Why won't my Ram 1500 eTorque crank or start?

Short answer: When a 5.7 eTorque Ram powers up but won't crank, start with the 12-volt battery, cables and grounds. Owners most often find a weak battery or a bad connection, not the 48-volt eTorque system.

Symptom: Dash lights come on but the engine won't crank, slow cranking, battery warnings, or start-stop not working.

What to check first

1. Test the 12-volt battery under load. Many parts stores do this for free.
2. Check battery cable ends and engine grounds for corrosion or looseness.
3. Check the starter fuse.
4. If the 12-volt side checks out, have a dealer scan the 48-volt eTorque system.

Likely causes

1. Weak 12-volt battery. Even with eTorque, the truck needs a healthy 12-volt battery to wake up and start. A weak one is the most common cause owners find.
2. Corroded or loose battery or ground connections. Bad cable ends or engine grounds can cause a no-crank even with a good battery.
3. Starter or starter fuse. A failed starter or blown fuse can also cause a no-crank.
4. eTorque 48-volt system fault. The 48-volt system runs the motor-generator and start-stop. Faults there need a dealer scan.

What it usually costs

A 12-volt AGM battery is a moderate cost. Cleaning terminals is cheap. eTorque system repairs are dealer work and often covered by warranty on newer trucks.

Is it safe to keep driving?

If it won't start, it's not a driving risk. But if it stalls or loses power while driving, get it checked right away.

DIY or shop?

Battery testing, cleaning terminals and swapping the 12-volt battery are DIY. Don't open up the 48-volt system yourself.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Related recalls: NHTSA lists these recalls touching this area of the Ram 1500: 18V332000 (2019-2019 model years, electrical system:wiring); 19V142000 (2019-2019 model years, electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery); 19V556000 (2019-2019 model years, electrical system: instrument cluster/panel); 21V871000 (2022-2022 model years, visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac system:windshield:electrical heating element). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of this recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 1281 keyword-matched complaints for Ram 1500 2019–2024 (of 2829 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-11-07; keywords: start, crank, battery, etorque, e-torque, 48, electrical) (NHTSA returned no data for 3 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 2020 1500 5.7 etorque not starting on Reddit r/ram_trucks, a 2020 Ram 1500 5.7 eTorque owner said the truck wouldn't start, and replies pointed to the 12-volt battery and connections first.
• In 2020 1500 no Crank on 5thGenRams, a 2020 Ram 1500 owner posted that the truck would not crank.
• In joined the etorque not fun club today on Reddit r/ram_trucks, an eTorque Ram owner said they had joined the 'eTorque not fun club,' meaning a problem with the eTorque system.
• In Can Ram ETorque battery be able to be recharged? on Reddit r/ram_trucks, an owner asked whether the eTorque battery can be recharged, and others explained the difference between the 12-volt and 48-volt batteries.

Quick tip

Before anyone quotes you an eTorque repair, get the 12-volt battery load-tested. It's the cheapest fix and the most common one.

Vehicle focus: Ram 1500 fifth generation (2019–2024) with the 5.7 Hemi eTorque mild hybrid.

Safety / mechanic note

The 48-volt system can hurt you, so leave it to trained techs. Verify with a mechanic.