NHTSA Complaint #11181423 — 2013 JEEP WRANGLER

CONSTANT TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. THIS TICKING NOISE IS MADE FROM WORN OUT ROCKER ARMS/ CAM LIFTERS AS THE CAMSHAFT ROTATES. THE BEARING MATERIAL IN THE LIFTERS IS NOT HARDENED STEEL AND CAN DEGRADE. ALL 3.6L PENTASTAR ENGINES ARE AFFECTED BY THESE DEFECTIVE ROCKER ARMS. IF THE ROCKER ARMS ARE DAMAGED NO CODE WILL SHOW. THE FIRST SINES WILL BE A LOSS IN FUEL EFFICACY. AS THE CAMSHAFT WEARS DOWN CHANGING THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDERS THIS WILL START CAUSING MISFIRE AND STALLING DURING NORMAL DRIVING/ ACCELERATION. EVENTUALLY, WARE DEBRIS CAN FALL INTO THE CYLINDER AND DAMAGE THE HEAD. I FIRST TOOK MY JEEP TO THE DEALERSHIP AT 60K MILES TO DIAGNOSE. WITH NO CODES SHOWING I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE CHECKED OUT AND THE TICKING NOISE WAS FROM THE VALVES. NOW AT 84K MILES ONE OF THE ROCKER ARMS IS DEFINITELY FAILING AND STILL NOT SHOWING CODES. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE PURCHASE DATE WAS 5 1/2 YEARS AGO. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 3.6L PENTASTAR. CHRYSLER HAS PROVIDED TECHNICAL BULLETINS TO VISUALLY IDENTIFY DEFECTIVE ROCKERS BUT ARE NOT PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY OR RECALL ON THIS PART. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY HANDLE A LOT OF ROCKER ARM REPLACEMENTS ON PENTASTAR ENGINES, 5 TO 10 A WEEK! CHRYSLER SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOURCING AND INSTALLING DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THEIR ENGINES.