Battery failure under Warranty/won't pay

[MetalManChad]

My 2021 Ram Bighorn V6 4X4 Nite went to the dealer a week before Christmas 2023 after my local mechanic diagnosed a charging/battery fault problem. Dealer diagnosed a failure of the 48 volt hybrid battery. Just under 36K miles, bumper to bumper wouldn't cover it, because it was 2 weeks out. Powertrain would, so that's the good news. I instructed the dealer to replace the standard 12 volt battery at the same time. It's been a month, still not back, but I have been told they just got the 48 volt hybrid battery as of this post. Makes me wonder how long past 60K miles, or 3 more years I will keep it! Just wanted to share, thanks all.

 

[DeckArtist]

My battery lasted three years/100k miles or so. Replaced it just this last fall. I got a good one.

Batteries are never covered on warranty from the factory, they are considered regular maintenance items.

 

[John Jensen]

Batteries are never covered on warranty from the factory, they are considered regular maintenance items.

Maybe not under the truck's warranty, but batteries are covered by the dealer. My dealer replaced a battery that tested bad and was within the battery's warranty.

 

[Tulecreeper]

My battery lasted three years/100k miles or so. Replaced it just this last fall. I got a good one.

Batteries are never covered on warranty from the factory, they are considered regular maintenance items.

You put 30,000+ miles on your truck in a year?

 

[DeckArtist]

Yessir, to and from Dallas M-F is over 100 miles each day minimum IF I don't have appointments, material runs, etc. Then it can easily double. About 35k year.

 

[GTyankee]

I would almost bet that my dealership would not honor a Mopar Battery warranty, just like they will not honor tires that came on the Ram from the Assembly Plant with them.

They would inspect every bit of the Electrical System, just to find a non Assembly Plant washer, nut, bolt, or part

 

[TestPilot57]

You put 30,000+ miles on your truck in a year?

Whether one uses their truck as a commuter or work vehicle, 30k/yr seems not too far off normal.

I know I'm not normal (my mother had me tested) and drive around 8k/yr. because my truck is realistically used more as a "car" than a "truck". I live 12 miles from work and catch a ride with my wife maybe half the time. Oh, and I drive my Porsche to work whenever the weather is decent )probably an average of 1 day a week from May-October)

My previous boss (35+ years ago) drove his truck 50k/yr. Many people drive 100k/yr - if all you do is drive all day at even just 50mph (average, to account for stops, start/end of trips etc), 40 hours a week, that's 100k. Long haul truckers typically do 100-120k/year. Not for me!!!

 

[TestPilot57]

Just heard from my long haul brother - he averages 160k/yr...

 

[Tulecreeper]

Whether one uses their truck as a commuter or work vehicle, 30k/yr seems not too far off normal.

I know I'm not normal (my mother had me tested) and drive around 8k/yr. because my truck is realistically used more as a "car" than a "truck". I live 12 miles from work and catch a ride with my wife maybe half the time. Oh, and I drive my Porsche to work whenever the weather is decent )probably an average of 1 day a week from May-October)

My previous boss (35+ years ago) drove his truck 50k/yr. Many people drive 100k/yr - if all you do is drive all day at even just 50mph (average, to account for stops, start/end of trips etc), 40 hours a week, that's 100k. Long haul truckers typically do 100-120k/year. Not for me!!!

Just heard from my long haul brother - he averages 160k/yr...

My point was that 30,000 miles per year is noticeably above average. I wasn't referring to long-haul truckers or anyone who uses their vehicle as a work vehicle, I was talking about your average, everyday driver; those that commute less than 40 miles round trip to work. That's about 800 miles per month to/from work, and another couple hundred for shopping, etc., on days off. Still only 12k - 15k per year. The longest commute I ever had from home to work was maybe 30 miles round trip. These days, now that I'm retired, I put maybe 350 miles per month on my truck. And that is if I have to make more than 2 beer runs into "the city", 30 miles away in a month.

 

[TestPilot57]

And that is if I have to make more than 2 beer runs into "the city", 30 miles away in a month.

Maybe you just need a bigger truck.

 

[harley97]

Can someone explain what this Mopar battery warranty exception means? Particularly the more favorable to the customer part.

MOPAR® AND MAGNETI MARELLI OFFERED BY MOPAR REPLACEMENT BATTERY LIMITED WARRANTY
Batteries found to be defective in materials or workmanship will be replaced at no charge for the part-specified free replacement period from the date of purchase, as noted below.
Batteries installed on an FCA US LLC vehicle covered by the New Vehicle Basic Limited Warranty, which are found to be defective, are warranted for the remainder of the New Vehicle Basic Limited Warranty, or within the free replacement period, whichever is more favorable to the customer.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

You put 30,000+ miles on your truck in a year?

My new Warlock just turned 6-months old and I'm currently at about 19,000Km's.
She's just broken in nicely now

 

[jawzs2]

Can someone explain what this Mopar battery warranty exception means? Particularly the more favorable to the customer part.

What that means that if you need to have your battery replaced while the vehicle is still under the basic warranty, the replacement battery will be covered for the longer period of time. For example: If you have the 3/36 basic, and the orig battery fails in the 35th month, the new replacement battery would normally only be covered under the basic warranty for the remaining month. But if the new replacement battery has a one year free replacement, that warranty would take precedence over the basic warranty, and be covered for the year.