The third row heating doesn't work.

[rohipete3]

When heating is turned on, the front two rows turn on the heat mode, but the rear mode while turning on goes to 'COLD' mode and cold air comes from the third row. This happens even when the temperature nis set to high heat. Please view the short video.
When checked with Rivian support, they said the there is no heating PTC pump in the rear and hence the third row doesn't turn on heat and it has to heat up from the middle row vent. The explanation seemed to be silly, when this feature is there for almost every 3 row vehicles! If the third row does have to take the heating from front, at least the software should not enable the COLD mode there.
Please share your comments if this is a known issue for R1S.

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[SANZC02]

It is true, third row has no heat or ac, just fans to circulate air from the cabin to the back.

 

[Dark-Fx]

3rd row does have a cooling element, but not a heating one. It just circulates air that is pulled in from below.

I don't use my third row enough to know if they are able to differentiate the third row as cold vs dehumidification, and definitely no idea how it operates on a gen2.

 

[Mellowyellow]

3rd row is just a recirc fan. Also, remember when we were told by various tear downs that the R1S only has right and left side climate control? That the hardware for tri zone climate control just wasn't there? Thank God they were wrong

 

[Vik]

This was an odd/shocking realization for me. My old Tesla Model X had third row heat and this function is greatly needed in areas where temps dip below 20°F.

 

[SANZC02]

3rd row does have a cooling element, but not a heating one. It just circulates air that is pulled in from below.

I don't use my third row enough to know if they are able to differentiate the third row as cold vs dehumidification, and definitely no idea how it operates on a gen2.

Thanks for the clarification, the original manuals did not talk about third row and when I picked mine up in 2023 was told they only recirculate. I did check the latest 2022-2024 R1S manual and it does say circulates cabinets air and cooling.

 

[zeezz]

I'm wondering if this setup changed. OK fine, we lose out on third row heat... but why does it turn on the cooling vents when the heat is on for row 1 and 2? Weird behavior. Doesn't seem like it's circulating, air feels cooler than ambient.

 

[CANCERDOC]

Third row vents are just fans and circulate cabin air. They are not connected to the front or second row cooling or heating ducts.

 

[gsqrd]

Just an idea. In extreme conditions plug an electric blanket? 110V

 

[Zoidz]

Putting this out here to clear up any misunderstandings about the third row. Straight from the people who built it.

 

[HaveBlue]

Just plug in a heater

 

[DaveInCA]

When heating is turned on, the front two rows turn on the heat mode, but the rear mode while turning on goes to 'COLD' mode and cold air comes from the third row. This happens even when the temperature nis set to high heat. Please view the short video.
When checked with Rivian support, they said the there is no heating PTC pump in the rear and hence the third row doesn't turn on heat and it has to heat up from the middle row vent. The explanation seemed to be silly, when this feature is there for almost every 3 row vehicles! If the third row does have to take the heating from front, at least the software should not enable the COLD mode there.
Please share your comments if this is a known issue for R1S.

Thanks for posting this. I have wasted a couple of hours trying to figure out what was happening here. My girls sit in the middle row and the boys in the back row. The boys keep complaining about the vents blowing cold air when they are already cold. I see exactly what you posted in the video, and tried everything to turn the 3rd row red!!

 

[Smeek]

I'm also confused by this 'feature'.

I have a '23 R1S. First winter with it. the third row fans always blow cold air (measured in the 50s). I just did a test. put the heat to HI. all 1st and 2nd row vents on. after 20 minutes, the rear vents are still blowing ~50F air.

So in the winter, we are just supposed to leave them off? It's clearly pulling air from my garage and circulating that, not recirculating warm cabin air.

Do i have this right?

 

[HaveBlue]

The third row fans just circulate cabin air. They are not ducted to heat or cooling air from the climate control system.

 

[Mellowyellow]

I keep the third row off in the winter. Or on a long road trip I will wait until the car is hot and toasty before turning on the third row. My kids will yell from the third row if they're fine or want me to keep it off.

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