I have owned 9 Chrysler products over the last 43 years (still have 4 of them), have driven them over 900K miles. Never once replaced a starter. One car went 308K miles, another 257K miles. I did have to replace the solenoid contacts in my 92 Dakota after 21 years and 198K miles, but the rest of the starter has and still works fine, 8 years and 43K miles later.
I would not replace any starter proactively. Waste of money and effort.

 

I agree with Bob. Replacing a starter proactively is a waste of time and money. These days with the aftermarket, new starters die faster than old starters if they even work at all. Go OEM, but wait for it to fail first (if it does that is).

 

I would consider changing the battery at the first sign of reduced cranking speed. Low battery voltage means high amperage draw when the starter turns.

 

I would agree with other comments made. Starters typically have a long life and they are not ready to die at 100,000 miles.

This video shows how to remove the starter on 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan with 3.6 liter V6 engine. Raise the vehicle securely, remove the engine mount to the block and bottom cross member and you have ample room to remove the starter. I see no reason to remove the front catalytic converter.

 

I do see a reason to wait for a cool down period

 

I have also found that most starters last a long time, I replaced the one on our '98 Jeep when it was about 16 years old and the one on my '07 Jeep when it was about 12 years old, on those there was an issue with a corroded wiring harness that may have been causing low voltage to the starter solenoid.
On the Wrangler the Penastar installation is obviously different and not a bad job if we ever have to do that one. I also would not replace a properly working one but as noted replace weak batteries promptly.

PS watching the vid above ALWAYS disconnect the neg battery cable before working on a starter, if the postive cable touches ground it will be a direct short to ground.

 

Thanks for the feedback - and esp thanks for that video - it does tell a better story once you get into it. The Charger was kind of like that - managed to get it out by shifting the steering rack which was easier than the FSM procedure.
Looking back on my maintenance records - if I remember correctly our '92 GC 3.3 became intermittent before I replaced the solenoid contacts first time - and that was around the same 170kkm (100k+ mi). On the others I think you guys are right - after the experience on the '92 3.3 I started replacing solenoid contacts (very cheap and easy to do) on the '96 GV and '99 T&C 3.8s at about the same mileage proactively as they did show significant wear. I did replace the starter complete on the '95 Intrepid 3.3 when I was in there on another repair and again found the solenoid contacts badly worn - I don't believe it ever quit - it was not as easy to get at as the vans - and that was also around 350kkm - so over 200kmi. So it seems the charger and '92 GV were premature failure - I still have the original starter for the Charger - I think its a solenoid issue so planned to rebuild it as a spare - although the new one has a lifetime warranty also. Might learn more when I crack it open.
Guess we'll wait on the 2013 3.6 ... which brings another thought - I had similar thoughts on the '85 2.2 - hate to get stuck half way to Carlisle... but that is a Bosch starter not an ND. The ND starters have not impressed me by design with the way the solenoid contacts wear.

 

I can only recall two vehicles my parents ever had to replace the starter on One was our 91 dynasty with the 3L Mitsubishi and that was around 30,000 mi.
The second one was 96 Oldsmobile Cutlass ciera with a 3.1 when it was about 6 months old so I would assume about 10,000 miles. Most of our vehicles have reached 100,000 mi we've had two that have reached 200,000 mi. And the ones that have reached those miles have never needed a replacement starter. Sometimes you get a good one, sometimes you get a bad one clean and simple.

 

My piece of advice replacing starters, new not rebuilt. The shop I use will only replace with new; too many comebacks with rebuilts I agree that is is not necessary to proactively replace a starter.