Battery issue common 2026 still?

[John-117]

Dealer keeps telling me I'm not driving far enough to charge the batteries,

I drive 3 miles per day. No issues once the batteries were replaced.

 

[BucsFan]

My original batteries died in my driveway about 6 months ago. Towed and local dealer replaced both. I woke up Sunday morning to more dead batteries. Ram Roadside sent a guy, and the readings for the big and little battery were 4 & 2 on his voltmeter, respectively. When he had his jump box and cables from his car battery hooked up, as soon as I pushed the starter button, the voltmeter on the big battery would drop from 13 to 6. It took his jump box + cables from his car battery + my jump box to get it started. Drove to the dealer, so they can replace, again, and deal with the 3 recalls that I have been dragging my feet on. If this is some parasitic loss, I don't know how we are going to find that. If this happens again, I will skip the OEM under warranty and put in Interstates.

I hope someone out there figures out how to stop this.

 

[John-117]

My original batteries died in my driveway about 6 months ago. Towed and local dealer replaced both. I woke up Sunday morning to more dead batteries. Ram Roadside sent a guy, and the readings for the big and little battery were 4 & 2 on his voltmeter, respectively. When he had his jump box and cables from his car battery hooked up, as soon as I pushed the starter button, the voltmeter on the big battery would drop from 13 to 6. It took his jump box + cables from his car battery + my jump box to get it started. Drove to the dealer, so they can replace, again, and deal with the 3 recalls that I have been dragging my feet on. If this is some parasitic loss, I don't know how we are going to find that. If this happens again, I will skip the OEM under warranty and put in Interstates.

I hope someone out there figures out how to stop this.

Hope it is just bad batteries. I don’t like the fact that it happened again.

 

[BucsFan]

My original batteries died in my driveway about 6 months ago. Towed and local dealer replaced both. I woke up Sunday morning to more dead batteries. Ram Roadside sent a guy, and the readings for the big and little battery were 4 & 2 on his voltmeter, respectively. When he had his jump box and cables from his car battery hooked up, as soon as I pushed the starter button, the voltmeter on the big battery would drop from 13 to 6. It took his jump box + cables from his car battery + my jump box to get it started. Drove to the dealer, so they can replace, again, and deal with the 3 recalls that I have been dragging my feet on. If this is some parasitic loss, I don't know how we are going to find that. If this happens again, I will skip the OEM under warranty and put in Interstates.

I hope someone out there figures out how to stop this.

Well, they replaced the batteries and took care of the 3 open recalls. They said that one of the recalls dealt with a software update that should reduce battery drain.

Most importantly, I was told that if the truck sits for more than a few days, the batteries can drain. Brief errands don't help much. I think that's the key takeaway for any Ram 1500 owner. Since I work at home, sometimes I can go a few days without needing to drive, so I guess I need to start it and run it for a while if it sits for 3 days. I will also keep an eye on the battery charge display.

 

[John-117]

Well, they replaced the batteries and took care of the 3 open recalls. They said that one of the recalls dealt with a software update that should reduce battery drain.

Most importantly, I was told that if the truck sits for more than a few days, the batteries can drain. Brief errands don't help much. I think that's the key takeaway for any Ram 1500 owner. Since I work at home, sometimes I can go a few days without needing to drive, so I guess I need to start it and run it for a while if it sits for 3 days. I will also keep an eye on the battery charge display.

No they need to fix it. You should not have to do anything special.

 

[rpr]

I agree. Any vehicle that has to be started every few days to charge the batteries has an issue.

If the batteries are in fact draining when the truck sits, as opposed to when it’s running (have they even confirmed that?), you have an issue with parasitic drain and/or you have bad batteries.

If the batteries drain when the vehicle is running, like I had when the 150A fuse array blew that cuts the charging circuit between the alternator and the main battery (but not the Aux battery), you have a charging issue.

You have a $90K that can’t sit for a few days without the batteries dying? Seriously?

If that was the position of my dealer’s service manager I’d be looking for a new dealer to service my vehicle.

 

[mghtymous21]

Anyone have recommendations if we were to replace our stock batteries? Would you need to replace both?

Both? There's a second battery?

 

[rpr]

Yes, there’s a main battery and an aux battery (right behind the main battery). I replaced both with Auto Zone Duralast Platinum AGMs.

This turned out not to be my problem but it was the easiest thing to try while stranded hundreds of miles from home and no local dealers willing to help because they had a 1 month backlog and I didn’t buy the vehicle from them.

 

[INTIMD8R]

I agree. Any vehicle that has to be started every few days to charge the batteries has an issue.

If the batteries are in fact draining when the truck sits, as opposed to when it’s running (have they even confirmed that?), you have an issue with parasitic drain and/or you have bad batteries.

If the batteries drain when the vehicle is running, like I had when the 150A fuse array blew that cuts the charging circuit between the alternator and the main battery (but not the Aux battery), you have a charging issue.

You have a $90K that can’t sit for a few days without the batteries dying? Seriously?

If that was the position of my dealer’s service manager I’d be looking for a new dealer to service my vehicle.

Think we can blame technology on this.
Just bought 2026 HD Street Glide was told to plug it into a tender or the bike will drain the battery in a few days due to all the modules the bike has.
And when reading the owners manual that even said you must put it on a tender.
Our old school cars and trucks are no more. So if you don't like technology, you need to hold onto your old car or truck that can sit for a month and fire right up.

 

[John-117]

Think we can blame technology on this.
Just bought 2026 HD Street Glide was told to plug it into a tender or the bike will drain the battery in a few days due to all the modules the bike has.
And when reading the owners manual that even said you must put it on a tender.
Our old school cars and trucks are no more. So if you don't like technology, you need to hold onto your old car or truck that can sit for a month and fire right up.

An AGM battery tender is a great tool to have as is a quality jump starter. However, these trucks do not require a battery tender like your bike does. Also these trucks can be placed in storage mode.

 

[Weather Man]

Well, they replaced the batteries and took care of the 3 open recalls. They said that one of the recalls dealt with a software update that should reduce battery drain.

Most importantly, I was told that if the truck sits for more than a few days, the batteries can drain. Brief errands don't help much. I think that's the key takeaway for any Ram 1500 owner. Since I work at home, sometimes I can go a few days without needing to drive, so I guess I need to start it and run it for a while if it sits for 3 days. I will also keep an eye on the battery charge display.

Buy a rat tail and hook to main battery and peek the head for the trickle charger to easily connect to. My F-350 sits sometimes, and I did that fix for her.

 

[Weather Man]

I agree. Any vehicle that has to be started every few days to charge the batteries has an issue.

If the batteries are in fact draining when the truck sits, as opposed to when it’s running (have they even confirmed that?), you have an issue with parasitic drain and/or you have bad batteries.

If the batteries drain when the vehicle is running, like I had when the 150A fuse array blew that cuts the charging circuit between the alternator and the main battery (but not the Aux battery), you have a charging issue.

You have a $90K that can’t sit for a few days without the batteries dying? Seriously?

If that was the position of my dealer’s service manager I’d be looking for a new dealer to service my vehicle.

New light vehicles have a much higher accepted static draw than the old stuff. Function of all the electronics. Trickle charger is easy cheap fix.