Rivian executive acknowledges R1S AC noise problem

[NY_Rob]

Early adopters should actually be treated to a higher level of service and concern by Rivian. We took a risk on the company and product. And all probably figured some problems along way. But at least I mistakenly though that when problems popped up, they would be all over like crazy to try and stop repeating same error. And quickly. But that is the opposite of how it seems to be going.

As you alluded to, back in the day companies usually went out of their way to make sure early adopters were happy with the product and would bend over backwards to remedy issues if they occurred. It seems nowadays, startups treat you like you are fortunate to even have the opportunity to pay for our product, wait in line and eventually receive the product. Service, support and right to repair/repair parts availability are really afterthoughts.

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[Jarico75]

I don't think this qualifies as a safety issue. The only one that is going to get hurt is me by my wife. She is going crazy driving this thing around town.

I know the site says a broken AC is not a saftey issue, but since you do not know what is causing the noise it could be a fire risk.

 

[HaveBlue]

 

[Killer95Stang]

Even though it is a little exaggerated, because he is shaking with his hand, that sure seems like an excessive amount of movement. That would surely explain a lot of the vibrations, including the pedal, since it is mounted high in the firewall.

 

[Rivianut]

Are you running it on recirculation or is it pulling in air from the outside? You have that part of the display cut off in the video. Our R1T occasionally gets loud in South Florida but as quick as the cabin cools down and the recirculation button is pushed it knocks off 87.43% of the time.

 

[Count Orlok]

I'm hoping taking noise measurements is unnecessary. Rivian knows the issue and acknowledges the vehicle is ridiculously loud. I would be happy to start taking readings if they want to employ me as a part-time engineer.

If I were you I would be curious to track the actual level in the event it gets worse and you need to document the problem instead of just having videos and phone calls.

 

[nrrasmussen]

I started two other threads on this topic...which was poor etiquette. I acknowledge

This issue is getting reported all over hot weather states. I'm assuming it will get worse as summer gets hotter.

~100 degree temps in Houston today and I had "the noise" for most of my drive running errands this afternoon. It stops or becomes less loud if you turn off the AC or put it on a lower level, but of course that isn't an option in heat like this. My solution was to just turn the music up, but of course that's not optimal. It's a SUPER annoying noise!!!

 

[_hchc]

I took my R1T to the Austin SC and they gave me a R1S loaner, which is super nice but unfortunately it has the same AC noise/vibration issue as OP. I had mentioned this to them the other day and they told me that they were just made aware of a possible issue affecting AC systems, and that putting it in "auto" seems to fix it. Lo and behold, I switched to "auto" and it made a huge difference. Not sure why a manual setting would make a huge difference, but it seems like it could be a possible software issue and hopefully they fix it soon. We're expecting a brutal summer this year in Texas, so I'm hoping my R1T stays strong during it.

FWIW, driving I-35 at 104f today, ac set on auto and recirc. I can occasionally feels pedal vibration from the ac compressor, couldn't hear anything inside when the fan is at full blast though At less could keep the interior at 72f more or less. The lower temp you set, the more/longer pedal vibration I feel...

 

[quartz]

If you haven't already, consider getting ceramic tint on all glass surfaces, including the roof and windshield (keep it clear to avoid infractions). It makes a noticeable difference in how hard AC has to work to maintain cabin temp.

 

[HaveBlue]

Even though it is a little exaggerated, because he is shaking with his hand, that sure seems like an excessive amount of movement. That would surely explain a lot of the vibrations, including the pedal, since it is mounted high in the firewall.

Not to mention the ground strap hitting the body which will cause noise and wear through.

 

[deadparadise]

If you haven't already, consider getting ceramic tint on all glass surfaces, including the roof and windshield (keep it clear to avoid infractions). It makes a noticeable difference in how hard AC has to work to maintain cabin temp.

I’ve gotten this done and do recommend others to do it as well, but if I had to do it again, I would skip the roof glass tint and just get a dedicated sun shade unless you have passengers that really, really value looking through it.

 

[SASSquatch]

Adding to the frustration, we recently sold my wife's 2023 Range Rover Sport when the Rivian arrived. It's the other vehicle she likes, and we waited 8 months for delivery. The new Sport is selling for a premium and the dealership repurchased above my initial invoice. Only good part of my Rivian experience!

I’m considering selling but couldn't consciously sell without disclosing the issue. I'm certain that a vehicle with a known problem that cannot be fixed wouldn't fetch a premium price. It's unfortunate that Rivian doesn't share the same ethical perspective. They just announced that the R1S constitutes a majority of their sales. The Dallas service center has a row of R1S’s lined up for deliveries. Once the Texas heat hits 100 degrees, they'll likely have a long list of dissatisfied customers.

This may not satisfy you, but my tiny little BMW i3s which is like a 3rd of the weight of your car sounds like it wants to launch into space when it's:

1.) Hot outside and I'm running the AC - even in just 80 degree weather
2.) Fast charging and it is above 75 degrees

The cooling for EVs is much more robust than ICE cars because the battery pack has a limited thermal range that it needs to stay in, especially in warmer weather.

I'm not saying what you are experiencing is "normal" relative to all R1S's but it isn't that uncommon in EVs in general and I have learned to accept it as part of the EV ownership experience.

 

[SASSquatch]

Sounds to me like they don't know what the fix is and don't want to randomly keep replacing parts hoping it addresses the symptoms. That's not unreasonable in my opinion - I'd rather they identify the problem and fix it than try random things to fix the symptom, which may resurface later if the underlying problem isn't solved.

I'm thinking that once they've found the solution there'll be some sort of campaign to address this. Of course we don't know how long that'll take (if it happens at all).

The fix might be quieter cooling fans or potentially more insulation to muffle the noise.

It would be funny if they pumped up the volume on the ghastly low-speed EV noise that is mandated to try and cover up the fan noise.....

 

[JWreck]

It’s funny to me how much Rivian says things are “normal”, “working as designed” and “not a safety risk”.

If they’re building luxury vehicles with the sole premise of being just above the “not a safety risk line” they’re in for a world of hurt at their price point. Charge more if they want, but they’ll lose money on service and sales through reputation.

If Porsche ever told me an objective annoyance like that sound was fine because it wasn’t a safety risk, I’d toss the keys at them and let my lawyer deal with it. Shit I’d do it regardless of the manufacturer. But they’re not that dumb…

 

[Zoidz]

I would file a complaint with NHTSA. Here is the link.
Report A Problem

It’s not an NHTSA concern. They even give an example on their web site that AC is not their problem.

“What is a safety-related defect? Generally, a safety defect is a problem that poses a risk to motor vehicle safety, and may exist in a group of vehicles or equipment of the same design and/or manufacturer. An example of a safety-related defect is a steering component that breaks, causing a driver to lose control. However, an air conditioner that does not work properly isn't considered a safety-related defect, because it does not pose a risk to motor vehicle safety.”

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