Ram eTorque Problems: Is eTorque Worth It? (Battery Cost)
According to the design, this system is supposed to bring more power to the wheels. It is a system that is supposed to use the power in the engine better without creating more. One benefit to this system is you do not have an alternator or a cooling fan to worry about.
One of the more common problems is the automatic engine shut off. This usually comes when you are driving at lower speeds. The engine will stall on you and still put your life at risk because of the sudden loss of power.
To learn more about the common and other problems this system has, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can decide if this new RAM truck is something you should have. It is not your granddaddy’s motor anymore.
Ram eTorque Reliability
According to owners, the time this engine or system is most reliable is when you are driving in the city. Outside of that area, it may not be something you want to rely on.
Other owners state that the engine is very reliable and has substantial power that will help you in many different emergencies or quick response situations. However, if you are looking for the eTorque system to be reliable for the long haul, then don’t.
It is best to stick to a traditional motor that uses conventional means to power your vehicle. Each person’s experience will be different and while some will say it is reliable, there is an equal number who say the opposite.
The best thing to do is test drive one and see for yourself. While the test drive won’t give you long-term indications, it will show if it can be reliable or not to you. There are owners and mechanics who say they have never had a p[roblem with this system.
They may not have but that does not mean you won’t. The bigger issue here is not reliability but the fact that this system is not worth the cost to put into any motor.
Common Ram eTorque Problems
As with all products, there are some bugs in the system. These bugs can make an owner frustrated that they spent so much money on something that does not work very well or keeps them safe.
1. Sudden engine shutdown- it happens a lot and people are tired of it happening. This situation is where owners are driving at low speeds and suddenly the engine dies.
The problem has been traced to the battery system. The only fix you have for this is replacing the batteries.
2. Wrong EVIC (Electronic Vehicle Information Center) Reading- this is another problem that has frustrated owners. Getting the wrong reading can cause some other issues and can mess up their driving.
The problem has been traced to several electronic glitches but this problem is supposed to be easily fixed by an auto electrician.
3. Automatic engine shutdown- not the same as #1 in this list as the source is different. This situation is where the engine shuts off automatically. The engine changes from run mode to ACC or automatic cruise control while you are driving.
To fix the problem, you are supposed to pull over to the side of the road, turn your engine off and wait for a few minutes. This should reset the system and get you back to run mode. It is a serious glitch that may lead to some bad accidents.
4. ETorque does not work with AC turned on- this is a very common issue many drivers have complained about. To get the information you want you have to turn off the cool air, open a window and then read your dashboard again.
This problem has been traced to faulty AC wiring and you just need to rewire the AC unit to solve this problem.
5.7 Hemi eTorque Problems
The biggest question anyone asks when they hear about this transformation is why? This is a perfectly good engine and it does not need the eTorque system. However, since Chrysler has to stay current with EPA emissions, etc. So they had to convert the Hemi into a hybrid motor.
This conversion has not worked out so well as many [problems have come about:
1. It is complicated- if it malfunctions, it will be hard to fix. Not many mechanics will know how to fix it as it is all new technology. If it breaks you may be paying lots of dollars in repair bills.
2. Getting parts- while Chrysler may make a lot of spare parts, the ones for this engine are not cheap. You end up paying thousands of dollars for one part and you have to do it if you want your car to run
3. No highway advantage- this hybrid engine is only good for the city. If you take it out on the highway you won’t get better fuel efficiency and you won’t go faster.
4. Heavy duty repairs- not in the first 3 years but from year 4 on you may be making a lot of repairs and those efforts will cost you a lot of money.
5. It costs more- about $1200 more than the regular 5.7 Hemi engine. But with the idea that the regular Hemi may be out of production soon, you may not have much choice.
Jeep Wrangler eTorque Problems
We have read in one review that there were a lot of horror stories about this combination. When we went to look, those horror stories seem to have disappeared. Most of the reviews, professional ones, seem to like the eTorque system and gave it glowing reviews.
One of the major complaints that we did come across was the high expense to have this option added to your Jeep Wrangler. It was an extra $1000 plus, an extra $2000 for the 8-speed transmission.
You could not get the eTorque system without the transmission. One owner stated that the eTorque system failed in high temperatures. The engine lost voltage somewhere around 105 degrees F but the remedy was simple. Just pull over and turn the car off and it will reset itself.
Another owner had the ESS system fail on him after only 300 miles on the road. The cause of this problem was traced to the low auxiliary battery, a defective charging wiring harness, and/or a malfunctioning charging system.
Other than that, we found very few complaints and quite a few sugary reviews that praised this system
How Long Will eTorque Last?
The company puts a 70,000 or 80,000 mile warranty on their eTorque system. But the battery is said to last between 10 years and 100,000 miles. That is not a bad time frame given that traditional batteries may only last up to 7 years.
But how long the battery lasts is not going to be the real issue here. The real issue will be the cost to replace the battery. So far we have come across 3 different price quotes and they all do not look good.
The lowest cost we came across was listed between $500 and $700 depending on the type of battery. It was also said it may be covered under one of the warranties that come with this system.
The next lowest we saw was $1500 and it was supposed to be covered under the Powertrain warranty. The final price quote we came across was $8000 and no warranty was said to cover the cost.
We have also read that the eTorque system with the Hemi engine was covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. The best thing we can suggest is that you contact your nearest RAM dealer and talk to them.
Go straight to the maker as on the internet you will find all sorts of quotes and claims and none of them may be correct.
eTorque Battery Life
According to one source, the eTorque battery system uses only 130 watt-hours of capacity. This design is meant to keep the battery lasting the life of the truck. It is possible that it will last that long under ideal conditions.
When placed in real life under real conditions, the lifespan of the battery may only last for a short while. That is due to recharging and other influential factors. The warranties that have been issued have given a 5-year lifespan and a 10-year lifespan.
Under the right conditions, both may be correct. As for cost, we have found a 4th quote and it is priced at $1000 Given the wide range of quotes and lifespan estimates, it is best to talk to a RAM dealer to get the facts.
The eTorque system is still new and not many people have had much experience with this system so far. It is easy to get different results as Dodge works out the bugs and improves on the performance.
Talking to the dealer should narrow down this information and give you a pretty good idea of how long the battery will last when you own it.
Ram eTorque Battery Replacement Cost
If your truck is still under warranty it may not cost you anything to replace the battery. One owner has less than 300 miles on his truck and he has had the battery replaced on the third time he has taken the truck to the shop.
But if you read the different sections above, you will see that we have come across about 4 different quotes for replacing the battery on this system. You could pay anywhere between $500 and $8000 depending on your situation.
Also, your replacement cost may include any repairs and labor that need to be done at the same time. It is hard to give specific figures as too many owners are only talking about paying a lot of money and they cannot get spare parts for their trucks.
The guy paid $71,000 for his model and the part is back-ordered and the dealer has no idea when it will arrive. Those are the major concerns over the cost of replacement.
The thing is, that owner only had 3300 miles on his truck before it broke down. Another owner has only used his truck for 4 of the 7 months he has owned it. Your cost will depend on the dealer, what warranty coverage you have, and if the parts are available or not.
Is eTorque Worth It?
Many mechanics have asked and answered that question. As have reviewers. Their answer has all been the same-- no it is not worth it. It does not give you any advantage on the highway so you are not really saving any money.
Nor do you get any more power to give you more speed. The only time this system works out well is within the city. Those mechanics and reviewers have also cited the high cost of the eTorque system.
Without the advantages, you are basically paying for a feature you get nothing in return. Many owners will say that they have not had any problems with this system.
That is probably true. Some have even made it to 15,000 miles without any problems. However, other owners have not even made 500 miles before the system or the battery fails.
That experience tells everyone that this system is not worth the extra money. Unless you are a gambler, the odds of you not having any problems are not as good as the odds that say you will have problems with this system.
Some Final Words
In the end, your experience with this electronic system may be different than we have reported here. If you have to pay for the 8-speed transmission and the eTorque, then it is not worth the expense. You are not getting much in return.
But you may get a lot of headaches and downtime as your very expensive truck sits at the dealer waiting for spare parts. It is a gamble on what will happen to you when you make this purchase.
