The Specs and Fatal Flaws of the Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar V6 Engine

Today we are taking at look at the specs and fatal flaws of the Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar V6, which would be cylinder head failure, rocker arm problems, and cooling system issues. It's found in over 25 vehicles across the Fiat-Chrysler lineup, beginning with 2011 models and continuing to the present-day. It’s massively successful, with it’s 10 millionth engine being produced in February of 2019 at the Trenton Engine Complex plant in Michigan. The 3.6L Pentastar also was on Ward’s 10 Best Engines List from 2011-2013, and then again from 2017-2020. Customers love the great fuel economy, smooth operation, and durability. Now that’s a lot of engines sold, but all engines are prone to problems, especially when that many get produced. So today we’re not here to talk about the success of the Pentastar, but rather some of the fatal flaws that have damaged so many of these engines. So first we will look at the specs of this 3.6 and then look at the major flaws, including what they are, which vehicles they affect, and how to possibly prevent them.
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SKIP AHEAD:
Engine Variations + Output: 01:05
Engine Specs : 02:33
Engine Flaws: 05:13
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#Pentastar #PentastarTicking #3.6LFlaw #3.6LV6

[hoss]

Work on the Pentastar everyday. The head and rocker arm issues are 100% accurate but the vehicle's affected are pretty low. Enough so that we purchased a 3.6 in my wife's car. For the most part they run great and have great power.

[Japplesnap]

Ive had 3 vehicles with the 3.6L Pentastar. Never a single issue with any of them. Ive always done 5000 mile oil and filter changes on them. Fantastic engine!

[jergarmar]

Just did a major tune up and maintenance of my 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan at 140k miles. Let me tell you, this engine has given me probably the best "cheap car" experience I've ever had. Lots of good responsive power.

Now, to be fair, the overall reliability experience with this van has been merely okay. The sliding doors and automatic windows had mechanical problems, and some flimsy plastic transmission lines cracked and leaked. It sure ain't a Honda or Toyota, you know? But certainly no major failures.

But buying it used often means a BIG discount for a great engine and family car. That's how I got it. Plus all the seats fold down flat, and you have a pseudo-cargo van. So yeah, it's the kind of engine that you can find cheap and, with a bit of research, find a deal.

[melvin]

The 3.6 is still a very reliable engine get the newer ones with updated parts. I seen one with 620k miles before losing a timing chain tensioner and locking it up.

[wysetech]

As a Technician who repairs most brands, I have seen a few with worn rocker arms and some of the plastic cooling system components fail but they mostly all have problems with the use of plastic components.
Compared to some of the engines today I would say that the 3.6 engine is above average for reliability.

[kurtdaly]

My 3.6 Liter Chrysler engine has been flawless since 2015. Great engine!

[tomwujek]

My 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.6L Pentastar has been a great SUV so far. 141, 000 miles and only needed a thermostat replacement 3 years ago. Other than that, it's reliable and continues to run great.

[greyinghawk]

Have a 2012 chrysler 300s with the 3.6 pentastar engine. Have 229, 000 km with no issues. Did get a misfire code after using 89 grade twice, switched to minimum 91 grade and issue went away. It is a tank with great power and fuel economy mix. Have driven 3 lengthy trips with no issues. Only use synthetic oil and regular changes. Love it.

[lucimarferreira]

I have a Chrysler 300s v6 pentastar and so far i have 58.000 miles on it, and i have never gone to the mechanic for any issue with the motor, no tics noise and I think is the best car i ever had. Very powerful, smooth i love it. My was made in Canada 🇨🇦

[MikeV]

I have one in a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I bought new and that now has 113, 000+ miles. It's the quietest, smoothest, most trouble-free engine I've ever had. I change the oil myself, on schedule, and use quality oil and filter. (I love how easy, quick, and clean it is to change the oil and filter.) I also run a bottle of Techron concentrate through it each 3.000 miles.

[Basslicks]

Biggest majority of 3.6s I've dealt with were oil cooler issues. Our shop always replaces them with the aluminum unit since most of them seem to start leaking from the seal between the plastic housing and the aluminum cooling block. Ford had a similar issue in the v6 engines and the plastic thermostat housings that would warp and lose their seal.
I think in the past 3 years I've had 2 3.6s come in with rocker arm failures. I've yet to have one with a cylinder head failure.
I've lost count on how many oil coolers I've replaced.

[chuckhalbach]

I'm the original owner of the 2012 T&C and I love the van. The only two things that I'm not happy with are the spare tire placement and no power sliding buttons on the back of the seats when stowing the second row seats. I have been extremely lucky to have no mechanical issues. The hood however had to be repaired due to rust under the paint. That happened about 4 1/2 years after I purchased it. The work was done under warranty and looks beautiful. I only have 54682 miles on it in 10 years.

[edms]

The biggest issue I saw while working at a dodge dealer. Was the oil cooler leaking. Causing oil to fill the valley of the engine. It was always a bad O-ring on the cooler. Constant heating and cooling would cause it to break and leak oil everywhere. Most people think it's the oil pan or drain bolt because of where the oil comes down.

I guess that issue hasn't been reported enough yet, but it affects every 3.6L

[stlcardinals]

if powerpoints were this informative when i was in school, i wouldnt have been as bored in class lol

[christopherbowen]

Have a 2015 with the 3.6. It needed new lifter and rocker for one cylinder at 98k miles. Fortunately, I had bought the 100k extended warranty. As long as they had the engine out, I had them replace all the lifters and rockers. It was pricey, but the warranty covered much of the cost of opening the engine and it provided peace of mind.

[Commander]

The cylinder head issue hit my dad on his 300. Broke his heart. He'd already traded it in (after Chrysler fixed it with a refurbished part) before Chrysler sent him a notice saying they'd replace the part with a new part about 2 months later.

[NinjaGeek]

I own a 2016 Chrysler 300C Platinum with the 3.6L VVT and I’ve had no issues 88k miles. Change the oil every 5k miles with synthetic oil and always used the 87 recommended octane gasoline. Not even a tick out of the engine is heard. It runs perfectly healthy so far!

[sourpowder]

Mines got 120k on my charger and I beat on it like crazy and it’s taken it all so far.

[tammyforbes]

My Avenger has one and it’s been perfect so far! 130k miles ain’t don’t anything but change oil and plugs coils! She still gets up and goes with you! 282hp in a lighter avenger and 200 with the 6 speed move pretty good! Great mid range! I got 20’s on mine so it hooks hard and goes!

[HowardJrFord]

The open deck design is used on all modern engines . It doesn't sacrifice cylinder strength, it keeps the tops of the bores round over time due to the fact that they are separated from the head bolts . On the old closed deck engines the pressure from the head bolts would pull the tops of the cylinders inward, making them out of round over time . The pentastar has an extremely robust bottom end that can handle a lot of boost .