Frozen Spare Tire Latch

[prestapost]

Something like this or worse?

Looks like some good snow.

The main thing is my drivers side door gets stuck open or shut more often than not when it’s under 20° F.

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[NooterIA]

@EVnewb , mine was the same way and didn’t want to latch closed again. Once it warmed up in the garage though it did end up working normal. However there’s a lot of play in the release lever now, haven’t even tried to open it again…

 

[JoeBama]

So my spare tire latch has also gotten stuck, currently 15degrees out. I also did have my passenger door not want to close last night when it was 8 degrees. Learning a lot on this road trip. ?

 

[Hopper]

You will be glad to know that they did not update the design for Gen 2. Mine is frozen and no above freezing temps forecast for at least the next two weeks.

 

[bfilippo]

You will be glad to know that they did not update the design for Gen 2. Mine is frozen and no above freezing temps forecast for at least the next two weeks.

Yep, every loaner I’ve had has the latch snapped off I have also noticed. I got the spare with my new Tri max and am hopeful I don’t need it in winter…

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Really? A thread that last saw action in December ’22? Yes, water can still freeze below zero.

 

[Luxus]

Might be an old thread, but I'm surprised Rivian hasn't fixed this yet. Assuming Hopper's observation is not a one off. Kinda defeats the purpose of a spare if you can't get to it relatively easily.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Might be an old thread, but I'm surprised Rivian hasn't fixed this yet. Assuming Hopper's observation is not a one off. Kinda defeats the purpose of a spare if you can't get to it relatively easily.

Think about it from a business operator POV. You've spent billions on development and tooling to launch and produce 3 vehicles, soon to be 4. Changing parts, tooling and manufacturing on any of them can cost millions. Sometimes it's not just one part, but multiple parts impacted by it. Like changing the shape of one single piece in a jigsaw puzzle. The latch lays flat. Flat surfaces collect rain, freezing rain and snow. When temperature drops below freezing, so does anything surrounded by water.

When something is frozen, don't force it. Thaw before applying force. A CNC injection mold for a single small plastic part can cost several hundred thousand dollars. And that is just one cost. Common sense is free and doesn't require "fixing" or any financial outlay. You just have to think and adapt a little.

Do you want Rivian to be solvent (so they can stick around long enough to fix your car when you break it because you didn't think) or do you want Rivian to spend millions on every little pet peeve—from every person—that isn't really a problem?

 

[Time2Roll]

Maybe it should have been a button to control a solenoid. /s

 

[VSG]

For the past 40 years, my windows have been freezing shut, my door handles have been freezing in place, and even when I can move the handles the door seals freeze and keep the door from opening. My wiper blades freeze to the window, my tires get stuck to the road by ice buildup, and I can't see out of any of the windows because of the frost on the outside and the fog on the inside.

I'm surprised "they" haven't fixed this yet.

EDIT: AND I end up having to walk 5 miles to work through the snow. Uphill both ways.

 

[Luxus]

I'm well aware of potential costs involved in making a change. But that's a part of business. All car companies face this dilemma. Something is not caught in the original DFMEA and the production vehicle has an issue. Ideally the issue should be solved but doing nothing is also a choice. Comes down to a cost/benefit analysis.

So why my surprise? Well first we are now at gen 2. The next generation of a vehicle is the perfect time to address these kinds of issues if fixing a problem immediately is not feasible. Second, the R1s can cost north of 100k. These are not economy cars. Peoples expectations are higher given the price point. Finally, not being able to access the spare when needed guarantees a customer complaint. Moreso if someone spent the extra money to have the spare.

 

[VSG]

But what you're missing is, it's not a design flaw. You make it sound like everybody's latches break, so clearly something needs to be changed. But that's not the case. (This thread has been inactive for more than three years - do you really think that indicates this is still a major problem?) My latch for example is fine, and yes I've had to get into my frozen spare tire compartment on at least one occasion. There are threads about how to deal with this - read them if it concerns you.

Yes, some people have broken their latches. Just like some people have broken their non-Rivian wiper blades by trying to pry them off the frozen windshield. Just like some people have broken their non-Rivian door handles by trying to force their frozen doors open.

Mother nature is stronger than any design. Most of us have learned how to deal with (and/or avoid) frozen mechanical items on our cars. It's really no different on a Rivian. Expecting that spending a lot of money should make all natural phenomenon go away is not going to get you anywhere.

Regardless, Rivian will replace/repair your latch under warranty. If it were more cost-effective to change the design, then that's what they would have done in Gen 2 because the whole purpose of Gen 2 was to reduce long-term costs by (in many cases big) design changes. Ever had Ford replace your broken wiper blades for free? That's what you get for your spend.

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