Short version: Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis) emailed me saying since the overheating, failing engine with metal shavings inside is already opened up at a private mechanic, just go ahead and order an engine and have the private mechanic replace the engine, and they will just send a goodwill payment for the engine (just outside of warranty) if they choose to fulfill my claim. Problem: Fiat Chrysler (Stellantis) refused to call me back numerous times for numerous reasons, then eventually refused to make a goodwill payment because I followed their instructions to have the private mechanic replace the engine! I have appealed this to their supervisors and demanded for over a month to talk to the agent who advised me to order the engine privately (which they are using as an excuse not to pay out), and they have refused to help or be honest with me!
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Details:
In Spring 2023, I noticed at about 77,000 miles my engine temps were getting warmer than I liked despite having a new Mopar radiator installed by the previous owner (a Jeep Service Manager in another part of my state) in 2021. On the Jeep forums, a lot of you said the Pentastar likes to run hot. That is false! It got hotter and hotter week by week until I started seeing 240, 245, and even 250 once. I never saw any check engine lights or steam, and allowed the Jeep to cool off each time it got warm. I followed everyone's advice to check for leaks (none), check the fan (electric and fine), replace the radiator cap (3 times) check the thermostat (fine), get the sludge out of the reservoir (disgusting but I did), replace the reservoir and hose (did it), burp the radiator (did it over 10 times) etc. I had a local lube tech shop do a coolant exchange, and I changed the gear ratio to 4.56 for my 35inch tires. No matter what, things got better only temporarily, then air kept getting into the coolant reservoir and disallowing coolant to cool and go back into the radiator. I checked the coolant, oil, and exhaust for signs of head gasket failure, and nothing. The only clues were overheating and air pockets kept arising between the reservoir and the radiator. The Jeep passed a 12 hours pressure test. Finally, I took it to have a block test done and bam! It failed. I was told head gasket failure.
I took the Jeep to the local Jeep dealership at 82,000 miles, outside the 60,000 mile warranty. I told them about all of the problems and my diagnosis from all the troubleshooting and a local mechanic. They say they took it for a test drive and did a pressure and block test, and it passed. The Jeep dealership produced a video diagnosis stating Jeeps are not made for driving at highway speeds or in stop and go traffic. They also said not to drive it when it's hot outside or to drive it up hills or in the mountains of Virginia. They also recommended a regear (which was already done but they didn't check). So what am I supposed to do park it in Alaska somewhere and never drive it? They failed to diagnose the head gasket problem and fix the Jeep. I told them I personally witnessed it fail the block test and reminded them of the other tests other mechanics had run, but they refused to do the work without their own diagnosis. They gave the Jeep back. I drove it 15 minutes away from the lot and it overheated again. The Jeep dealership said to schedule another appointment in a few weeks and they don't guarantee they will diagnose it then either, but they would try again. They just said to follow their advice to basically never drive it under all the crazy conditions they listed on the video diagnosis.
I didn't feel like they were competent, so I took the Jeep to a private mechanic (and Jasper Engine supplier) I trusted to do head gasket work. They immediately saw the block test fail and started the job, only to find metal shavings on the camshaft. This could only mean one thing, engine failure!
I reported this to @JeepCares or @JeepWhoCares?, or whatever they call themselves, and they referred me to US Customer Care at Stellantis. I sent video evidence, photographic evidence, and the private mechanic's diagnosis to Stellantis. One agent at Stellantis emailed me and said to go ahead and order an engine and have the private mechanic install it since the engine is already taken apart.
Quote:
"I forgot to mention that because your vehicle is at an independent repair facility and repairs would be out of pocket regardless of the decision made on goodwill, I would have your mechanic order the engine to forego any more time lost. The case manager, if reimbursement is approved, would be simply be approving based on the repair order from the repair facility you are using to determine the point of failure and that the repairs would be covered by the appropriate warranty."
I followed his advice, and another agent at Stellantis came back and said they will not pay the goodwill payment because I ordered an engine and had the private mechanic install it EXACTLY LIKE THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO DO!
Does anyone else think Jeep's Pentastar engine should last more than 82,000 miles and they should send me some sort of goodwill payment or is goodwill a thing of the past??? I have read of a few people with a simliar ghost overheating problem. Let's band together and make this a Technical Bulletin or a Recall! I have been told there are currently over 1000 Pentastar engines on back order at Jasper Engines (popular engine remanufacturer). That is not a coincidence! These engines have problems which Jasper Engines has to fix.
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Skip to the Poll or read below for more details.
Details:
In Spring 2023, I noticed at about 77,000 miles my engine temps were getting warmer than I liked despite having a new Mopar radiator installed by the previous owner (a Jeep Service Manager in another part of my state) in 2021. On the Jeep forums, a lot of you said the Pentastar likes to run hot. That is false! It got hotter and hotter week by week until I started seeing 240, 245, and even 250 once. I never saw any check engine lights or steam, and allowed the Jeep to cool off each time it got warm. I followed everyone's advice to check for leaks (none), check the fan (electric and fine), replace the radiator cap (3 times) check the thermostat (fine), get the sludge out of the reservoir (disgusting but I did), replace the reservoir and hose (did it), burp the radiator (did it over 10 times) etc. I had a local lube tech shop do a coolant exchange, and I changed the gear ratio to 4.56 for my 35inch tires. No matter what, things got better only temporarily, then air kept getting into the coolant reservoir and disallowing coolant to cool and go back into the radiator. I checked the coolant, oil, and exhaust for signs of head gasket failure, and nothing. The only clues were overheating and air pockets kept arising between the reservoir and the radiator. The Jeep passed a 12 hours pressure test. Finally, I took it to have a block test done and bam! It failed. I was told head gasket failure.
I took the Jeep to the local Jeep dealership at 82,000 miles, outside the 60,000 mile warranty. I told them about all of the problems and my diagnosis from all the troubleshooting and a local mechanic. They say they took it for a test drive and did a pressure and block test, and it passed. The Jeep dealership produced a video diagnosis stating Jeeps are not made for driving at highway speeds or in stop and go traffic. They also said not to drive it when it's hot outside or to drive it up hills or in the mountains of Virginia. They also recommended a regear (which was already done but they didn't check). So what am I supposed to do park it in Alaska somewhere and never drive it? They failed to diagnose the head gasket problem and fix the Jeep. I told them I personally witnessed it fail the block test and reminded them of the other tests other mechanics had run, but they refused to do the work without their own diagnosis. They gave the Jeep back. I drove it 15 minutes away from the lot and it overheated again. The Jeep dealership said to schedule another appointment in a few weeks and they don't guarantee they will diagnose it then either, but they would try again. They just said to follow their advice to basically never drive it under all the crazy conditions they listed on the video diagnosis.
I didn't feel like they were competent, so I took the Jeep to a private mechanic (and Jasper Engine supplier) I trusted to do head gasket work. They immediately saw the block test fail and started the job, only to find metal shavings on the camshaft. This could only mean one thing, engine failure!
I reported this to @JeepCares or @JeepWhoCares?, or whatever they call themselves, and they referred me to US Customer Care at Stellantis. I sent video evidence, photographic evidence, and the private mechanic's diagnosis to Stellantis. One agent at Stellantis emailed me and said to go ahead and order an engine and have the private mechanic install it since the engine is already taken apart.
Quote:
"I forgot to mention that because your vehicle is at an independent repair facility and repairs would be out of pocket regardless of the decision made on goodwill, I would have your mechanic order the engine to forego any more time lost. The case manager, if reimbursement is approved, would be simply be approving based on the repair order from the repair facility you are using to determine the point of failure and that the repairs would be covered by the appropriate warranty."
I followed his advice, and another agent at Stellantis came back and said they will not pay the goodwill payment because I ordered an engine and had the private mechanic install it EXACTLY LIKE THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO DO!
Does anyone else think Jeep's Pentastar engine should last more than 82,000 miles and they should send me some sort of goodwill payment or is goodwill a thing of the past??? I have read of a few people with a simliar ghost overheating problem. Let's band together and make this a Technical Bulletin or a Recall! I have been told there are currently over 1000 Pentastar engines on back order at Jasper Engines (popular engine remanufacturer). That is not a coincidence! These engines have problems which Jasper Engines has to fix.
