Catastrophic Failure at 11k Miles?

[EX1]

Hello TRXers,

Joining the forum here to share my experience so far with my 23' Havoc.

I purchased the truck one year ago and it has lived a pretty easy life. Last week I was coasting to a stop from 50mph and the dash displayed "Service Electronic Throttle". The truck came to an abrupt stop and refused to shift out of park. I attempted to use the manual release to get the truck into neutral, but with no luck. The truck absolutely refused to get out of park even with the shifter in the neutral position. The engine was also struggling to turn over. The truck has close to 11,500 miles on the odometer and the oil was changed at 1,500 and again at 7,000 miles.

I paid for it to be loaded onto a flat bed and taken to the local CDJR dealer. The staff was shocked that they weren't able to get the truck into neutral either. This dealer does not have loaner vehicles so I was given a Chrylser support number and a case was opened. My case manager was supposed to reach out to me within 24 hours, but after three days I had to reach out to support again. I was given a call back and a rental car allowance of $80 per day. The dealer is telling me it will take a minimum of 4-5 weeks if the engine does indeed need to be replaced.

While I was there, the staff was talking about the increase of early engine failures they have seen in the 22-23 model year hellcat engines. I thought this was interesting so I started searching around and it seems that finding examples of TRXs and Demon 170s with engine failure isn't super rare. I am interested to see what the technician finds once the teardown is complete.

The truck has been with the dealer for 9 days but I have not heard from them yet. I will keep everyone here posted in case anyone else out there sees this thread and is having a similar issue. @RamCares

 

[Louk]

Sorry to hear about your issue, I’m curious if there is anything changed with 22/23 model years.
Historically the hellcat engine has been reliable.

 

[RedEyeTRX]

What @Louk said X2.
If it turns out to be the motor, hope its a quick turnaround.
My experience with dealerships is this, any information they provide is either incorrect, inaccurate or completely full of BS. That particular dealership may have seen a few more engine failures than most and ran with it. But comparing the number of non-modded HC engines on the road, to actual failures....if I recall correctly, the HC failure rate is approximately the same as industry standard (GM or Ford engines).

 

[2024TRX]

Does this Havoc have an aftermarket intake? There has been some intakes that rest on an electrical connector below the inlet box deeming the throttle useless and a tree of lights show up. (AFE)

 

[EX1]

I agree the hellcat engine is a proven engine.

What I find strange is the number of 22' and 23s with early engine failures on this forum alone. Hell, I was watching a Donut Operator YouTube video a few weeks back and he mentioned his new TRX with 8k miles required an engine replacement as well. Something is going on.

Here are a few others:
7k miles and suffered two failures - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/full-engine-failure-7k-miles-service-throttle-control.15692/

2022 model with 4k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/blown-motor-with-4000-miles.13222/

2022 model with 825 miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/blown-motor-at-825-miles.3569/

2022 model with 9k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/2022-trx-blown-motor-9k-miles.14942/

2022 model with 3.5k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/engine-died-while-coming-off-freeway.13353/

 

[EX1]

Does this Havoc have an aftermarket intake? There has been some intakes that rest on an electrical connector below the inlet box deeming the throttle useless and a tree of lights show up. (AFE)

No mods at all. All stock.

 

[RedEyeTRX]

I agree the hellcat engine is a proven engine.

What I find strange is the number of 22' and 23s with early engine failures on this forum alone. Hell, I was watching a Donut Operator YouTube video a few weeks back and he mentioned his new TRX with 8k miles required an engine replacement as well. Something is going on.

Here are a few others:
7k miles and suffered two failures - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/full-engine-failure-7k-miles-service-throttle-control.15692/

2022 model with 4k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/blown-motor-with-4000-miles.13222/

2022 model with 825 miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/blown-motor-at-825-miles.3569/

2022 model with 9k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/2022-trx-blown-motor-9k-miles.14942/

2022 model with 3.5k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/engine-died-while-coming-off-freeway.13353/

Sure when it happens to you, its 100% and that SUCKS. But compare the numbers you see on the forum to the total number of TRX units on the road (50K+). The forums are amplifiers for people having issues with their vehicles (you for example) who sign up just because they had an issue. The forum has about 11K members, of those its likely about 4000 active members, with about 300 people on the forum right now. Even if we saw 100 engine failure posts on the forum, it amount to 1% of forum users. If I recall industry standard is about 3%-4%.

Let us know when you find out if its the engine.

 

[D2procon]

I agree the hellcat engine is a proven engine.

What I find strange is the number of 22' and 23s with early engine failures on this forum alone. Hell, I was watching a Donut Operator YouTube video a few weeks back and he mentioned his new TRX with 8k miles required an engine replacement as well. Something is going on.

Here are a few others:
7k miles and suffered two failures - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/full-engine-failure-7k-miles-service-throttle-control.15692/

2022 model with 4k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/blown-motor-with-4000-miles.13222/

2022 model with 825 miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/blown-motor-at-825-miles.3569/

2022 model with 9k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/2022-trx-blown-motor-9k-miles.14942/

2022 model with 3.5k miles - https://www.ram-trx.com/threads/engine-died-while-coming-off-freeway.13353/

Curious if there are any engine failures in the 20k -40k mile range. It seems like once youre over the early mile hump engine is good to go?

 

[Eighty]

Does this Havoc have an aftermarket intake? There has been some intakes that rest on an electrical connector below the inlet box deeming the throttle useless and a tree of lights show up. (AFE)

That definitely causes the “Service Electronic Throttle” error (been there, done that). But it just results in a non-responsive gas pedal. Not the issue about being stuck in park.
And to be honest, I’d be very surprised if the OP’s issue is an engine problem. My guess would be something along the lines of an electronic error.

 

[Georgia TRX]

Mine is a '23 and has over 50,000 miles on it. Runs solid. Zero mechanical issues.

 

[TH3]

My stock 22 engine started making noise at 20k miles. I went to the selling dealer and reported it. Noise became progressively worse as I reported the noise at each oil change. Finally at 60k miles I told them to just keep the truck, I felt it was gonna leave me stranded. They finally looked into it and found multiple spun bearings. They condemned the motor and it has been sitting in the shop for 3 months waiting on who knows what. I opened a case with Ram cares and made contact with my case worker Monday. The truck never quit running but was starting to sounding really bad.

 

[RedEyeTRX]

My stock 22 engine started making noise at 20k miles. I went to the selling dealer and reported it. Noise became progressively worse as I reported the noise at each oil change. Finally at 60k miles I told them to just keep the truck, I felt it was gonna leave me stranded. They finally looked into it and found multiple spun bearings. They condemned the motor and it has been sitting in the shop for 3 months waiting on who knows what. I opened a case with Ram cares and made contact with my case worker Monday. The truck never quit running but was starting to sounding really bad.

I would contact another dealership, tell them the situation and have it towed there.
3 months sitting without any progress from RAM means the dealership "back burnered" your truck and will get around to when they feel like it. Warranty work pays FAR less than regular book time, the service writers know it and the techs know it.

 

[Georgia TRX]

My stock 22 engine started making noise at 20k miles. I went to the selling dealer and reported it. Noise became progressively worse as I reported the noise at each oil change. Finally at 60k miles I told them to just keep the truck, I felt it was gonna leave me stranded. They finally looked into it and found multiple spun bearings. They condemned the motor and it has been sitting in the shop for 3 months waiting on who knows what. I opened a case with Ram cares and made contact with my case worker Monday. The truck never quit running but was starting to sounding really bad.

Disgraceful behavior by the dealer. These dealerships are not up to working on these super truck / super car type vehicles.

Can you imagine taking a 911 Turbo to a Porsche dealer and them ignoring wierd noises? Would never happen.

 

[Georgia TRX]

I would contact another dealership, tell them the situation and have it towed there.
3 months sitting without any progress from RAM means the dealership "back burnered" your truck and will get around to when they feel like it. Warranty work pays FAR less than regular book time, the service writers know it and the techs know it.

I would agree with you about back burnering and trust your knowledge on the profit for them.

I would add that even paying full freight for labor these dealerships will let your truck sit. Mine sat for 3 months last year waiting for a new wiring harness to be installed after it was stolen and ripped up.

Destroyed my trust in the dealership I bought the truck from.

 

[RedEyeTRX]

My stock 22 engine started making noise at 20k miles. I went to the selling dealer and reported it. Noise became progressively worse as I reported the noise at each oil change. Finally at 60k miles I told them to just keep the truck, I felt it was gonna leave me stranded. They finally looked into it and found multiple spun bearings. They condemned the motor and it has been sitting in the shop for 3 months waiting on who knows what. I opened a case with Ram cares and made contact with my case worker Monday. The truck never quit running but was starting to sounding really bad.

EDIT: In 40K miles, the dealership never checked the oil for metal particles? They / you never sent the oil out for testing? I am also surprised that you didnt take the truck to another dealership during that 40K mile period, considering it was making a "strange" noise. Usually the sound associated with either a rod or crank bearing failure is pretty obvious.

 

[Georgia TRX]

EDIT: In 40K miles, the dealership never checked the oil for metal particles? They / you never sent the oil out for testing? I am also surprised that you didnt take the truck to another dealership during that 40K mile period, considering it was making a "strange" noise. Usually the sound associated with either a rod or crank bearing failure is pretty obvious.

This is why I use a performance shop. If I am oblivious to something, they will pick it up.

 

[EX1]

Sure when it happens to you, its 100% and that SUCKS. But compare the numbers you see on the forum to the total number of TRX units on the road (50K+). The forums are amplifiers for people having issues with their vehicles (you for example) who sign up just because they had an issue. The forum has about 11K members, of those its likely about 4000 active members, with about 300 people on the forum right now. Even if we saw 100 engine failure posts on the forum, it amount to 1% of forum users. If I recall industry standard is about 3%-4%.

Let us know when you find out if its the engine.

I understand your point but I am not after every TRX out there. I am attempting to narrow down the engine manufacturing dates to see if there is a window where something potentially happened during assembly. I find it strange that when searching for TRX engine failures, the majority are from the same model year.

 

[EX1]

That definitely causes the “Service Electronic Throttle” error (been there, done that). But it just results in a non-responsive gas pedal. Not the issue about being stuck in park.
And to be honest, I’d be very surprised if the OP’s issue is an engine problem. My guess would be something along the lines of an electronic error.

I hope you are right, but there is a lot of metal on metal sounds coming from under the hood . Hard to tell from the side of the ride, but it sounded like it was somewhere in the top end / valvetrain. Similar to how it sounds when a pushrod engine eats a lifter.

 

[ShortIDProduct]

Sure when it happens to you, its 100% and that SUCKS. But compare the numbers you see on the forum to the total number of TRX units on the road (50K+). The forums are amplifiers for people having issues with their vehicles (you for example) who sign up just because they had an issue. The forum has about 11K members, of those its likely about 4000 active members, with about 300 people on the forum right now. Even if we saw 100 engine failure posts on the forum, it amount to 1% of forum users. If I recall industry standard is about 3%-4%.

Let us know when you find out if its the engine.

Putting the fail rate into perspective really eases the minds. The vast majority of these trucks are without issue and some are running fine well over 100k. seems that the issues that are coming up are happening around or under 10k miles.

 

[RedEyeTRX]

I understand your point but I am not after every TRX out there. I am attempting to narrow down the engine manufacturing dates to see if there is a window where something potentially happened during assembly. I find it strange that when searching for TRX engine failures, the majority are from the same model year.

Understood. You will not be able to make that critical analysis from people posting on a forum. It simply does not represent the majority of trucks on the road (it represents a minority at best).