning light illumination and beeping
Airbag warning light turns on and produces audible beep continuously or intermittently. Dealer unable to diagnose root cause in initial visits. May be related to inflator defect, clock spring failure, or wiring damage.
When: At 50,000 miles; recurring intermittently at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on continuously; Beeping from warning system; Intermittent illumination and beeping
Codes mentioned: Airbag warning light
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer unable to diagnose or repair the condition. Some owners noted mystery about origin of light. Appears to be separate from inflator rupture defect but may coincide with other airbag system failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer told owner they would provide priority when parts available, but no follow-up occurred. No specific TSB or remedy provided.
Clock spring failure with airbag warning light
Clock spring (electrical connector in steering column that carries airbag and control signals) fails or develops shorts, causing airbag warning light and potentially disabling airbag deployment. One dealer advised this makes vehicle unsafe to drive, risking loss of control and airbag non-deployment.
When: At 106,148 miles; 169,000 miles; 50,000 miles; during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illumination; Intermittent warning light; ESP/BAS and traction control warning lights chiming and illuminating; Burned wires in control module and clock spring
Codes mentioned: Clock spring failure, Burned wires to control module
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement required. One owner replaced clock spring and possesses old defective part. Repairs not completed in some cases; manufacturer declined assistance on high-mileage vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer would not assist on one vehicle citing age and mileage. No TSB or warranty coverage noted.
Water intrusion causing airbag system compromise
Poor drainage design allows water to saturate side airbag panel and electrical control panel, causing moisture intrusion into airbag system. Results in airbag warning lights and compromised side and possibly passenger front airbags.
When: Unknown timing; ongoing issue with vehicle design
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbag panel wet; Electrical control panel soaked; Warning light panel lighting up completely; Airbags compromised due to moisture
Repairs/costs cited: No corrective solution provided by manufacturer despite multiple complaints. This is a design defect rather than component failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler aware of drainage problem from multiple complaints but has not implemented corrective solution.
Synthesized from 51 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
"takata recall" needs a remedy to be fixed 6+ months unacceptable
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Chrysler Aspen?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2007 Chrysler Aspen?
It's a meaningful issue. 51 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 50,000 and 99,500 miles, with the median around 72,400. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 99,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Chrysler/Aspen.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.