The 4 Most Common FCA Pentastar 3.6L Engine Problems
Meet Zach
Zach is a founder of 8020 Media and TuningPro. He’s been repairing, upgrading, tuning, and writing about cars & engines for over a decade. Zach has written over 400 automotive articles and continues to be a lead writer for TuningPro. His passion, experience, and deep technical knowledge make him a go-to resource for readers looking to take their car to the next level.
The FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) 3.6L Pentastar engine powers many 2011 to present Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler models. There’s a reason this 3.6L V6 has been around so long. Performance is solid for a NA V6 engine with 275-305 horsepower. Additionally, the Pentastar 3.6L engine is efficient and reliable. However, all engines are prone to problems and the Pentastar is no exception. In this article, we discuss FCA 3.6L Pentastar reliability along with some common problems.
What Cars Use the 3.6 Pentastar?
The Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram 3.6 V6 Pentastar is in the following vehicles:
Dodge 3.6L Pentastar
- 2011-2014 Dodge Avenger
- 2011-present Dodge Challenger
- 2011-present Dodge Charger
- 2011-present Dodge Durango
- 2011-2020 Dodge Grand Caravan
- 2011-2019 Dodge Journey
Chrysler 3.6 Pentastar
- 2011-2017 Chrysler 200
- 2011-present Chysler 300
- 2016-present Chrysler Pacifica
- 2011-2016 Chrysler Town & Country
- 2020-present Chrysler Voyager
Jeep 3.6 Pentastar Engine
- 2011-present Jeep Grand Cherokee
- 2012-2018 Jeep Wrangler
Ram Pentastar 3.6L V6
- 2012-present Ram 1500
- 2013-present Ram ProMaster
- 2011-2015 Ram Cargo Van
Pentastar 3.6L Common Problems
Some of the most common issues with the Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Chrysler 3.6 Pentastar engine include:
- Cylinder head (2011-2013)
- Rocker arms
- Cooling system
- Oil pump
Below we break down each of these problems in-depth. It’s a good time to add a few quick notes. Simply because we’re classifying these failures as common does not mean every Pentastar engine will have these problems. Additionally, engines are prone to many problems – especially with age and mileage. 3.6 Pentastar engines may experience faults we do not cover in this article.
Finally, the Pentastar is used in dozens of models that all serve different purposes. These range from the Ram 1500 trucks, to off-roading Jeeps, and performance oriented models like the Challenger, Charger, and C300. Certain failures may be more or less common on various models depending on specific use of the vehicle. Before diving into the common 3.6 Pentastar engine problems below is a list of all cars the engine is found in.
1) FCA Pentastar Cylinder Head Failure
This is a good problem to knock out first since it’s primarily an issue on early 2011-2013 Pentastar engines. Some early 3.6L V6’s ran into cylinder head failures on the left bank. The underlying cause is overheating of the valve seats on cylinder #2. Fiat-Chrysler resolved the issue in mid-2013 with hardened valve guides and seats. They also did their best to make it right for customers. FCA extended the 3.6L Pentastar warranty to 10 years or 150,000 miles for the left cylinder heads on 2011, 2012, and some 2013 models.
It appears the Jeep Wrangler was the most prone to the 3.6L Pentastar cylinder head problems. However, the issue affected many various models. The good news is most FCA Pentastar engines should still be covered under the extended warranty. That or the problems were already fixed.
Pentastar Cylinder Head Problems Symptoms
Symptoms of cylinder head failure on the 3.6L Pentastar include:
- Check engine light
- Misfires
- Engine ticking
- Power loss
Ticking and check engine lights are often the most noticeable symptoms. However, if the problem is left then the cylinder may eventually drop compression. That leads to symptoms like misfires and loss of power.
Cylinder head replacement for the 3.6L Pentastar isn’t cheap. Again, most early cars should be under the warranty extension. If not under warranty then cylinder head replacement can be thousands of dollars. It’s also important to note cylinder head failure can occur on any year. However, it’s not a common issue on later engines.
2) 3.6 Pentastar Rocker Arm Problems
Sometimes this problem is confused with the above. Rocker arms are located in the cylinder head, so it’s understandable. However, Pentastar rocker arm problems are not the same. Rocker arms are also known as cam followers. FCA issued a service bulletin for this problem, which we’ve imaged below. View the full service bulletin here. There is a superseding part as of the bulletin from 2014. However, some newer Pentastar 3.6L engines run into the same faults. As such, it seems the updated part isn’t a perfect fix.
Although the service bulletin exists we’re not aware of any additional warranty period for the rocker arm problems. As such, you’ll be paying out of pocket if your factory warranty is out. However, since it’s a known issue you may be able to work with FCA for a discount. Rocker arm failures likely aren’t as common as the internet may suggest. At the same time, it’s an important topic as rocker arms are one of the more expensive 3.6 Pentastar problems.
FCA 3.6 Rocker Arm Failure Symptoms
Common symptoms of Pentastar rocker arm problems include:
- Engine ticking
- Diagnostic trouble code (DTC)
- Misfires
The most common symptoms of rocker arm failure is a ticking sound from the upper engine area. You may also receive fault codes also known as DTC’s. The codes will usually indicate a cylinder misfire.
3.6 Pentastar Rocker Arm Replacement
Interestingly, some seem to report dealerships replacing the entire cylinder head for this problem. This job does not require removal of the cylinder head. However, cam follower replacement isn’t cheap. It’s fairly labor intensive as the valve covers must come off. This repair should be left to knowledgeable mechanics or DIY’ers. Fortunately, the parts are pretty cheap. Most of the Pentastar rocker arm fix costs are labor. Expect to pay about $500-1000 for the job. It may be a good idea to replace all of the rocker arms while in there.
3) FCA Pentastar 3.6L Cooling System Issues
Our primary focus here is on the Pentastar water pump and radiator. Rather than writing similar info on both problems we’re lumping it together. There are also other components that may fail like the heater core and oil cooler. FCA manufactures the V6 Pentastar using sand-casting methods. Of course, there are some deposits of sand left that must be properly cleaned before the cylinder head is installed. However, it appears sand deposits sometimes remain in the engine after production.
Over time, the sand makes its way into the cooling system and can cause sludge and deposits throughout the cooling system. That ultimately leads to Pentastar problems like water pump, radiator, heater core, and oil cooler failure. As with most stuff – the problems likely aren’t as common as the internet suggests. However, it’s not hard to come across forum members who have been thru these same repairs multiple times.
Cooling system problems may also occur separately from the above sand causes. A lot of the Pentastar 3.6L cooling system components are wear and tear parts. Faults due to natural wear are not uncommon north of 100,000 miles.
Fiat-Chrysler 3.6L Cooling System Failure Symptoms
Look out for the following symptoms of Pentastar cooling system problems:
- Overheating engine
- Heat or A/C problems
- Visible coolant leak
- Fault codes or check engine light
Overheating is usually a dead giveaway that something isn’t right with the cooling system. A Pentastar 3.6L water pump or radiator issue will restrict coolant from properly flowing throughout the engine. You may also realize your heat or AC systems aren’t keeping up with the requested temperature. There may be failures that do not cause coolant loss, but most will result in a visible leak or quick coolant loss. Finally, you might get fault codes and a check engine light depending upon the specific cooling problem.
Pentastar 3.6 Cooling System Fix
We’ll keep this short since this section is vague and not focused on one specific part. Most problems with the cooling system aren’t too costly or challenging to DIY. Depending on the specific problem at hand you may end up spending $200-800 at a repair shop. However, with the sand issues referenced above there is a chance you need to replace multiple parts. That’s where costs may begin to add up.
4) 3.6L FCA Pentastar Oil Pump Failure
We’ll be quick on this section. This is probably the least common Pentastar problem among the ones discussed in this post. It might not even be worth the mention. Nonetheless, oil pump failures are a serious issue since they can lead to a lack of oil flow. The ECU should quickly pick up on loss of oil flow and do its best to prevent any further damage. It seems the 3.6L oil pump failures are not complete failures, but rather a drop in oil pressure. That’s good news since the computer should quickly limit the revs and power. As long as the oil is flowing thru the engine and the engine isn’t run hard then no further damage should occur.
Many oil pump failures may actually boil down to the same reason cooling system parts go bad. Oil and coolant both flow through the Pentastar’s cylinder head. If any sand deposits are left they could be picked up and get caught in the oil pump over time.
Is the Pentastar 3.6L Engine Reliable?
Short answer – yes. The FCA 3.6L Pentastar engine is reliable. We’ll give the Pentastar above average marks for reliability. Again, there is a reason this engine is powering so many flagship vehicles from Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram; the same reason it’s been around for a decade. The FCA 3.6L engine is reliable and efficient all while providing solid performance.
That said, it’s not hard to continue researching the 3.6L Pentastar engine and finding plenty of owners with problems. 10 million plus Pentastar engines were produced to date. That’s a lot of engines. All engines are prone to problems, especially with that volume of production. Mistakes happen. No machine or person is completely perfect. Sometimes reliability simply comes down to the luck of the draw.
Fortunately, it appears the overwhelming majority of Pentastar V6 owners have great experiences with the engine. One of the things we can control is maintenance. Maintain your FCA 3.6L well and chances are it will be an excellent engine that you can enjoy trouble free for years and years. There are even a few cases of the Pentastar holding up to 500,000+ miles. How’s that for longevity?
3.6 Pentastar Common Problems Summary
Reading about common problems is always scary. At least it is for us; suddenly we start thinking and assuming the worst. That’s the last thing we want when writing common engine problem posts and it’s especially true with the 3.6L Pentastar. It truly is a sound engine, overall. Reliable, efficient, smooth, and solid performance. There’s not much to complain about, but no engine is perfect.
Some early examples of the 3.6L Pentastar ran into problems with the cylinder head due to overheating valve seats on the #2 cylinder. Rocker arms, cooling system parts, and oil pumps are among a few other well documented issues. However, we believe they’re well documented thanks to the 10 million plus Pentastar engines. The 3.6L FCA Pentastar really is a great, reliable engine. No engine is perfect, but there’s a reason so many Pentastar’s are out there. We believe that reason is this: it’s pretty damn good at its job.
What’s your experience with the 3.6L Pentastar? Leave a comment and let us know!
Want more power? Check out our 5.7L HEMI common problems post
They are junk. I’m on my second jeep (2017) and looks like I’m gonna have to replace the head. My last jeep was a 2014 and had the same problem. This will be my last Jeep I ever buy. I suggest people stay away till they put better engined in.
These are junk , one after another failing , poor quality
Mine 2014 grand herokee with 197600 miles does 0 to 60 in 5 to 5 and half seconds have had zero issues since purchased new smokes most factory V8s anyday 8 speed auto shifts flawless not one thing i can complain about
I’m with you. The Jeep’s should have stayed with the tried and true 4.0 inline six cylinder engine. I’ve been a mechanic for 40 years and only had a few tube up issues with that engine. If something works, don’t change it.
The 2017 is no better , have nothing but trouble started at about 70,000 miles and now at 100,000 has a bad ticking and knocking sound. Got a friend with a 2016 having same issues. Pure junk want be another one . Chrysler nows there’s a problem and hasn’t corrected it because once it happens warranty is usually out and then it’s not their problem !!
Bought my 17 new it only has 24575 miles on it already ticking proper oil filter and oil and it’s the year 2022
Mine is great. The only problem was the starter going bad at 135000 miles. it still is performing great at 161000 miles. I have no reason to trade it in although the dealer wants to buy it back all the time!!!
2013 jk 3.6, burnt valves, severe knocking, final outcome reman engine 8500.00. Thanks Jeep. My 2000 Wrangler with over 320,000 ks running strong my advice stay clear of 3.6,3.8 or if you have one of these dogs replace it with a stroker from Newcomer racing.
Get one with a 4 liter straight 6.
I’m not impressed with it at all. I take this Journey in for no heat in rear heat so I get told yes it needs a heater core ok they get that done well now it’s ooverheating and we can’t explain why the next day oh the head gaskets are bad what I’ve been driving this thing around never did it overheat it’s ran fine no were waiting for approval for that and they call you ever have charging problem with it cause the battery is dead so we replaced it and now the alternator is not charging the battery so were going to replace that now they have had it 4 days and still waiting for warranty co to come out Monday or Tue dude it’s Friday then he tells me oh by the way we got the driver seat heat working oh thank goodness for that here I take it to the dodge dealer thinking they will be able to get fixed right hell was I wrong the back up camera only works sometimes they ordered one and said it’s like 400.00 bucks installed I feel they should just do for free after all the shit I’m going through
Dean again here we are 21 days later and the car is still at Cueter dodge in ypsilanti now they are trying to figure out why the head gaskets failed this is just the biggest piece of crap I’ve ever owned dodge used to be great in the late 60,s early 70,s but now I just don’t know
Should run a check for stray current in the cooling system sounds like electrolysis attacking venerable engine parts radiators heater cores cylinder heads, especially if those components are aluminum.
Contrary to the previous comments, I have encountered absolutely no problems so far with my 2017 JEEP Wrangler JKU 3.6L, totaling 60 000km.
Very happy of the car global reliability. I must say that I respect the manufacturer’s maintenance program in or out the brand’s official garages.
I might switch for a JL hybrid when available in France.
I just regret that it will only be available with the 2.0L turbo, as turbos are very often a weak part in an engine… I would have preferred the Pentastar instead.
60k km is not alot of miles wait for it they are rubbish
Mine has 197600 mile 2014 grand cherokee zero probelms isthat enough miles
That’s because you’re probably keeping up proper maintenance. A lot of these 3.6 Pentastor problems come about because of Neglected Maintenance year in and year out. Another reason is Sensible Driving and not over Taxing the Engine. I get 250,000 miles out of most cars I’ve owned..
Problem Is that little oil filter cartridge is not an effective filter for 5000 miles. I replace it twice for every oil change (Pennzoil Ultra Synthetic), every 2500 miles.
The Pentastar engine is complete trash and I will never buy a Chrysler product again.
For starters, the Pentastar engine is literally a Mitsubishi engine, complete with 3 timing chains. There is nothing American about it anymore. The lifespans for parts internally are a complete joke. For the rocker arms with a bearing in the middle of them (seriously, who thought that was a good idea?) the lifespan is 15,000 miles for the rocker arm. After that you get the inevitable tick that means you need to tear the plenum, intake, and valve covers off to gently take the camshaft loose to replace the ticking rocker arm. We have had to replace all 24 for the grand total of $3500 because 1 started, then another, then another which then we discovered we had 16 lash adjusters that were on the verge of failure. The spark plugs wear prematurely, we have had to replace them every 40,000 miles (ridiculous for platinum plugs), a valve got bent so we had to rebuild the upper half of the engine for a nice price tag of $3000, and we have had to replace 3 coil packs within 60,000 miles. Then the blower motor randomly just quits, blows fuses, and the A/C system has to get recharged every year.
Another issue with the pentastar engine are the plastic plenum and valve covers. I have 3 stripped bolts from how many times in 90,000 miles the engine has had to be apart already.
Oh, then there are the numerous issues outside of the engine. The catalytic converters have a lifespan of 28,000 miles and we are looking at $2000 to replace all 3, the transfer case failed completely and ate itself when the tires we put on it were slightly larger and the garage did not calibrate the transfer case to the slightly bigger size (the difference between all season tires and all season all terrain tires). $5000 later we fixed that issue. Then the rear diff started leaking (even though it has no gasket??) so now we are facing a $200 diagnostic fee to figure out that one. The dual zone door blend motor is now shot, the jeep chugs during cruise control because of a feature that tries to maximize fuel efficiency but startles you while using it…..
Chrysler products are below garbage now. Just google the rocker arm thing. There are thousands of forums and videos on these issues. There is no way this is a reliable engine and I am just expecting the transmission to fail at this rate.
And yes, we regularly maintain it with full synthetic oil, fluid changes, and keep up with everything. The ONLY reason we are keeping it is its paid off.
you must of recieved a lemon..
I think there’s no question you have a real lemon there. I have a 2014 Ram pickup with a 3.6 l penstar. The truck’s been great very dependable and has plenty to power to tow my travel trailer and gets good fuel economy. I’m heading 60,000 MI change my oil every 5,000 miles with Pennzoil synthetic 5W20. I don’t know what your problem is. You never know it might be the dealer that you’re using not doing quality work . I’m just saying . But good luck to you.
I bet most of the negative remarks are from non-car guys. With proper maintenance, my 2012 Charger SXT has 103000 miles. MPG around town remains at 24-29 since new and 30-34 hwy, with one cross country run; Ohio to Ms at 37MPG. Computer matches math, probably 95% of the time. Only problem was an unprotected area under the rear wing causing the inside of the trunk lid to rust out at 92,000 miles. Open my hood and mechanics scratch their head that all is original, aside from the CA Intake. Cleaner than new, because I don’t care to get my hands dirty to fill washer fluid or check oil. Take them for a ride and they swear it is a HEMI. No additional maintenance, just oil and filter when the computer calls for it, Synthetic only.
Ready to do the trans and dif fluid this spring, otherwise never touched or topped off. Plugs at 97,000 and dropped the front oil pan, just to look. No sludge, sand or other debris,
Best car I’ve ever owned; been through 31 of them.
Yep, 2016 Jeep Wrangler Sahara, I change my oil every 5K miles, only use Pennzoil Platinum synthetic and OEM filter cartridges, do my differentials, transfer case, air filter every 20k miles, swap out 2 QTS of ATF4 with every oil change. I use only OEM fluids for everything, 42k miles and no issues yet. Will drop my trans pan at 60k to change the filter, as well as do a coolant flush. Since I do all maintenance myself, 1/4 the cost, so I can do more often.
Be carful with the ATF flush every oil change! Your only supposed to do it @ 100,000+ miles. ATF fluid has detergents in it so with that being said you keep clean detergents running through it after time it will break down the pads on the disks aka gears which will lead to failure.
Good post
This is my first new Jeep, Bought the new JL in 2018. It’s been almost three years and I’ve had zero issues, 84,000kms aprox 52,000miles.
I have a 2014 always kept the oil change up to date and use sinthetic with lucas and never had a problem. im at 230 thousand km. And now i have a problem its missfirrreing and i have gas going into the engine it starts but lacks power and idle rought any one have any clue what it would be i thpught maybe a burnt out coil
I have a Dodge Ram 2016 with the Pentax star v 6 . At 230,000 I had a rad failure . Then the tick started and the oil cooler started leaking .
So after the rad I had the oil cooler repaired . The tick got louder and had to have it repaired at summit Chrysler in Fredericton New Brunswick , great team of mechanics there . I was enroute when this happened they got the cam from Montreal , it had a snow storm so a little delay .
Job was completed in two days but had they had the parts they would have had it done in two hrs , which I was charged for .
Other than that she is at 245000 and no other issue . I love it because I drive it line I stole it
I have a 3.6 l v6 in my 2915 Chrysler 200s. Apparantly didge knows that the oil cooler is prone to fail. Thus causund loss if oul and possibly antifreeze. My leaks both. Ih and they don’t like extreme cold. So now that 85% of the US had a severe cold snap. There is an extreme shortage of these oil coolers. And no help from Chrysler, dodge,jeep. Last dodge product I will own for sure.
I just got rid of my 2015 200s same thing happend to me oil cooler went and the engine started ticking transmission would bang and the air bag sensor underneath the passenger seat was going bad also and traded it in with 88,109 miles
Oil Cooler issue is a HUGE problem with the 3.6l, primarily seen a lot in the 2014 Jeep Wrangler, but reported in all years of the JK and JKU, where the assembly connects to the block, either due to faulty gaskets or a cracked oil cooler assembly, with such stated causes from over tightening of the filter cartridge cap, wrong oil use (causing weakening of gaskets) and cold temps (causing failure of plastic components), seen as a oil leak coming from the transmission and filling of “The Valley” in the center of the motor with large quantities of oil, that can cause engine fire. This should be a recall and a covered fix outside of any warranty coverage.
This is probably the biggest design flaw with the Pentastar engines. My 2017 Ram 1500 just started spewing oil yesterday and I had to have it towed to the dealer for repair. They said it will be WEEKS because they have several other vehicles ahead of mine with the very same issue and the part is on backorder. Unacceptable!! Time for a recall and a redesign of this faulty oil filter/cooler assembly.
Usually an engine prone to trouble suggest an engineering design failure. A FLAW inherent in the design. That is always NEVER good.
Someone said maintenance is the key. One guy maintained this engine with the best oil and it still failed spectacularly.
So, it’s not maintenance, necessarily. I’d rather have a reliable engine not really maintained then a poorly designed flawed engine maintained. Guess which one I’d rather rely on?
If you ask me, only one engine can take it.
Hi Blather,
All engines have design flaws whether in bulk quantity or limited cases. There isn’t an engine or manufacturer in the world that doesn’t have engines fail for no known reason. Luck of the draw plays a big role in that. BMW, Honda, Toyota, Ford, Nissan – you name it. Doesn’t matter the brand there are some lucky folks that don’t maintain their engines well yet the hold up well for ages. Others are well maintained and decide to give out at relatively low mileage.
BMW earns a poor reputation for reliability yet they actually have one of, if not, the lowest engine failure rates in the industry. Point is – all engines have flaws and we can’t always control luck of the draw. Maintenance is one thing we can control.
Best Regards,
2011 caravan 3.6 engine runs good 100000 miles but just replaced transmission. My prius with 150000 runs on needing nothing no check engine lights 10000 miles on oil change does not use 1 drop of oil
I’ve owned my 2014 Wrangler since new with a little over 60k. Zero engine issues with a RIPP supercharger making 10psi. Supercharger has been on for 42k miles. Been a solid motor all around.
well i bought a 2015 Wrangler with 91k miles and within a week the oil cooler busted and had to be replaced , now im sitting at the dealer 4 months later with an engine tick @ 96k miles so as of right now i have nothing good to say about this engine
Does anyone know anything at all about 3.6 on a 2018 Dodge Durango
Do I need to chuck it out or what
Got 67000 km
The wife’s 2015 jk has 71000 miles and I just noticed the ticking. Going to order rockers, related gaskets and plugs while im at it and just replace them all. Enough evidence of roller rocker failure that im thinking the lifters are fine..
The only other problem we have had is hard top leaking. I’ve talked to many others with the hard top problem.
2016 JK Wrangler, 115k miles… just replaced all rocker arms (8 were worn out), replaced all lifters (8 were worn out), and a cam on each head… so plan more than you think. Once you can hear the ticking, you’re screwed…
Your assertion that the FCA pentatstar 3.6L engine block is cast using a sand method is way wrong. I worked in both the Chrysler Indy Foundy where the cast iron engines were made (3.3L, 3.5L, 2.2L, 2.0L, 5.2L, 3.9L, the inline 4.0L, 4.7L, 3.7L, and a few that I’m leaving out) as well as the Kokomo Casting plant where the cast aluminum engine blocks are die-cast. The 3.6L is made in a high pressure die cast machine and there is absolutely no sand used, just hot aluminum in an extremely highly pressurized process.
Thanks
The heads are sand cast, the block is die cast
I have had 77,xxx trouble free miles with my ’17 Chrysler 300 C with 3.6 Pentastar engine. But, I know the issues and keep an eye out for them. Also, I don’t crank down on the oil filter canister which leads to oil cooler failure.
i have a 2016 jeep wrangler unlimited with only 50k miles and 2 months out of warranty and i have been chasing a #2 misfire. i already changed plugs and injector which was failed. but most disturbing is the amount of 2016-2017 owners that are having issues with heads and rockers failing in this 3.6 engine. this problem should of been fixed after the issues with the 2012-2014 problems but clearly it has not!!! this has nothing to do with owner being a car guy or not. these failures should not be happening this early. and only being two months out of warranty and to be told sorry your on your own is BULL!! Chrysler needs to step up
My friend has a 2014 Promaster delivery van, it currently has about 540,000 km and the engine has been mostly trouble free, but has recently started to leak oil around the oil filter area
I have a 2016 Jeep Wrangler 3.6 75K miles nothing but problems with misfire code. Its been to three dealers was told a different problem at each dealer from catalytic convertor, plugs & coil, to internal engine crankshaft issue. Oil auxiliary cooling unit went out at 50k very disappointed in Jeep considering the price I paid for their brand name!
I own a 2014 Ram 1500 Bighorn with the Pentastar 3.6L Six and 77k miles. I just had the oil cooler housing leak repaired by a dealer Oct 2021. From what I’ve read the housing was a poor design and will crack on its own. However after my first 2 (free) O&F changes I have done them all myself using Fram filters and Castrol fully synthetic 5W-20. On the last one I noticed the old filter cartridge O-ring was missing and wrongly assumed I had dropped it, but it was still inside. I put the new filter in with the new O-ring (=double O-ring) and shortly after the oil leak started. I believe the extra torque probably caused the housing to crack, which is a ridiculous situation, but still my fault. Supposedly Chrysler redesigned the replacement housing to be stronger so I would recommend only the OEM part, and then mark the cap/housing for maximum tighten. Other than that I have had 5 or 6 factory recalls and campaigns for things like tailgate latch, seat belt lock, and a few software updates, all no charge, but a small hassle.
Overall this is a strong engine for a 6 and still gets 19mpg around town and 21-22 highway with a 5300 lb vehicle. Towing anything heavier than a 10ft Uhaul will cause serious power lag and drop to 14mpg. It’s just not meant for towing. According to this article there are 10M of these engines sold so I would think parts shouldn’t be a problem.
Earlier this year I was considering getting a 4×4 V8 in Dec, but now with the jackasses in charge in DC I think I will ride this horse until it dies, or someone with more smarts turns this country back to 2018 energy independence.
I have a 2014 JKU with 167000 miles on it have had no engine problems but its starting to raddle when you start it cold for a second and then shuts up looking at rebuilding it now.
i saw on Youtube a guy had this problem for months Changed the oil filter to a MoPar from the dealer only solved the start up knock . Give that a try
2021 Jeep Gladiator 6,000 miles engine blown, dealer just ordered a replacement.
2017 Dodge GC with the pentastar 3.6 engine…Zero problems after 5 years driving in all seasons …cannot complain about that….it’s smooth ,powerful and gives decent gas mileage….whats not to like.
My 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan has had the cracked oil filter housing unit replaced, new transmission torque converter, and now chasing cause of cylinder # 2 misfire. Two dealers and both have no clue. Replaced plugs and valve cover and intake manifold gaskets. Never missed an oil change and a class action law suit against Chrysler is pending for this garbage engine!!!
Picked up my 2016 Grand Cherokee with 65,012 miles today after it being at the dealer for almost 3 weeks. So it all started when i noticed loss of power slowly here and there and acting odd more frequently at this point no check engine light. I had the car tested for any issues at autozone and my buddies computer with nothing coming up. On my way to work decided to pass another car and noticed significant power loss and car started shaking pretty violently meanwhile i have another car headed towards me head on since i couldnt pass the car and struggled to get back over to slow down enough to pull over. This situation could have ended very badly in a head on collision. At this point the engine light was on and flashed a few times. After turning the car off for a few min and inspecting the engine bay and under i get back on the road and the car is driving normal so i thought maybe it just needs new spark plugs. I had all six changed and drove on for another 2 days after accelerating yet again same issues as before happened. So i take the Grand Cherokee to the dealer the next day they tell me they drove the car and didnt find any issues.I tell him it happens at high RPMs get back on the road and step on it! He comes back and says to me he man you were right! below is what they tested and did to fix the issue..
swapped the spark plug, they preformed compression test on #2,-170 #4- 170, #6- 175 all had good compressions. Next the swapped the oil control valves for the rear cylinders, misfire stayed in #6. at this point they called me and told me they were stumped and called up the ladder to an engineer. At this point what they found after removing the valve cover they noticed #6 intake cam lobe worn down causing the misfire at higher engine speed. they replaced left intake cam shaft, all 6 rocker arms, 6 lifters and put everything back together and test drove it and misfire no longer present!
I have 2014 jeep Rubicon that has a tap on the driver side top of eng. I bought new and it has been in shop for oil cooler leak ,coolant leak , sensor problems its been one thing after another . I’ve always wanted a jeep and in 2014 was able to get one and went ahead and got the Rubicon thinking it would hold up I have just over 10000 miles and wish had not spent almost 60000.00 for a vehicle that has been such a pain I was used to Ford f150 with no problems before 250000 miles .I love my jeep I love driving it but I will never buy another one . Unless they want to fix this problem and change my mind because from what I’ve seen they are aware of the problems that theses engines have . Chrysler needs to step up !!!!!
Im the original owner of a 2013 Wrangler. Just passed 160k miles and got my first rocker arm tick. Up until now I have not done much proactive maintenance. I went ahead and replaced spark plugs, coil packs, rocker arms, camshafts, tappets. She’s running like new.
Before this I had a broken thermostat housing, leaking radiator, one wheel hub axle leak, and the infamous leaking oil cooler.
I currently have a slow leak on the rear main seal.
Pretty dang reliable for being almost 10 years old!
Not really I drive 20 year old vehicles with way less problems
Reliable with all that work done? I have a 97 Jeep with the 4.0 engine with 187k and it has never leaked a drop of oil or even had the valve cover off. Just changed plugs and really didnt need it. Thats what I call a reliable engine. The pentastar is a second rate engine with known design flaws
MY 2012 CHRYSLER 200 KEEPS BLOWING CAM SHAFT SENSORS REPLACED them 6 times
2017 jeep grand cherokee check engine light came on but drove fine, i was told that the cylinders were misfiering- the ignition coil to be exact and instead of replacing 1 i should replace all 3 and the spark plugs which I did. The next day it came on again, when diagnostics test ran again there weren’t any codes/ misfires so they didn’t know what to do. I moved home to another state the following week. Ran fine for about a month and one day it just wouldn’t start. I towed it to the dealership where I purchased it, they said it was the starter, then after starting it they said it was hydrolocked from coolent in the combusion chamber and that I had blown a head gasket which I don’t see how that was possible because it was fine before…then, called back and said that there was a “hot spot’ on the engine block they didn’t notice initially and it must’ve overheated at some point (which it hadn’t with me ever) and that I actually needed a new engine- also said they’re hard to find and total charge to me would be $12,000. It’s been at the dealership for a month and I finally agreed to replace the engine in liew of buying another car.
I have a 2013 Grand Cherokee with the Pentastar V-6. This is far and away the absolute worst vehicle that I have ever owned from a reliability perspective. I have experienced the rocker arm failures on both cylinder heads, radiator failure where inlets are attached to the tank, heater core failure, and another common failure not mentioned here – oil pressure sender failure. $1,800 each for the rocker arm failures, about $1,000 for the radiator failure, over $1,000 for the heater core failure and $750 or so for the oil pressure failure ( also replaced cooler as they have a failure history as well). All within 115k miles. That’s nuts. I previously drove Tahoes and Suburbans for 200k miles or more without any problems of this nature. The design elements that require removing the intake manifold to replace an oil pressure sender or even change the spark plugs is ridiculous, as is the need to remove the entire dashboard to replace a heater core. That is simply designing in cost to enrich the dealer network to the detriment of the customer. This is likely my last FCA product ever and I would recommend avoiding any vehicle with this powertrain and FCA products in general as a result of the poor quality and poor design impact on ownership costs.
I have a 2013 Grand Cherokee 3.6 with 145K I maintain regular only issues I’ve had is the common heater core failure and thermostat housing needing to be replaced.
2020 Gladiator with the 3.6L at 34k miles. Took it in for “ticking sound from the engine”, left header issue, they are replacing the values, lifters, etc..
All under warranty.
My 4th jeep, 4.0l 6, 3.8L and 2nd 3.6L.. first engine issue I’ve ever had.
That’s an unfortunate issue to run into on the Jeep 3.6 Pentastar engine. Sounds like you had a pretty long run with Jeeps without any engine problems, so maybe it was due time. Thank goodness all that is covered under warranty. Hopefully the 3.6L V6 comes back stronger than ever and is trouble free!
Regards,
Zach
So, I have a 2016 Challenger SXT with coolant issues. I am the 4th owner of it so not too sure how it was driven before me. What I do know is that I had to replace the air compressor followed by the oil coolant housing. After the oil coolant housing was replaced it started to storm. The coolant system wanted to overheat so I have changed the thermostat, the water pump twice, 1st one was faulty, the radiator cap, the oil and coolant temperature sensor, the belt the coolant fluid like 4 times just burping the air out. I took the entire dash and it’s housing out of the car to get to the heater core. I have NOT changed the radiator the coolant tubes or the coolant reservoir. My next thing to change is the evaporator coil being it like I have Niagra Falls in my passenger floorboard. Could anyone give me any guidance on what maybe the issue here. Oh, and btw it runs on cold start at 217 degrees, when I start driving it jumps to 226 degrees and if I get on it in the slightest can jump to 235-240 and that’s when I turn my heat on to bring down the temp. I live in Florida and having the heat on right now is for the birds. Someone plz help.
Bought my wife a 2020 WK2 with 24k miles in October of 2022, currently at 45k miles. Haven’t had it quite a year yet but just replaced it’s 3rd, yes 3rd water pump, has had a crack shift sensor replaced, evaporator for the AC replaced and a Bluetooth mic wire issue fixed. Luckily all under warranty but this is ridiculous. Think it’s time to explore options.
So there was a lawsuit in which Chrysler eventually acknowledged that they were aware of these faults. As with the rockers, you can get them replaced, but with what ??? More of the same failing rocker arms ? I’m told it is a dry start problem that leads to failure. Excessive time before oil can reach the top end is mainly at fault. I also believe the rockers are a bad design of poor components that Chrysler already knew. But it is that Chrysler continues to fight these complaints and had past refused to warranty them. Reminds me of the murderous Lee Iacocca of Ford that refused changes to the very dangerous Ford Pinto that led to the deaths of many owners. Ford engineers advised Iacocca of the dangers, but he decided the profits they will make with the Pinto will far outweigh the lawsuits. Point I’m making is the lack of concern car manufacturers have towards buyers. The law and the justice system needs to step in and correct these auto manufacturers. No more Chryslers for me after I dump this Jeep.