The move appears to be a new development related to a problem that gained attention in 2012, after some owners reported cylinder head failure. The company acknowledged the issue but downplayed the defect rate, claiming that less than one percent of the engines, or approximately 7,500, were prone to such problems.
The company is now said to be offering free repairs for cracked left cylinder heads on certain vehicles with model years from 2011 through 2013, with coverage jumping to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
The 3.6-liter engine is used in a wide range of models including the Chrysler 200, 300 and Town & Country; the Dodge Challenger, Charger, Durango, Grand Caravan and Journey; the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler; and the Ram 1500.
“A small percentage of these 2011-2013 model year engines may be susceptible to an engine misfire which is caused by a combination of rarely occurring factors, including drive cycle and fuel quality,” the company said in a statement posted by Automotive News.
The company notes that the problem will not disable the engine, despite the potential for misfires, explaining the reasoning behind extending the warranty rather than issuing a formal recall.
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