Etorque A Gonner? So is Market Value

[etbrown4]

Oh great. Etorque discontinued for 2027. Not great for current owners. Don't you love owning a setup described as a ticking time bomb? So they expect used hemi eTorques may flood the market.

technical report, “Ram Drops eTorque Mild-Hybrid From 2027 Hemi V8 Fleet To Address 48V Component Failures”, dissects the severe engineering liabilities, thermal stress, and high-voltage circuit overloads plaguing the 48V system, this consumer advocacy report addresses the immediate financial and operational fallout hitting current truck owners.

According to ongoing Torque News tracking of manufacturing updates, powertrain shifts, and real-world consumer experiences by Senior Reporter Denis Flierl, wholesale trade-in data from major remarketing pipelines reveals an immediate $4,200 to $5,800 downward adjustment on 2025 and 2026 Ram 1500 models equipped with the mandatory eTorque system.

This sharp slide directly follows the manufacturer's public pivot back to a simplified, single-battery, non-hybrid 5.7L Hemi V8 configuration in its high-volume light-duty trims. For current owners, the sudden existence of an un-electrified V8 alternative has instantly turned their high-tech mild hybrids into undesirable ticking time bombs on the secondary market.

Current eTorque Owners Face Rapid Depreciation Risks As Ram Reverts To Non-Hybrid Hemi V8

Current eTorque owners face massive depreciation risks as Ram reinstates the non-hybrid Hemi V8. Torque News report tracks plummeting trade-in values, forum panic, and provides a critical diagnostic checklist and 48V warranty guide to protect your truck.

www.torquenews.com

 

[DanAR]

Personally, I would rather live with and deal with e-torque issues if they arrive, than the Atlantis infrastructure electrical system introduced in 25. I can change a bearing in the MGU if I have too, I’ve sealed up my rear window, and dealing with a battery or charging issue is not exactly new or cutting edge technology. But computer ****, too-short wiring harnesses, programming blunders, software updates - that stuff gives me a nervous breakdown. But I get it - nobody likes e-torque.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Compare 4XE to non-4XE Jeep prices and it's pretty clear the used market hates Stellantis hybrid systems. I posted this back in February:

Looking at Wrangler Rubicons, anyone want to take a guess what the 4XE discount is on the used market?

$7-$8k US. Looking at 2021+ with less than 40k miles and Pentastar equipped Rubicons are $7k more expensive than comparable Rubicon 4XEs nationwide.

Florida has a few cheaper, but here's a 4XE in Ohio with just over 30k miles for $25k: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/f46cfb3f-35ed-419d-a721-2d6fc98d64c2/

Florida, the cheapest 4 door Rubicon with no crashes/clean title is $8k more: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/a90ca842-e1e1-4290-ad3b-ab3cee6251cb/
It's a year newer, but the cheapest 2023 is $700 *more*.

4XE original MSRP was $63k

Pentastar original MSRP was $60k

Now, the 4XE likely got the hybrid kickback and OTD price was probably comparable or lower than the Pentastar.

The market is pretty soundly rejected Stellantis hybrids. Meanwhile Toyota's Rav4 hybrids are losing less than $5k to depreciation with similar miles and age. Toyota tax on the used market remains very real, even with their relative decline in QC.

 

[Burla]

It's a lesson, we as consumers have to start paying attention to what is in the vehicles we purchase.

 

[British Bulldog]

I didn’t sell my 21 because of etorque problems,I had lifter rattle at less than 26,000 mls. They stripped it,changed only two lifters. No cam.
Put it back together, badly. Loose/missing bolts, it even broke down after two days because the “technician” cracked the crank sensor somehow. I got towed, had it fixed, walked into sales and traded it. Just lost all love or confidence in the beast. If they cocked up that badly on outside what did they screw up inside?
No regrets with the Hurricane HO I have now. Just some silly gremlins I am steadily learning to disregard!
After reading all this talk of decreasing value, glad I did this in Feb 25!

Ps STILL had a lifter rattle.

 

[Rlaf75]

Stop buying them means they stop making money off them which means eventually they'll take the hint

 

[etbrown4]

The Ram CEO absolutely took the hint because they're dropping etorque for 2027. Funny thing is that even Ram dealers don't know because it's not been officially announced.

Sadly, after 3 hemis and 14 years. I'm selling my '24 because the risk of etorque downtime is too high and these dumb asses have no parts. And yes, my tranny has started getting stuck in low gear at just 29k. Maybe the value of recent model etorques won't drop $5k just yet, but I'm not waiting until October and a '27 to find out.

In many ways Burla called this one.... it only affects many of 2019-26 models. So what's that, maybe 2 million trucks

 

[British Bulldog]

I came to US in 2013. I never had a vehicle bigger than a small European hatch back. Craved a SECOND HAND truck about $10k, buying cash with some of my pension payout to spend it before my ex and her lawyer could.
Talked by my present ( and final….)wife into a NEW 2014 Sport! Loved it. Never had another type of vehicle since!
Do I REALLY need a truck? Once maybe on our land in WI. Jacksonville NC? Nope. But I still bought another! Oh well.

 

[EdGs]

Hopefully they will offer a "delete kit" to retrofit.

 

[Nashveygus]

So far so good on my '21 etorque 5.7 at 37k miles, no quality issues.

I didn't care for etorque at first and now I like it and even miss it if I don't stop all the way- look forward to plenty of more miles and years on this great truck, the GOAT imho. Still rides quieter and smoother than wifes' Lexus and launches like a bat out of hell upon command.

 

[Burla]

Why do you suppose they ended e-torque if consumers that own them feel like you? It's even worse then that, they developed that due do mandates that come from one side of American power, and we can assume that side will be back in power. maybe soon if history repeats itself. And those people aren't all mushy and forgiving, they will fine them into the ground for CAFE violations despite having this admin set fines to zero. Every large truck manu violates CAFE but if you placate to this policy, they give you a pass. It was the entire and only reason for the Hurricane engine as well= CAFE pressure. In fact it is the reason for nearly every di turbo engine, so manu's don't get fined. And yet they still ended this function again I ask why? The e toque issue is so massive for RAM it nearly ended them and yet to be seen if they will recover, consumers spit on this but only Ram. Other manu sales just fine and dandy, RAM down 200k unit sales.

 

[johnehr]

I'm feeling pretty good about my decision back in 2021 to order my truck without Etorque ;-) Glad that I had the option back then and enough foresight to take it.

 

[jasonw]

Why do you suppose they ended e-torque if consumers that own them feel like you? It's even worse then that, they developed that due do mandates that come from one side of American power, and we can assume that side will be back in power. maybe soon if history repeats itself. And those people aren't all mushy and forgiving, they will fine them into the ground for CAFE violations despite having this admin set fines to zero. Every large truck manu violates CAFE but if you placate to this policy, they give you a pass. It was the entire and only reason for the Hurricane engine as well= CAFE pressure. In fact it is the reason for nearly every di turbo engine, so manu's don't get fined. And yet they still ended this function again I ask why? The e toque issue is so massive for RAM it nearly ended them and yet to be seen if they will recover, consumers spit on this but only Ram. Other manu sales just fine and dandy, RAM down 200k unit sales.

A couple points I'll disagree with you on here. One, Carlos Tavares pretty much singly handedly crashed Ram, Jeep, and other sales in the USA, through his choices and the choices of his underlings. While I love my HO Hurricane, getting rid of the Hemi entirely was a bad move. They always should have offered both, similar to how Ford offers the 5.0 still in addition to the Egoboost motors, as has been discussed ad nauseam here on the forum. In addition, Carlos was the one who stopped allowing the brands to buy CAFE credits from other manufacturers.

E-torque itself was in response to CAFE standards, pretty much, so that part we agree on. However, its been available as an option (and later made standard) since 2022, and Ram sales did not crash until the Hemi went away. When they announced the Hemi's return, their sales climbed back up substantitally, despite it being with e-torque. So stating that the e-torque system is responsible for crashing sales is not accurate IMO.

I wish they could have fixed it/made it better, and they probably would have (or maybe came out with a new V8 engine that didn't need it), if Carlos's drive to get rid of the V8s hadn't been there. Rumors were that there was a new V8 being developed to replace the Hemi before he killed it.

Now Tim (and team) are doing everything they can to fix all of Tavares's team's mistakes, sometimes with less resources, and at the same time he actually listens to the market and looks at the data. E-torque = higher than average problems, so it makes sense to engineer it out when resources are tight, rather than make it better.

 

[etbrown4]

Besides Burla's and others legit disdain for Etorque there's something fundamentally wrong with Ram, and though Carlos nearly killed the brand, a problem continues still under Tim.

So in this forum and all forums there's broad contemp and fear of Etorque and continued harm to sales. Many buyers are torn or reluctant. But there's a greater harm to owners with Etorque, because the part has been backordered on Mgus for 3 years or more up to 10,000 units, and they incredibly do nothing about it.

Many of us depend on our trucks as daily drivers, and many of us are not in a position to have a primary vehicle out of service up to 3 months!

So how could Ram be so stupid to cut their own throats and ours, by letting backorders languish nearly forever, and suffer the brand reputation damage of an essential but unavailable part?

Most every wise major manufacture of any product will act proactively to bring on secondary and tertiary parts suppliers to avoid situations just like this , apparently except brain-dead Ram.

Sorry to admit it, but guys they killed me. After 15 years and 3 Ram hemis, I have to go, and sadly today I all but bought my '24 Laramie Crew replacement (despite just 29k miles and nar a scratch on a lusterous ceramic coating) , a luxury SUV with a slightly HARDER ride than my beloved air suspension Ram. An agonizing choice that could have been avoided. Worse yet Ramcares is a farce.

 

[DanAR]

I don’t think e-torque as an issue will have much impact on RAM resale values. Most buyers don’t follow these forums or know anything about e-torque one way or the other. I’m always surprised when I talk pickups with my pickup owning family members (many farmers and ranchers) and car buddies and most know nothing about the GM 6.2 motor issues, the Ford/GM transmission issues, Hemi tic, e-torque, exploding Tundra turbos, etc. what they usually do know about are failing computer controls and long waits for parts and repairs from first hand experience. It may take a toll on RAM repeat customers who have owned RAMs for decades.

 

[jasonw]

Most every wise major manufacture of any product will act proactively to bring on secondary and tertiary parts suppliers to avoid situations just like this , apparently except brain-dead Ram.

I hear you and do not disagree with a lot of your post, but have you dealt with a lot of "wise" car manufacturers recently? Please do tell who?

I hate to break it to you, and it won't really help you much, but no matter what maker you currently go to, you're going to have a chance/risk of running into the same problem. We shouldn't be, but we are. Auto manufacturers across the board have cut back.

 

[ibike]

Bought my Ram on Carvana. Went back to see if the prices reflect e-torque Rams go cheaper. Couldn’t specifically pull up e-torque trucks and the one I located was $5000 cheaper than the non e-torque types. But it wasn’t a very scientific search. I guess what really sticks out is I couldn’t filter just e-torque or hybrid. Guess there a bit hesitant to advertise those.

 

[Burla]

If you were carvana or anything like them, would you buy an e-torque RAM for resell? The correct answer is = if the price is right. Meaning, this will show up in the secondary market sooner then later, and the second one sits for 60 days you will see the price they will pay will be less and less. When the only market is for auto auctions for any hemi etorque and I am predicting this will be the case at some point, you own a heavy paper weight. If you think it is hard to find e-torque parts now, just wait til the are out of production for a year or two. If you have an e-torque and find that you can still get something decent for it, you should consider it imo.

.

 

[butterscotch71]

I believe the E-torque was the way to meet increasing CAFE standards. Ram didn't just design the system to make things unnecessarily complex. What hurts resale more than anything, in my opinion, is the massive rebates that are frequently offered on new Rams. I've never paid close to MSRP (or invoice) on any of the new Rams I've purchased.

 

[Sandevino]

This is all fine and well for the Hemi but what about the Pentastar? Will we see a nater on the V6 in 2027?