As long as the vehicle isn't accelerating when you release the pedal, or revving when you're on the brakes, it's normal. I have had two vehicles with Hemi engines, and they both behaved exactly as you describe. It's a little strange to get used to at first -- and I don't know if it's gearing or what -- but it's easy to coast for awhile in this vehicle.

It will slow down after awhile, unless you're going downhill.

 

My '07 does the same thing. I think it's normal for these vehicles. The high RPM might be annoying, but it does serve a purpose which is to get it up to temp quicker. Every car does this... the Aspen is just programed to stay high longer. This probably due to the 5.7 HEMI and the 7 quarts of oil it takes.

As for the unique coasting ability/jerking at low speeds, I think that has a lot to do with the transmission/torque converter not the engine. Torque converters have a stall speed which is set to engage at a certain RPM. Normal cars have a low stall speed meaning at a stop, if you just let off the gas, the car will pull foward. With the Aspen, when I let of the brake, it stays put until I give it enough gas to bring up the RPM's to the torque converters liking. When the RPM's get high enough, the torque converter engages and you go foward. Unfortunatly, the RPM's need to be so high, you don't have the ability to take off smooth and slow.

It does take some getting used to. I find myself taking my foot off the gas way to late thinking I can utilize the car's drag with the brakes to slow down. In the Aspen, there is no drag... it takes all brakes to slow down.

For what it's worth, I have a Corvette that's just the opposite. I hardly need the brakes at all to slow down it's go so much drag. It all comes down to the gearing/torque converter in the trans.

 

I got pulled over for speeding the other day at 124kph . Speed limit is 100 and I had cruise set at 110. I managed to get a warning, but started to really watch how much gain in speed there is when going down hill....it's like a run away freight train!. Watching other vehicles in front of me it seemed like I was the only one on the brakes. I now try to engage the tow/haul button where I can to slow the beast down a bit to save the brakes a bit. Hopefully this does not hurt the tranny.

 

My 07 w/HEMI will pick up speed going down hill every time to the point the tranny downshifts into 4th or 5th gear (not sure what gear). I have learned to use the finger tip controls on the steering wheel to cancel the cruise going downhill and to hit resume just before reaching the speed I was going. This action does NOT allow the tranny to shift out of gear at all, reducing shifting and heat and wear....................... yada yada!

 

If your cruise control is allowing the vehicle to speed up significantly past the set speed, something is wrong. Whenever I'm on negative grades, mine will downshift and use engine gearing to keep me at the correct speed. I have zero problems with the cruise control on the Aspen.

 

I am glad somebody mentioned the cruise-control downhill shifting. I just did a 2000 mile trip including mountains and when that happened the first time, it startled me (the loud Magnaflow dual exhaust roared).
My original problem of slow deceleration, which I should have labelled as stuck throttle is still there. Once it gets down to 30mph, it will go forever unless there is a hill or I brake. I now drive in traffic with my hand on the tranny lever and move to neutral and brake to come to a stop. Not ralaxing and probably not good for the transmission.

 

It's not a stuck throttle if it decelerates on a hill, and it would be revving when you come to a stop. Just use your brakes and leave it in D. Everything you're describing is completely normal behavior for the Hemi engine. Mine has done it since day 1, and the brakes stop it just fine.

Watch the engine RPMs the next time you think this is happening. If the throttle is stuck, putting the vehicle in neutral should make them shoot up. If you want to see what I'm talking about, keep your foot on the gas pedal the next time you put it in neutral.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I have a 2002 Jeep GC 4.7 I was comparing to in the beginning. I realize now it is just how the Hemi set works. It is a great truck and have no plans of parting with it for a while. Merry Christmas everyone!

Brian