New RAM 1500 Etorque fail

[66Snyder]

I recently purchase a new RAM. 1500, 5.4 Hemi with Etorque. I started getting trouble codes at 800 miles. PAOCO and UO412, both Battery codes for the Hybrid system, I think.
I took it in when the codes first came on and of course the check engine light was off the morning I took it in. They kept it for a week and finally gave it back claiming the check engine light never came back on. The codes came back on for me a few days later. Took it back and they again they kept it for a week and said they couldn't get the check engine light on and gave it back to me. Then they came on again for me a few days later. Took in in a third time and they had a "master electrician" look at it and they are telling me they think it needs a new Hybrid battery. As of now it has been 10 days and they can't give me an ETA on fixing this.

This truck has now been in the shop for about 25 days in total.

I am getting pretty frustrated with this. On top of the the battery pack issue I has noticed I am getting 12-13 mpg. I had the same RAM model truck and engine for 10 years previously, without the etorque, and was getting 16-17 average. I drive the same routes and driving style. After a while I had actually started babying this new truck to see if I could squeeze out better mileage and could not. The tech at the dealership actually laughed at me when I brought up the poor mileage. Claiming it all depends on the driver...HA HA.

I was sold on this "hybrid" system getting around 17 average. I'm just hoping that maybe if this etorque battery is fixed it will work as claimed.

Anyone have experience with this? Just wondering if this truck is a lemon or if this whole etorque thing is just a gimmick.

 

[rzr6-4]

25 days is just getting warmed up, many reports of waiting months for parts for the hybrid system, there's a recent thread here for a guy that waited 6 months.

Also, from what I've seen the mpg benefit of the etorque is minimal if any, most people report mid to high teens, which a lot of people get that without the etorque.

Good luck on your endeavors......

 

[Grams]

Wow! A “new” 5.4 Hemi…. last made in …what…. 1950’s..?

 

[Mjk400]

I recently purchase a new RAM. 1500, 5.4 Hemi with Etorque. I started getting trouble codes at 800 miles. PAOCO and UO412, both Battery codes for the Hybrid system, I think.
I took it in when the codes first came on and of course the check engine light was off the morning I took it in. They kept it for a week and finally gave it back claiming the check engine light never came back on. The codes came back on for me a few days later. Took it back and they again they kept it for a week and said they couldn't get the check engine light on and gave it back to me. Then they came on again for me a few days later. Took in in a third time and they had a "master electrician" look at it and they are telling me they think it needs a new Hybrid battery. As of now it has been 10 days and they can't give me an ETA on fixing this.

This truck has now been in the shop for about 25 days in total.

I am getting pretty frustrated with this. On top of the the battery pack issue I has noticed I am getting 12-13 mpg. I had the same RAM model truck and engine for 10 years previously, without the etorque, and was getting 16-17 average. I drive the same routes and driving style. After a while I had actually started babying this new truck to see if I could squeeze out better mileage and could not. The tech at the dealership actually laughed at me when I brought up the poor mileage. Claiming it all depends on the driver...HA HA.

I was sold on this "hybrid" system getting around 17 average. I'm just hoping that maybe if this etorque battery is fixed it will work as claimed.

Anyone have experience with this? Just wondering if this truck is a lemon or if this whole etorque thing is just a gimmick.

Yes had this issue with my 2025 3.6 E torque same thing terrible gas mileage rough shifting down shifting as if it is in trailer mode then the engine light came on at 2500 miles. Went to the dealer light was off and they reprogrammed the computer and was much much better ever since. Shifting 95% better mileage into the 21s on the highway.

 

[66Snyder]

Wow! A “new” 5.4 Hemi…. last made in …what…. 1950’s.

?

It is a 2026 truck.....and I assume they put in a "new" engine. What is your point?

 

[Grams]

?

It is a 2026 truck.....and I assume they put in a "new" engine. What is your point?

Well… it was My understanding that the engines offered for the ‘26 Ram 1500 were: 3.0L, 3.6L, and 5.7L.

But You wrote you have a 5.4L….which is either a one-off Ram…. or it’s not a Ram 1500…but a Ram 2500…and you made a “typo” when you intended to discuss your 6.4L Hemi.

The last time Chrysler/Mopar offered a 5.4L Hemi was around 1951.

(I was making a poor attempt at humor.).

 

[mikeru]

?

It is a 2026 truck.....and I assume they put in a "new" engine. What is your point?

He’s making the point that your 2026 Ram 1500 has a 5.7L Hemi w/etorque. There is no option for a 5.4L Hemi engine. You might want to update your truck info or you may receive more posts like that about it. People can be ruthless about details like that.

 

[olyelr]

I recently purchase a new RAM. 1500, 5.4 Hemi with Etorque. I started getting trouble codes at 800 miles. PAOCO and UO412, both Battery codes for the Hybrid system, I think.
I took it in when the codes first came on and of course the check engine light was off the morning I took it in. They kept it for a week and finally gave it back claiming the check engine light never came back on. The codes came back on for me a few days later. Took it back and they again they kept it for a week and said they couldn't get the check engine light on and gave it back to me. Then they came on again for me a few days later. Took in in a third time and they had a "master electrician" look at it and they are telling me they think it needs a new Hybrid battery. As of now it has been 10 days and they can't give me an ETA on fixing this.

This truck has now been in the shop for about 25 days in total.

I am getting pretty frustrated with this. On top of the the battery pack issue I has noticed I am getting 12-13 mpg. I had the same RAM model truck and engine for 10 years previously, without the etorque, and was getting 16-17 average. I drive the same routes and driving style. After a while I had actually started babying this new truck to see if I could squeeze out better mileage and could not. The tech at the dealership actually laughed at me when I brought up the poor mileage. Claiming it all depends on the driver...HA HA.

I was sold on this "hybrid" system getting around 17 average. I'm just hoping that maybe if this etorque battery is fixed it will work as claimed.

Anyone have experience with this? Just wondering if this truck is a lemon or if this whole etorque thing is just a gimmick.

I just replaced my ‘17 big horn 5.7 (no etorque) truck with a ‘26 big horn 5.7 e-torque truck.

Had the ‘17 since it was brand new. Put 153k trouble free miles on it. Always averaged 17-19 mpg in the summer, 15-16 in the winter. Squeezed plenty of 20 mpg tanks out of it over the 8 years i had it.

Ive got 6000 miles on the ‘26, and have yet to see a tankful better than 16 mpg.

The new truck does have the off road package (slightly taller suspension and slightly more aggressive tires), and it also has 3.92 gears, so i having been blaming that on the worse mpg’s. Also, it has been winter since i got the truck…so a lot of 4x4 driving as well as a lot of warm up idling, which certainly does not help.

But, the more i drive it the more i am pretty dang sure the e-torque hemi simply gets worse mpg’s than the non e-torque. Quite a let down really, as thats basically all the stupid system was designed for from what i gather.

Hope all goes well with the repair for you. Keep us updated.

 

[66Snyder]

Ya, I got ya. It's a 5.7...apologize for that. I was writing in frustration mode.

It does have the off road package. But my old 2016 RAM 1500 5.7 w/o eTorque was lifted higher and had bigger tires. It was getting 2-3 better mpg.

I was under the impression from the salesman and a little bit of research on my part that the eTorque had several benefits like smother shifting, quicker acceleration, smoother start/stop, regenerative braking to charge the battery, and (most of all) better fuel efficiency. All sounded good.

 

[mikeru]

I would have to agree with you on that. We've owned several 4th and 5th gen 1500's with the Hemi, and the two we owned with etorque averaged worse fuel economy than the others we owned that didn't have etorque, including our current 2020 Limited. It may provide slightly higher fuel economy under certain conditions, like a lot of city driving because of the stop/start, but we never saw those conditions. You're not alone in thinking etorque is overrated at best. And a potential failure point eventually.

 

[DanAR]

My 23 Limited has a 3.92 rear and I’m getting between 16 mpg in town and 20 on secondary highways. Interstate 70+ mph would probably drop that back to 18-19. I’m a pretty sedate driver however.

 

[olyelr]

My 23 Limited has a 3.92 rear and I’m getting between 16 mpg in town and 20 on secondary highways. Interstate 70+ mph would probably drop that back to 18-19. I’m a pretty sedate driver however.

Excuse my ignorance, but does your truck have the e-torque?

 

[DanAR]

Yes, it was standard in 2023 on the Limited starting that year.

 

[66Snyder]

Got my Truck back a couple days ago. They replaced the 48volt battery pack. After a couple days of driving I am now getting about 17-18 mpg. Went up about 3-4 with this new battery. Hopefully, I am now seeing the benefit of the eTorque. I'm assuming that battery was no good from the day I bought this truck. I am upset the dealership ignored my complaints about the mileage, telling me it was my driving style. And that they didn't replace it the first time I brought it in with the same trouble codes. I guess the silver lining is that I put about 2000 miles on their loaner rather than mine. I sure wouldn't buy a vehicle with eTorque unless it has a warranty.

 

[TradesmanGuy]

Seems your dealer service department has a problem. Should have caught the problem the first time with a working scanner.

 

[Grams]

Not necessarily the issue in THIS thread… but a plugged/restricted cat-converter can also instigate O2-sensor error msgs. BTDT

 

[RJR49]

Next time take a video to show the tech

 

[BigPoet]

I was planning to get a 2026 RAM 1500 Limited Longhorn Hemi with eTorque. You fellows have pretty much persuaded me to strongly consider omitting the eTorque.

 

[Farmer Fran]

Sucks you are having issues

SST HO > SST > Hemi

 

[Randy Grant]

Excuse my ignorance, but does your truck have the e-torque?

E-Torque really does nothing unless you do a LOT of in town stop and go traffic. That's where the E-Torque with the stop-n-go saves fuel. I get around 20mpg+ on rural roads with the occasional highway and some in town, and I really don't think the E-Torque has as much to do with it as the MDS.