Driving one morning check engine light came on. Also noticed van not wanting to shift into overdrive 6th gear . Went to get code read p060dd was present . Started by checking oil very low . Then noticed oil all over the top of transmission and leaking down side of motor from underneath the intake. Upon further inspection noticed valley of engine full of oil. Added about 3 quarts of oil and…
2014 Chrysler Town and Country engine problems
moderate 85 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
85
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 85 engine complaints filed for the 2014 Chrysler Town and Country, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 125,000-150,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Chrysler Town and Country we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 85.
Owners have filed 85 engine complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 3.6L Pentastar V6 in the 2014 Town and Country has documented widespread defects in the oil filter housing (cracks and leaks), left cylinder head (misfires and power loss), and internal drivetrain components (rocker arms, camshafts, timing chain). These failures occur below 150,000 miles, carry high repair costs ($780-$4,000+), and create safety hazards; Chrysler extended coverage on 2011-2013 models but explicitly excluded 2014, leaving newer-year buyers unprotected.
The 2014 Town and Country 3.6L V6 shows three primary failure patterns. First, the plastic oil filter housing assembly cracks and leaks profusely at 50,000-140,000 miles, pooling oil in the engine valley and onto the transmission. Owners report losing roughly one quart per 3,000 miles; dealers quote $780-$1,000 to replace. Chrysler acknowledged the problem with TSB #09-008-15 and discontinued the original part, but the replacement remains plastic. Fire risk is real—oil coats hot engine components.
Second, the left cylinder head fails, causing misfires in cylinders 2, 4, or 6, typically between 60,000-130,000 miles. Drivers experience check engine lights, rough idle, violent shuddering, and sudden power loss. One owner couldn't exceed 40 mph on a highway. Cylinder leak-down tests confirm the #2 exhaust valve losing compression. Chrysler extended warranty coverage to 10 years/150,000 miles for this exact defect on 2011-2013 models but explicitly excluded 2014 vehicles—despite running the identical engine.
Third, rocker arms and camshafts fail, producing loud tapping from the engine bay. Repairs require replacing 4-12 rocker arms plus camshafts at $1,000+. Dealers openly confirm this is a known problem with the Pentastar. Multiple owners report these failures between 70,000-135,000 miles.
Additionally, timing chains fail, engines stall while driving at highway speeds, and water ingestion through low-placed air intake ducting has locked up engines. Owners face repair bills of $2,000-$9,000+ with no recall and inconsistent warranty support.
Same Chrysler Town and Country engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Oil filter housing/adapter cracking and leaking
Plastic oil filter housing or adapter assembly develops cracks causing profuse oil leaks. The assembly is attached to the engine and houses the oil cooler and filter. Multiple owners report this occurs after routine oil changes or simply during operation. Leaking oil pools in the engine valley and on the transmission, creating fire hazard. Some owners report 40,000+ units on backorder, suggesting manufacturer awareness of widespread failure.
When: 50,000-140,000 miles; no consistent pattern tied to service intervals or initial defect
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pooling underneath vehicle or in driveway; Oil coating engine compartment and transmission; Oil loss of 1 quart per 3,000 miles reported; Burning oil smell through vents; Engine overheating due to oil loss
Codes mentioned: P060DD (low oil condition detected after leak)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement part 68105583AF (or discontinued 68105588); dealers quote $780-$1,000+ parts and labor; new replacement part still made from plastic; independent mechanics report averaging one repair per week on this issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler identified problem and discontinued original part number 68105588; issued TSBs including Service Bulletin #09-008-15; parts 286X referenced in multiple TSBs; Chrysler refuses coverage outside powertrain warranty, claiming housing is an attachment, not engine component; some case-by-case assistance offered after customer pressure
Left cylinder head failure causing misfire
Left bank cylinder head (cylinders 2, 4, 6) develops defects causing incomplete compression, persistent misfires, and engine shuddering. Defective heads are well-documented by FCA dealers. Cylinder leak-down testing confirms #2 exhaust valve leaking compression. Chrysler extended 10-year/150,000-mile warranty on this defect for 2011-2013 models but explicitly excludes 2014 vehicles despite identical engine and problem.
When: 59,800-130,000 miles; owners report discovering issue within first 5 years despite 60-month warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination; Cylinder misfire (P0302, P0304 codes); Engine shuddering and violent vibration under acceleration; Loss of power; unable to exceed 40 mph; Rough idle; Clicking/ticking noise from engine
Codes mentioned: P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), P0304 (cylinder 4 misfire), P0301 (cylinder 1 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: $2,000-$4,000 for cylinder head replacement; dealers report tens of thousands of left cylinder heads replaced under FCA extended warranty on 2011-2013 models; replacement requires major engine teardown
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA issued 10-year/150,000-mile extended warranty for 2011-2013 vehicles with 3.6L engine to cover left cylinder head misfire defect; 2014 model explicitly excluded from coverage despite identical engine platform; manufacturer maintains decision to exclude 2014 from extended warranty program
Rocker arm and camshaft failure
Rocker arms and camshafts fail prematurely, causing loud tapping or clicking noise and engine performance problems. Failures occur at relatively low mileage. Some owners report rocker arm failure twice on same vehicle. Dealers acknowledge this is a well-known common problem with the 3.6L Pentastar engine. Failures often require replacement of multiple rocker arms (up to 12) and sometimes camshafts.
When: 72,000-133,000 miles; dealers note problem typically occurs after 120,000 miles but reported well below that threshold
Symptoms owners cite: Loud tapping or clicking from engine compartment; Rattling noise when idling; Rough idle and misfire codes; Engine shuddering
Codes mentioned: P0301 (multiple misfire), P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of 4-12 rocker arms at $1,356+ for parts and labor; replacement of camshaft; replacement of tappet/valve lash components; multiple repairs needed on same vehicle within warranty period; one owner reports rocker arm failure twice on same vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers confirm this is a common known condition; some repairs covered under remaining warranty; no recall issued; no TSB cited in narratives; manufacturer does not proactively notify customers of this defect
Engine stalling and loss of power while driving
Vehicle stalls suddenly while in motion at various speeds (28-65 mph), including highway driving. Check engine light may illuminate. Vehicle may restart but problem recurs. Some owners unable to exceed 40 mph. Incident creates dangerous roadway situations. Causes include misfire, camshaft failure, and in one case, rod failure through engine block.
When: 57,000-153,000 miles; varies widely
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving at speed; Loss of motive power; Check engine light illumination (sometimes); Shaking and sputtering before stall; Inability to maintain highway speeds
Codes mentioned: P0302 (cylinder 2 misfire), P0301 (misfire codes)
Repairs/costs cited: Misfire-related stalls require camshaft/rocker arm replacement or cylinder head work; one case involved catastrophic rod failure requiring full engine replacement at $9,280; repairs often delayed due to parts availability
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; Chrysler referred complaint to NHTSA and told customer to file complaint; no proactive safety response documented
Timing chain and internal engine component failure
Timing chain, camshaft, and other internal engine components fail prematurely, requiring full engine rebuild or replacement. Owners report loud ticking noise preceding failure. One case involved rod failure bursting through engine block. Catastrophic failures occur well below typical engine service life expectations.
When: 110,000-144,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud ticking noise from engine; Engine unable to restart or turn over; Oil leak preceding failure (often from housing)
Repairs/costs cited: Full engine rebuild or replacement estimated at $9,280+ for complete engine swap; one owner reports $8,500 outstanding loan on vehicle with total engine failure; repairs not completed in all narratives due to cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; no extended warranty for 2014 models despite extended coverage on 2011-2013 for same engine platform
Engine overheating
Engine overheats to dangerous levels requiring driver to pull over and drain coolant multiple times daily. Occurs even after thermostat replacement. One case involved oil cooler failure allowing oil to mix with coolant. Another case resulted from blocked air intake ducting after water ingestion.
When: Around 90,000 miles and beyond; in one case after thermostat replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Temperature gauge reading into red zone; Frequent need to stop and drain radiator; Oil and coolant mixture visible in radiator; Engine compartment may show oil and coolant spraying
Repairs/costs cited: Thermostat replacement ineffective in at least one case; oil cooler failure requires cooler assembly replacement; repairs attempted but failure persisted in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; customer reports no proactive intervention from manufacturer
Engine air intake design vulnerability to water ingestion
Engine air intake duct opening positioned too close to ground level; water from puddles or truck backwash enters intake causing hydro-lock. Engine locks up and becomes inoperable. Creates immediate roadway safety hazard. Design flaw not addressed in any narrative regarding recall or redesign.
When: Occurred at unspecified mileage after water encounter
Symptoms owners cite: Engine locks up (hydro-lock) after water ingestion; Engine will not turn over; Vehicle immobilized in traffic lane
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement $9,280; subsequent starter replacement also required ($200-400 estimated); insurance covered loss; used engine sourced for repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No design change mentioned; no recall for low air intake positioning
Lifter/tappet failure
Engine lifter in valvetrain assembly becomes faulty, producing loud noises from engine compartment while driving.
When: 133,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noises from engine compartment while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed lifter failure; repair not detailed in narrative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated vehicle not included in any recall; no further response documented
Start/stop button design lacking engine-off warning feedback
Push-button start/stop system allows driver to exit vehicle with engine running without any audible or tactile warning (no horn beep, chime, or key fob vibration). Differs from competitor design (Honda, Kia). Creates fire hazard risk in enclosed garages due to carbon monoxide accumulation, theft risk, and unintended vehicle operation.
When: Design flaw present in 2014 model year; multiple instances reported
Symptoms owners cite: Engine left running after driver exits vehicle unaware; No warning chime or horn beep when leaving engine running; Accessory position activates warnings (horn, lights) but running engine does not
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs available; design issue not corrected
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated not concerned; Chrysler customer service indicated no concern but memo to be sent to unspecified location; no design change or safety bulletins issued
Synthesized from 85 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2014 Chrysler Town and Country?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2014 Chrysler Town and Country?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 85 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 66 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 58,000 and 122,620 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 58,000; a quarter make it past 122,620. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Chrysler/Town and Country.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.