2022 RAM 1500 Laramie – Second Battery Failure at Only 45,000 km. Normal or

[Ramanski]

2022 RAM 1500 Laramie – Second Battery Failure at Only 45,000 km. Normal or Something More Going On?


I’m looking for some feedback from fellow RAM owners because I’m trying to determine whether this is simply bad luck with batteries or whether there may be an underlying electrical issue.


Vehicle Information

• 2022 RAM 1500 Laramie
• 5.7L HEMI (non-eTorque)
• 6’4” box
• Two-piece driveshaft
• Purchased July 2025
• Purchased with approximately 34,000 km
• Current mileage: approximately 45,000 km
• Previous owner was reportedly a contractor in Northern British Columbia

What Happened


This morning the truck suddenly had difficulty starting.


First attempt:

• Pressed the Start button.
• All dash lights, radio, and accessories came on normally.
• Truck would not crank or start.

Second attempt:

• Pressed the Start button again.
• Engine turned over very slowly and struggled.
• Eventually started.

After sitting for about 5 minutes:

• Same symptoms repeated.
• Accessories and lights remained bright.
• No noticeable dimming of dashboard or interior lighting.
• Truck would eventually start, but struggled.

Dealer Diagnosis


I took the truck to the dealership.


Their diagnosis was:

• One cell in the battery had failed.
• Battery required replacement.

They replaced:

1. The main battery.
2. The 12-inch Uconnect radio (which had previously developed the well-known “black screen” issue).

Total cost:

• Approximately $300 battery
• Approximately $200 diagnostic fee
• Labour, shop supplies, taxes, etc.
• Roughly $700 CAD total

The battery replacement was not covered under warranty.


What Concerns Me


This is now the second battery replacement in this truck’s life.


First Battery Replacement


According to dealership service records and Carfax:

• Truck was built in late 2021 / early 2022.
• Sat on the dealer lot for several months.
• Original battery failed.
• Battery was replaced at approximately 22 km.

Second Battery Replacement

• Battery replaced again in June 2026.
• Odometer approximately 45,000 km.

So essentially:

• Battery #1 failed at 22 km.
• Battery #2 failed at 45,000 km.

My Questions

1. Is it normal for a 2022 RAM 1500 to be on its second replacement battery by only 45,000 km?
2. Has anyone experienced repeated battery failures that later turned out to be:
   • A parasitic draw?
   • Faulty alternator?
   • Faulty starter?
   • Radio/Uconnect issue?
   • Module staying awake after shutdown?
3. The dealership provided:
   • A printout of the old battery test.
   • A printout of the new battery test.
4. However, I don’t know:
   • Whether the old battery was tested in the truck or out of the truck.
   • Whether the engine was running.
   • What testing procedure was actually used.
5. What is the proper way dealerships typically verify that a battery cell has failed?

Other Warranty Repairs So Far


For additional context, this truck has already had the following warranty work completed:

• Radiator replaced (leaking)
• Uconnect 12-inch radio replaced
• Rear upper control arms replaced
• Rear lower control arms replaced
• Front lower control arms replaced
• Two-piece driveshaft diagnosed as worn and currently awaiting replacement (backordered)
• Various minor warranty items

Final Thoughts


I genuinely like the truck and enjoy driving it. However, with the number of components already replaced at only 45,000 km, I’m trying to determine whether the battery failure is simply an isolated issue or whether there could be a larger electrical problem causing batteries to fail prematurely.


Has anyone seen a similar pattern on a 2022 RAM 1500?


Any feedback would be appreciated.


see below

 

[tron67j]

That truck, if it already needed all that, was really not treated the best. Just do repairs and keep driving. It happens.

Battery, hard to tell unless you do a full system check, but if a full load test said it was bad, could just be a bad battery. One issue not known is if battery was fully charged at time of test. I would monitor current battery and at first sign of problem get more into your charging system. Load test can be in or out of truck.

 

[Ramanski]

Thank you to everyone who has provided advice and feedback so far.


Just to give an update, the battery was replaced yesterday with a new OEM Mopar battery. The only costs I incurred were the battery itself and the labor to install it.


Other than that, the following items have been replaced under warranty since I purchased the truck:

• Radiator
• 12-inch Uconnect radio
• Rear upper and lower control arms
• Front lower control arms
• Complete two-piece driveshaft
• Carrier bearing

To be fair to the dealerships involved, all of these repairs were covered under warranty and there was no argument or hesitation on their part. The truck was originally a two-year lease vehicle, and after obtaining the service records, it appears to have been regularly maintained throughout its life.


I purchased the truck with approximately 30,000 km on it, and despite the number of warranty repairs, I’m now in a position where many major components have essentially been replaced with new parts. In some respects, I feel like I have a much newer truck as a result.


My question now is regarding the battery. Assuming the battery was in fact the root cause of the hard-start condition, what would you recommend I do next? Should I simply monitor the truck for the next few weeks and move on, or are there additional tests or checks I should perform to confirm there isn’t an underlying electrical issue?


If possible, I’d appreciate the advice in layman’s terms. I’m trying to determine whether I should continue investigating or simply accept that the original battery was a bad unit and enjoy the truck.


Thanks again for all the help.

 

[turkeybird56]

Hard to know ref Batteries as they R now a Crapola shot. There are only *** amount of companies and they just slap wateva label goes with wateva seller.

Definitely if not done put that battery on a slow overnight charge to get to 100 % SOC. Most batteries sit on shelf’s and are never 100% fully charged and remember this isn’t yer Dads 68 Chevy.

Charging systems now made set up to keep adaquate Charge for vehicle to run not to fully charge batteries. Kinda rule of thumb get a new battery immediately charge battery to 100% do not rely on store.

Added: There might be an issue somewhere but more likely battery not the best and if U do a lot of short trips quick way to run it down.

Remember these trucks are rolling computers and there are systems always running that will eventually pull a battery down especially if truck sits.

All above IMHO only.