Rear dampener needs replaced, just past warranty

[hunterj]

so based off the comments here and doing my research, ive learned

*~70k miles is not an unexpected lifetime for a part like this

*i could buy parts on ebay and try to fix it myself, which I have no desire to do

*im pretty much fucked and will have to pay for this out of pocket lol

I was really hoping someone would post about how they got this covered under warranty with similar miles to mine

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[strykerwsu]

Very doubtful. Over 10% out of wty, keep pushing and may eventually get 50% coverage. Just like any other company Rivian budgets for their agreed wty term. If they start covering out of wty the $'s have to come from somewhere and they are already priced to high on vehicles.

 

[SANZC02]

60k for a set of airbags seems low to me. My past two cars had air suspension and when I sold them just shy of 100k miles, there were no issues.

In fact, both cars only needed front brake pads and rotors replaced and that was when they were both about 85k. And even at their credit, I chose to replace a little bit early because I was also towing a boat and that by its very nature is harder on those brakes.

I agree, seems low to me as well.

I had a Jeep GC Overland that had the air suspension for 9 years, 120k miles and was still on the original suspension components when I got rid of it.

 

[johnnylawson]

70k had to pay 2500 for new front lower control arms

78k had to pay 1900 for one rear left damper (fluid leak too). Now I'm concerned about the right damper going bad.

81k they are putting in a new front drive unit and replacing the Gen 1 subframe with a Gen 2 subframe. Trying to solve this old creaking truck noise I have had them try to troubleshoot the past three visits. This time, drive unit and subframe are being covered.

One note, all parts you pay for are getting a 2 year unlimited mile warrenty.

 

[kanundrum]

1 year before warranty ends Im going to full send this thing so hard lol.

 

[SANZC02]

Two ways to look at the service after warrenty cost.

I look at it differently, in California if I trade my 2022 in after 4 years and it is worth 50k, the replacement is 115k the difference is 65k. At 115k it will cost around 12k for tax and license, we are up to 77k. The difference in annual registration for the next 4 years between the 22 and 26 would be about 2500 so I’m out of pocket 79.5k.

If I’m still happy with my 22 after warrenty I can get an awful lot of repairs completed for 79.5k.

I used the same logic on my 2016 Tesla when it went out of warrenty, granted I had the extra benefit in that it has lifetime free Supercharging and premium connectivity, but have spent less than 4k in repairs since then. Replaced leaking center screen, onboard charger, and one rear door window regulator.

We are still using the Tesla, the plan is to replace it with an R2 in 2026. As a matter of fact, took the Tesla on a 6500 mile trip around the country earlier this year, total cost of charging was zero so that takes a good size bite out of the 4k in repairs. ?

 

[Kunzene]

Two ways to look at the service after warrenty cost.

I look at it differently, in California if I trade my 2022 in after 4 years and it is worth 50k, the replacement is 115k the difference is 65k. At 115k it will cost around 12k for tax and license, we are up to 77k. The difference in annual registration for the next 4 years between the 22 and 26 would be about 2500 so I’m out of pocket 79.5k.

If I’m still happy with my 22 after warrenty I can get an awful lot of repairs completed for 79.5k.

This was my logic too when I considered upgrading to Gen2 this summer. Ultimately I stayed with my ‘22 and I’ll be hitting 60k miles this week. I had my rear subframe, compressor, air lines, and a blown airbag replaced in August under warranty.

 

[CoastalR1T]

I recently dropped off my R1T off at the service center for a winter tire replacement and the SC called back to say that I willneed rear dampeners replaced on both sides. Unfortunately, I am at \~67k miles, which is past the warranty of 60k miles - passed last month. They quoted me for $4000 for replacement of both rear dampeners.



Wondering if I have any recourse here being so close to warranty or if I'm just SOL. The SC did say they reached out to the regional manager to see if it could be covered under warranty and was 'denied'.



Really frustrating since this doesn't seem like an issue that was caused by anything I did and I was hoping to see if anyone here who has had a similar issue can provide some guidance.

Had both front dampners (sp?) replaced at 62k-ish miles, just a bit o-o-warranty, unfortunately methinks you are s-o-luck. Dampers likely failed due to faulty air suspension solenoid that affected ride height (earlier post this year). Hopefully you can find solace in the TCOE of your Rivian vs. typical ICE costs for similar mileage / major 'services' like coolant flush, differential rebuild, etc.

 

[hunterj]

Had both front dampners (sp?) replaced at 62k-ish miles, just a bit o-o-warranty, unfortunately methinks you are s-o-luck. Dampers likely failed due to faulty air suspension solenoid that affected ride height (earlier post this year). Hopefully you can find solace in the TCOE of your Rivian vs. typical ICE costs for similar mileage / major 'services' like coolant flush, differential rebuild, etc.

was the truck driveable in lowest height or did it force u into limp mode

 

[Kunzene]

was the truck driveable in lowest height or did it force u into limp mode

I can tell you when my airbag blew the truck was still drivable riding on the bump stops, no limp mode. But not a pleasant experience.

 

[CrazyOne]

Had both front dampners (sp?) replaced at 62k-ish miles, just a bit o-o-warranty, unfortunately methinks you are s-o-luck. Dampers likely failed due to faulty air suspension solenoid that affected ride height (earlier post this year). Hopefully you can find solace in the TCOE of your Rivian vs. typical ICE costs for similar mileage / major 'services' like coolant flush, differential rebuild, etc.

Ability to purchase Parts! That is the difference between Rivian and others. I wouldn't blame them if they don't do free repairs post warranty.

Also, coolant flush is a minor DIY job. The only thing technical about it is the ability to lift a low profile vehicle on Jack stands. I would also want to replace coolant in Rivian at 10 years mark.

 

[Thedude]

Had both front dampners (sp?) replaced at 62k-ish miles, just a bit o-o-warranty, unfortunately methinks you are s-o-luck. Dampers likely failed due to faulty air suspension solenoid that affected ride height (earlier post this year). Hopefully you can find solace in the TCOE of your Rivian vs. typical ICE costs for similar mileage / major 'services' like coolant flush, differential rebuild, etc.

I want to be the shop owner that’s taking your money for $4000 coolant flushes or has you convinced that a mileage based differential rebuild is a real thing (unless you destroy them through abuse).

 

[SoCal Rob]

but they said there is fluid leaking and will eventually not be able to adjust ride height and eventually become a safety risk. at which point I'm GUESSING it would go into limp mode and limit your speed to 25mph or something like that

Sure glad the R2 isn't using air $uspension.

I think the general average for an air suspension is five years but $4k ?

60k for a set of airbags seems low to me. My past two cars had air suspension and when I sold them just shy of 100k miles, there were no issues.

I had a Jeep GC Overland that had the air suspension for 9 years, 120k miles and was still on the original suspension components when I got rid of it.

I can tell you when my airbag blew the truck was still drivable riding on the bump stops, no limp mode. But not a pleasant experience.

I may be wrong, but it seems like a lot of people, including the service writer @hunterj spoke to, are speaking about the hydraulic shock absorbers/dampers/dampeners and the pneumatic/air springs as if they are interchangeable. To my knowledge they are different systems which, combined, do the work of traditional shock absorbers and traditional steel springs with the added ability to change characteristics of both based on driver selections and vehicle sensors.

Based on what @hunterj wrote, the issue is with the hydraulics which are leaking fluid. There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the air suspension based on what was written, though the service writer seems to have conflated the leaking fluid of the hydraulic damping system with the height adjustment of the pneumatic air spring system. Am I missing something?

Maybe people tend to blame the height adjustable air suspension for all suspension issues even when the adjustable hydraulic damping is the culprit? I feel like I have a better understanding of the air suspension based on years of Land Rover ownership so it doesn’t worry me as much as the hydraulic system.

These are complex machines and I want to understand them better, so thanks for sharing any collective knowledge!

 

[RivAW]

I recently dropped off my R1T off at the service center for a winter tire replacement and the SC called back to say that I willneed rear dampeners replaced on both sides. Unfortunately, I am at \~67k miles, which is past the warranty of 60k miles - passed last month. They quoted me for $4000 for replacement of both rear dampeners.



Wondering if I have any recourse here being so close to warranty or if I'm just SOL. The SC did say they reached out to the regional manager to see if it could be covered under warranty and was 'denied'.



Really frustrating since this doesn't seem like an issue that was caused by anything I did and I was hoping to see if anyone here who has had a similar issue can provide some guidance.

Unfortunately you have no recourse outside of customer good will, which it looks like you’ve tried. Warranty’s fall under contract law and expire (or are enforced according to their terms so long as they are legal in a given state).

Things like this are a reminder to have an extensive evaluation of the vehicle performed before it is out of warranty, and/or plan to either trade in/up at warranty end or self-insure for such a situation

 

[Hillbilly]

I recently dropped off my R1T off at the service center for a winter tire replacement and the SC called back to say that I willneed rear dampeners replaced on both sides. Unfortunately, I am at \~67k miles, which is past the warranty of 60k miles - passed last month. They quoted me for $4000 for replacement of both rear dampeners.



Wondering if I have any recourse here being so close to warranty or if I'm just SOL. The SC did say they reached out to the regional manager to see if it could be covered under warranty and was 'denied'.



Really frustrating since this doesn't seem like an issue that was caused by anything I did and I was hoping to see if anyone here who has had a similar issue can provide some guidance.

This is in line with our old Range Rover service costs. Can't you buy parts and repair yourself?

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