Rivian Air Suspension concerns?

[Trandall]

Was wondering more if anyone had looked at the suspension up close and could tell if it looked like coil overs would fit. I dug around a little more and saw something saying they were using air shocks with a history of use in other trucks and SUVs. While this was said like a good thing, sounds very bad to me since most of those are terrible for reliability. As far as actually modifying, I would be looking at doing that after the warranty ran out. That's when the problem becomes intractable. When the system dies, they will just start replacing parts hoping to figure out what is busted. Between 4 shocks, 4 lines, compressor, tanks, motors, height sensors, relays, controllers, etc. it takes forever and costs a fortune. Hence my current ORV now having traditional shocks.

I do not have experience with air suspension but I agree it sounds like a legitimate concern and question. My response was overly tongue in cheek. Honestly if there becomes a market for it I imagine someone will fill the niche. Probably not till peoples warranties start running out as you mention.

Sponsored

 

[SANZC02]

I’m not so concerned.

Going on year 8 in my Jeep GC with thier air suspension and have had no issues.

Of course any vehicle these days once out of warrenty will need a slush fund for repairs. Recently paid 2700 for the on board charger on my Model S.

 

[rpmtexas]

WOW. You are soooo lucky. My GC suspension was nothing but trouble from day 1.

 

[opnwide]

P.S. My profile pic is of my '12 Rover with the suspension slammed down all the way as I dropped it off at CARMAX and they wrote me a check bc there was no way I was putting another $10,500 into suspension. It didn't make it to my Rivian delivery, but I hope we all have a good air sus experience like @SANZC02 !

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

Hydraulics by themselves are less concerning to me. They have been used on lots of heavy equipment under grueling conditions forever. However, combining the two sounds even worse as that means there are even more things to monitor and fail. Based on my experience, research, and conversations with off road mechanics, air ride systems are garbage in the long run. Rivians may be a 5 year and out vehicle...

Can you say more about what fails and why? Aren't air suspensions used on big rigs? I image those aren't designed to fail. Do you have reason to think it's not possible to design an air suspension that functions well and lasts long?

 

[rpmtexas]

Love it. My Jeep GC was in the shop for 10 weeks trying to diagnose/fix air suspension and then converting it to standard shocks. Barely got it to the shop.

 

[rpmtexas]

Can't say for big rigs, but the air ride components for Jeep/Dodge vehicles cost a fortune. The entire suspension conversion kit cost me less than 1 air shock. Little sensors cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and there are a lot of them involved. Even the dealer trouble shoots by replacing parts largely at random. I have heard from owners of other brand vehicles that they have had similar experiences. If you Google air suspension problems, you can spend a lifetime reading posts and articles about them failing constantly and being difficult to fix and costing a fortune. Part of the problem is that an issue with one component can quickly damage may others in the system. And the problems are very difficult to locate. Additionally, because the suspension is often "active" a problem with the air ride can screw up how many other systems work. The Jeep GC air ride would put the transmission into a half limp mode when it thought the suspension as too high and you were driving to fast. If you don't have any problems, it's really neat. When you start having problems, it quickly becomes a nightmare. My Jeep would randomly decide to completely deflate the shocks. So I would come out in the morning and it would be sitting on the wheel wells. Undriveable. The last time it did this, I had to turn it on and off and mess with the suspension buttons for over 30 minutes before it finally decided to pump up to normal ride height. Shop never found the computer gremlin responsible. They tried replacing 3 components before they said they couldn't eat any more parts and labor and suggested the conversion.

 

[HTownB]

Air Sus. is really cool when it works. Auto load-leveling is fantastic, and the obvious Sport to Off-Road. When it's broken, man it's broken and my experience has been mechanics start troubleshooting all aspects from computer modules, relays, to air bags to compressor. When all 3 components are shot, man I'd rather schedule a colonoscopy, because I had multiple repairs with different mechanics and it failed all the time and they couldn't ever get it right.

@rpmtexas , your post just beat mine but we are saying the same thing. I'm not knowledgeable enough about coil-over retrofit, but after my horrible experience with air, it's my main concern of long-term ownership of the Rivian. Not battery degradation, not 400v vs 800v, etc., it's absolutely the air suspension. Your question and concern are VERY valid IMO.

A colonoscopy really isn’t that bad….

 

[mini2nut]

The R1T comes with a 5-year 60k warranty. The average vehicle owner sells before that. It’s the 2nd and 3rd owners who will take the financial hit if and when the air/hydraulic suspension fails.

 

[jjwolf120]

A colonoscopy really isn’t that bad….

It isn't the colonoscopy, it's the preparation for the colonoscopy that's bad.

 

[HTownB]

Meh. Drink the chalky crap then sit on the toilet to watch a movie on your iPad.

All I can compare it to is my model S. 0 issues and not aware of it being a common complaint. It’s a guessing game as to what issues will occur when the vehicle reaches 5+ years old. I just hope the door handles actually open….

 

[crashmtb]

I believe it’s hydraulic vs air. It’s pretty tightly integrated so I would imagine changing components is not possible.

No, it’s air sprung. Anti-roll is cross linked hydraulics.

 

[crashmtb]

Was wondering more if anyone had looked at the suspension up close and could tell if it looked like coil overs would fit. I dug around a little more and saw something saying they were using air shocks with a history of use in other trucks and SUVs. While this was said like a good thing, sounds very bad to me since most of those are terrible for reliability. As far as actually modifying, I would be looking at doing that after the warranty ran out. That's when the problem becomes intractable. When the system dies, they will just start replacing parts hoping to figure out what is busted. Between 4 shocks, 4 lines, compressor, tanks, motors, height sensors, relays, controllers, etc. it takes forever and costs a fortune. Hence my current ORV now having traditional shocks.

If you’re worried about air suspension, don’t buy a vehicle that comes with it. Especially not a Chrysler product that isn’t a pickup.

 

[rpmtexas]

Google "tesla air suspension system problems" and have fun reading. Sounds like they have the same issues as all the other air ride systems.

 

[rpmtexas]

Super helpful.

Sponsored