Undriveable at night in wet snow due to LED headlights not melting snow & ice

[skookumracing]

I have had this same issue now in 4 vehicles so I suspect it will be same as you. It is funny how NHTSA cares about some of the most obscure stuff, but then miss on a topic of high significance like this. But not a manufacturer issue really....I am sure the lights comply with all appropriate requirements.

mfgs need to do "cold weather" testing in wet sticky and sloppy snow conditions... "cold weather" testing in northern Minnesota or the arctic where its subzero, cold and very dry is significantly different than what many of us will encounter in the winter...

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[NY_Rob]

Even my 2012 Prius had pop-up washer nozzles and a dedicated button for spraying the LED headlight lenses with wiper fluid as needed. Surprising Rivian didn't think of that...

 

[dleepnw]

definitely sounds like a safety issue. not only the lack of visibility but the fact that you had to stop multiple times and get out of your vehicle. i can see a scenario where there isn't a great place to pull over but you can't see very well or the fact that you cant see the road could lead you to pull over into a ditch.

yikes!

 

[chrismc]

Ughhh that’s going to be a rough commute up to Snoqualmie every weekend once the season opens. ? Coming down 90 already sketches me out with how fast people go.

 

[sierraskier]

mfgs need to do "cold weather" testing in wet sticky and sloppy snow conditions... "cold weather" testing in northern Minnesota or the arctic where its subzero, cold and very dry is significantly different than what many of us will encounter in the winter...

So true. Testing in super cold temps is great to test battery and climate systems, but driving in intercontinental, dry snow is a totally different and generally much easier experience than the high water content cement we get in the maritime zones.

 

[NY_Rob]

I guess if you really.. really needed it you could set up a tank and pump in the Frunk and route some hoses and sprayers to the headlight lenses. Wire a switch back to the cabin to activate it. People have done more drastic cold weather mods (like adding a kerosene operated cabin heater to a Chevy Bolt).

Something like this for example (includes pump):
https://www.carparts.com/washer-reservoir/replacement/repc370535

 

[crashmtb]

mfgs need to do "cold weather" testing in wet sticky and sloppy snow conditions... "cold weather" testing in northern Minnesota or the arctic where its subzero, cold and very dry is significantly different than what many of us will encounter in the winter...

They seem to test down near lake of the woods, these sorts of conditions aren’t uncommon in that region in early winter or late spring.
Here in southern Manitoba we currently have a few inches of semi-freezing slush on the ground. Typical for the first couple months of winter. A rivian’s headlights would be equally iced over today.

Annoyingly the requirement for headlamp washers is tied to output. Many LED headlamps are “brighter“ than even HID, but are Low enough light output to not need a cleaning system by law. Many LED headlamps have fans in them to circulate warm air from the electronics to warm the lens. Not great results.
I suspect manufacturers are well aware of these issues, but at the end of the day accounting always wins.


The best system was the old Volvos with little windshield wipers!

I have a set of heated JW speaker headlights on a miata, after getting caught out in an April snowstorm completely iced over the halogen lights. They’re excellent.

 

[SeaGeo]

Heated head light example, Looking a pair of these. Wonder if I could power off frunk 12vdc outlet or tap into fog lights..

Also researching transparent ITO or thin wire heating element to stick on stock headlights...

I've been wondering if there's a thin wire heating element that could run off the 12v in the frunk, but at the same time most of the vehicles won't have a 12v going forward.

 

[jebinc]

Here in the PNW our snow is mostly on the warm wet and sticky side... So when driving in light to heavy snow flurries we get a lot of build up on our vehicles.. Well the R1T is no different... the big problem is at night the snow covers up the headlights and visibility goes to zero... I have experienced this twice now as we are getting into the snow season here in the Washington Cascades... Last night we had to pull over about every 3 miles to wipe off the headlights... Not fun. There is just not enough heat from the LED lights to melt off the snow. Rivian either needs to add washer nozzles (our Volvo V90 CC has these), or add heated lenses. Heated head light example, Looking a pair of these. Wonder if I could power off frunk 12vdc outlet or tap into fog lights.. Another option is to mount on forward mounted roof cross bar and power from bed outlets some how.. Also researching transparent ITO or thin wire heating element to stick on stock headlights...

I have emailed my guide with pictures and raised this as a safety issue. Will also create service ticket.... And posted here tagging RJ..

Anyway.. beware if you find yourself in wet sticky snow at night...

Yes, make noise at Rivian. I will do the same as I’m in the Seattle area as well.

 

[prestapost]

I’ll be driving over Snoqualmie Pass this week and will probably experience it first hand.

 

[Ralph]

I seem to recall Rivian making a very big deal about testing in Alaska.......

 

[NY_Rob]

^ maybe it was during summer ?

 

[MRE]

This is a nuisance for sure, but not unique to Rivian. Both my Tesla and (especially) my Jeep Wrangler have the exact same issue. The Rivian, like my Jeep, will probably suffer more by nature of the flat face. I've found aftermarket heating elements for the Wrangler, but have yet to install. Perhaps someone will make the same for these. P

 

[MRE]

I seem to recall Rivian making a very big deal about testing in Alaska.......

In more frigid temps the snow is substantially less sticky. I'm in Kansas, and it's about 50/50 here when I'll have this same issue (in any vehicle with LED headlights)

 

[TollKeeper]

Its weird that this is really a problem. All my Volvo Trucks in my fleet, with the LED factory headlights, have heaters in them just for winter driving.

Hopefully by 2024 (GRRR!) they will have this fixed too!

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