Bought a new 2024 RAM 1500 Longhorn Limited with 5.7 Hemi eTorque. It was a demo so had 4,000 miles on it. Had it 10 days, drove it for 7 of them for 500 miles when it started shedding voltage along with the check engine light going on. This happened during an errand that was two and a half miles away. Texted the salesperson and he said he would alert service to expect me at 8:00 AM the following morning. The battery voltage was showing in the 11.2-11.4 range.
The next morning, I left for the dealer which is 9.6 miles away and never made it. It continued to shed voltage util around 10 volts the vehicle shutdown about 50 feet from a major intersection. It got towed to the dealer who took two days to get it in the shop which they concluded was a control module. They told me it would take 3 weeks to get the part. Doesn’t’ take 3 weeks to ship anything so they were hoping a part would be available then. I told them fine, give me my money back (paid cash) or another vehicle. The NJ lemon laws give you 20 days and you’re not going to make it. I put a claim in with Stellantis as well. About 10 days later they got a part (probably from the assembly line) and got me going again.
During that period, I went to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and searched or complaints and recalls on the topic. I saw some similar complaints but no recalls.
The truck currently runs and I put another 1,500 miles on it. I’m an old school alternator guy, so I don’t want my ignorance of the eTorque and its 48 volt lithium battery technology to make false conclusions. But, the truck still sheds voltage during any trip. Starts out at 13.8-13.9 and will drop to 12.6 all of a sudden. Unlike the time it failed, it bottoms at around 12.4. It will pop up to the 13.8 the next morning which leaves me to conclude it is being charged overnight by the lithium battery.
Nothing has been explained or acknowledged by Stellantis. I have seen mechanics state that the BCM or software glitches can be to blame. Keeping my fingers crossed but believe there is more to this story.