So, I have a 2019 Grand Caravan GT. I bought it used with 47k miles in January 2020. I checked it over myself really good. Hooked up my foxwell scanner and didn't find any cleared codes. Called my local dodge service and they ran the VIN and it had no recalls or service history.

Six months later we take it on a long road trip. On the way there it, the engine, developed a light vibration while at idle. I checked the motor mounts, they were fine. On the way back home I get a check engine light. Hook my scanner up and it's number 2 cylinder misfire. At this point I've got 59k mileage.

So I call my local dodge service. They tell me it's plugs or coils.... which are considered consumables and not covered. No big deal for me. I've been building/ working on cars for 35 years.... so I replace my coils and plugs.

A week of driving and the same number 2 cylinder misfire code comes back again. I swap coils just to see if it's a coil problem. Nope. Comes back again after a couple days.

So, I call dodge again. They tell me it's probably a bad cylinder head. But because I'm now at 64k miles I'm no longer covered for a replacement.

I do some research and see some of the older models had this problem and were fixed. I ask the service department if they can appeal for me and apply that solution to fix my van, but they won't even bother.

Does anybody here currently have this problem? Anyone have any advice on how I can get them to fix it under warranty?

Thank you!

 

Send a PM to DodgeCares - it’s an account on these boards monitored by several Dodge customer service reps - they might be able to help you.

Beyond that, unless you purchased an extended warranty when you bought it, there’s not much else to be done unless you want to become a headache for your dealer. The standard warranty for these vans is 3 years/36k miles, whichever comes first.

If you decide to tackle the issue yourself, first remove the valve cover and inspect the cam lobes and rollers for excessive wear. Usually there’s a knocking or tappet noise if this is the cause, but it’s an easy thing to check.

 

The Dodge powertrain warranty is 5 years 60,000 miles if you had brought it to the dealership at 59 k they would've had to fix it plus it would be on their record. Since you didn't visit the dealership it's very doubtful it they have any record of it. Dodge Chrysler had some head issues in the early years of 3.6L Pentastar apparently it was some bad head casting during manufacturing of the left cylinder head. Dodge Chrysler extended the powertrain warranty to 10 years 150,000 miles on left side cylinder head only for 2011-2013 models with 3.6L Pentastar engine. Unfortunately look like you're going to be not covered under any warranty you can make your case to Dodge Customer Care just go online a follow to prompt a plead your case they will get back to you with their verdict at this point you've got nothing to lose.

 

They offered to look at it at 59k. However I was told I'd have to pay for the troubleshooting and replacement of coils and plugs as those are not covered items. I did it myself.

The other crappy thing is the van has zero service history. It was a Hertz rental vehicle and they never had it in.

I'm guessing they did their own maintenance because when I changed the oil it had a stripped out oil plug hole in the oil pan with an oversized plug in it.

It also had autolite plugs in it. So I know they did plugs at least once.

 

That's where things can get sticky on warranty if anyone does any work on the vehicle that could be covered on warranty it might be denied. I know this guy that got his vehicle repaired at a local shop that should've been covered under the powertrain warranty when he realized his mistake he went back to delaership to see if he could get reimbursed for the parts only they refused saying all warranty work had to done at a dealership.

Usually all rental places keep the vehicles in top working order with regular the upkeep and schedule maintenance.

Hertz Rentals was an entity of the Ford Motor Company which I believed was sold a few years back certainly explain the Autolite parts.I believe they also own Quick Lane Tires and Auto Centers. Motocraft oil has very low scores for anti-wear properties according to oil test lab reports you might want to check cam lobes and rockers for excessive wear which could cause a misfire.

The OEM Mopar laser Iridium spark plugs made by NGK that came with the van are good for 100,000 miles this tell me that they had some previous issues with this and decided to try changing out the plugs.

 

Hmmm. If Hertz was having a misfire issue..... I wonder why they wouldn't have it looked at under warranty. Doesn't matter now I guess. Now I'm stuck with it.

I put NGK iridium plugs back in when I changed them. For oil I use Mobil 1 synthetic, Amsoil or Motul. This time was Mobil 1.

I'll probably check lobes and rockers this weekend. As well as compression.

 

Facts that a spark plug change is quite an endeavor on Grand Caravans with 3.6 L Pentastar having to take the upper intake off to access the spark plugs and doing this task at such low mileage would lead one to believe they had some kind of issues that would lead them to try a spark plug change. It could very well be that it did cure the situation short term masking the real underlying problem.

I wouldn't use Mobil 1 either it actually scored worst than the Motocraft in anti-wear ppm

 

A bit of a silly question, but did you replace the plug wires when you did the coil and plugs?

LMHmedchem

 

Does the 100k powertrain not transfer from owner to owner?
If it's really a bad cylinder head, like they claim, that is most definitely under that warranty.
Unfortunately, I know that some warranties such as that either doesn't transfer or the mileage is severely cut when transferring owners.

One thing you could check is the resistance from the tip of the installed plug to battery/ground. If #2 is significantly higher then try changing/rotating in one that had a lower resistance and see that change, if there is one.

 

The powertrain warranty transfers from owner to owner. Dodge Powertrain Warranty is 5 years 60k miles or 100k km the OP has 64,000 miles on his van so the powertrain warranty has expired.