I am wanting to inquire about the reliability of the 2011 and newer minivans. My dad is going to be trading his company car in soon and has some say in what he gets as a replacement. He is thinking about getting a GC. He is going to put any where from 130-150K in the life of this vehicle. While we had a 02 that got them to 209K and counting with no major repairs (engine or transmission), this has a completely different powertrain and some of what I am reading is making me concerned. Can we safely assume that the Pentastar & 62TE can reach at least 130-150K without needing major repairs or replacement? If so, what is the secret to success with this powertrain? Any advice is helpful. I know that the 2008-2012 had brake problems that have been supposively resolved and that Chrysler redid the head on the Pentastar in around 2012.

 

If it's a former rental, I wouldn't do it.


The engines are getting 175 -200K pretty common. I won't sit here and tell you any Chrysler trans will get 150K with no issues. I have seen several fleet vans get 200K from their transmissions, but that's OTR driving not around town.

 

No, he will be getting a brand new one. On the 2002, we always had the transmission fluid flushed every 30K on it and it never needed anything other than a solenoid at 205K. Will tranny flushes at 30K be frequent enough?

 

Pan drops at 50-60K

 

That's a little extreme. But guess what? these old school hardcore maintenance schedule do work out in long term. But if he's doing mainly high way driving, every 50-60k will be fine. But if he's doing a lot of stop and goes, 30k is recommended.


Also, the 6 speed is actually way more reliable and heavy duty than the 4speed.

 

Oh good. My 3.3L 4spd '01 still shifts like brand new at 225k mi, so I'm holding you to that. It's fluid has been changed about 4 times since new. I replaced the $80 solenoid pack due to a gasket leak but that's it.


My '08 3.8 6spd only has 100K mi. The shift behavior is somewhat pathetic, but apparently normal for this tranny design.

 

It still shifts like brand new, no? Consider these trans shift erratically since day one.


on the 08, I've seen compounder bearing goes out once in a while, but that's about it usually.