P0303 on Chrysler: How to Diagnose & Fix

The 5.7L HEMI V8 suffers from MDS lifter design defect where needle bearings are undersized. Lifters can be starved of oil during idle, causing seizure and catastrophic camshaft wear leading to engine failure.

Left cylinder head on early Pentastar engines suffers valve seat failure in cylinder #2. Valve seats overheat and drop out of aluminum head causing catastrophic misfires and potential engine damage. Design flaw later addressed.

PT Cruisers are extremely prone to overheating from multiple causes: radiator fan relay failure, fan motor failure, thermostat sticking closed, radiator clogging, and water pump failure. The high-speed fan relay is the most frequent single failure point. Overheating leads to head gasket failure. This is one of the most universally reported problems across all model years.

Head gasket failure is common, especially on turbo models. The aluminum cylinder head is susceptible to pitting from acidic coolant which compromises the gasket seal. Turbo models experience higher cylinder pressures that accelerate failure. Overheating from cooling system issues frequently triggers head gasket failure.

The turbocharger on GT and turbo models fails from oil starvation, wastegate actuator failure, and bearing wear. Failures reported as early as 60,000-78,000 miles. Turbo failure is often followed by head gasket failure within months due to changes in combustion pressure dynamics.

The 3.3L and 3.8L V6 engines suffer from water pump failures, thermostat failures, and radiator fan relay failures. The water pump weep hole is a common leak point. Overheating can cause head gasket failure. The cooling fan relay is a frequent failure point causing overheating at idle.

Early-build 3.6L Pentastar V6 engines suffer accelerated valve guide and valve seat wear on the LEFT (driver's side) cylinder head, producing a persistent misfire on one of the left-bank cylinders and an illuminated MIL. It is frequently accompanied by the 'Pentastar tick.' The defect is specific to the left head - the right head is not affected - and to early Pentastar production, which is why FCA issued a warranty extension rather than a recall. Owners on the Chrysler minivan forums report repeat failures where a replacement head was installed with the same early casting. Some owners with matching symptoms and matching engine build dates were told their VIN falls outside the extension, which produced a class-action claim covering 3.6L vehicles excluded from the extension.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 in Pacifica models suffers from engine stalling due to loose ground connections (recall NHTSA 19V348), crankshaft position sensor sync issues, and premature head gasket failures typically around 75,000-85,000 miles. Cooling system failures can lead to coolant entering the combustion chamber, requiring complete engine replacement.

The 3.5L V6 engine has common issues including leaky head gaskets, coolant leaks, and overheating. The water pump uses a molded plastic impeller that erodes from rust and sediment in the coolant, reducing cooling efficiency. These engines run hot and are prone to oil sludging, especially if oil is not changed every 3,000 miles.

Same HEMI 5.7L lifter/camshaft failure issue affecting all MDS-equipped engines. The MDS lifters have undersized needle bearings that fail from oil starvation at idle, causing catastrophic camshaft wear. Persistent ticking that worsens over time indicates lifter failure in progress.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 has a documented valvetrain defect involving the rocker arms and their roller lift pins and the associated hydraulic lifters. The roller on a rocker arm can prematurely wear, loosen and drop, shifting the rocker out of alignment so it scrapes the camshaft and generates metal debris that contaminates the oil and circulates through the engine. Symptoms include a persistent ticking/tapping noise, misfires, hesitation/bucking, rough running and loss of power, and in severe cases catastrophic engine failure requiring a full engine replacement. A proposed class action against FCA US alleges the automaker knew of the valve-train defect in 2014-2020 model year vehicles (which includes the 2020 launch year of the modern Voyager); ECM software governing lifter timing was also implicated.