The camshaft was replaced at 133,000 miles is this a red flag?

Tiny
MDB13
  • MEMBER
  • 2015 JEEP WRANGLER
  • 3.6L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 137,000 MILES
I'm looking at the vehicle listed above Unlimited Sport SUV. 1 owner. Clean Carfax. Regularly maintained. However, the camshaft in the engine was replaced at about 133k. Is this a red flag?

High kbb is around $17k. He has it listed at that. Low kbb is a lite over $15k. I've negotiated down to $16k.

However, I'm leery about the major repair and it a sign that it might be nearing the end of its life.
Sunday, May 11th, 2025 AT 8:14 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 14,533 POSTS
The 3.6 is known for having camshaft issues. What normally happens is that the roller on the rocker arm fails and then it starts grinding on the cam lobe. If you catch it very early when it is barely ticking, you can usually replace just the rocker arms, and it will be fine for another 100K or so. If however, you wait until it really starts really rattling it is commonly too late and now it needs a new cam, and all the rockers replaced. There are at least 4 generations of them with continued "improvements" to the cams in each version. Unfortunately, they haven't yet solved the issue, so this is still a common failure.
If it were me, I'd have a shop you trust, look it over and see what they find. They are known for the engine, and frame issues as well as the oil cooler leaking so the top of the engine has to come apart to replace the seals. If that was done when it was apart for the cam (and if they replaced the rockers and cams on both sides) it might be okay.
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Monday, May 12th, 2025 AT 12:28 AM

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